"The Burning of Rosemont Abbey" by Naomi Stephens

About this book:

  “1956: In the quiet village of Wilbeth Green, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey set the residents' tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of being the arsonist. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection--she felt her twin's death an hour before the abbey went up in flames. Knowing no one will believe her, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the skepticism of her neighbors and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul's closest friend, is torn between his duty and a lingering loyalty to Paul and warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.”


Series: No, seems to be a stand-alone novel.


Spiritual Content- A hymn is quoted at the beginning; A Scripture is quoted; Prayers; Church going & part of a sermon; Talks about God, those and events in the Bible, sin/sinners; ’H’s are capital when referring to God; Louisa says her brother is “as devout as a man in his circumstances is able to be”; Louisa’s brother has a necklace of St. Jude (noted to be the patron saint of lost and desperate causes) that a Catholic priest gave to him at their father’s funeral; Many mentions of churches/abbeys, church going, services, sermons, worshiping, clergymen, & church events; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of sins/sinners, confessing sins, & absolution; Mentions of stained glass depicting scenes from the Bible; Mentions of Catholics and a saint; A couple mentions of benedictions & blessings from a chaplain; A couple mentions of homilies; A couple mentions of the liturgy; A mention of the Lord’s Supper at church; A mention of eternity; 
             *Note: ‘Damning’ is used once as an adjective for being condemned; The phrase “come hell or high water” is used once; Religious phrases/exclamations are said: a ‘heavens’, a ‘heaven knows’, a ‘merciful heaven’, a ‘old devil’, three ‘devilishly’, three forms of ‘thank heaven/heavens’, three ‘what/where/why the devil’, and eight ‘Good Heavens’; Someone says a place is cursed; A mention of Louisa telling her brother that despite his name being of apostolic origin, he had grown up into a “crass, disagreeable young man”; A woman mentions her Catholic grandson throughout the book, originally commenting that he “went and became a Catholic when none of us were looking” (and tells Louisa that if she’s interested in him, she would have to convert); A couple people are called saints for their helpfulness & someone wants to nominate another for sainthood; A man sneers about going to confess his sins (of being with another woman) to a vicar before proposing to a woman; A few mentions of luck; A couple mentions of a statue of a Greek goddess; A mention of a woman saying that it’s “unchristian” to have more than six courses for a dinner party after learning to have less during the war; A mention of someone looking like an avenging angel; A mention of someone doing an evil thing (of setting a church on fire); A mention of there being “the devil to pay”; A mention of being hell-bent to get away from a place; A mention of death possibly being swift like a pair of scissors snipping the body from the soul; A mention of Louisa not believing in omens (but if she did, one would be a bad one); A mention of something perhaps being fate’s influence; A mention of someone’s ghost; A mention of someone being called a vampire as an insult; A mention of a dog being called a “devil dog”; A mention of Greek mythology (Odysseus).
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bastard’ (used in the literal illegitimate child meaning), a ‘blimey’, a ‘hurt like the dickens’, an unfinished ‘pain in the—‘, two ‘balderdash’, two ‘drat’, two ‘hang it all’, four forms of ‘blasted’, three forms of ‘idiot’, three forms of ‘shut up’, and six ‘stupid’s; Curses are said, not written (including by Louisa and others) & mentions of curses said as well; Lies & Lying (Louisa to others including the police officer friend and her aunt; Also including lying to others to get information about the case); Eavesdropping; Harsh and hurtful words are said to Louisa and she also says them to others in moments of anger; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Louisa says ‘drat’ and argues with an elderly woman that it isn’t swearing and she doesn’t need to tell the vicar on her because the vicar would agree with her; Almost dying, Being drugged/poisoned, Being grabbed/attacked, Being held at gunpoint, Breaking and entering into a crime scene, Being chased, & Shaking in fear (semi-detailed); Going to a pub & a fight club (up to semi-detailed); Grief & Stuffing her emotions aside (for a sibling and parents, up to semi-detailed); Seeing a dead body (and being very affected by it, up to semi-detailed); Imagining possible accidental murders (up to semi-detailed); At the very beginning, Louisa physically feels as if her twin brother has died (she recalls hearing stories about twins sensing when their twin is suffering or dying without being right there with them; up to semi-detailed); A man comments on sometimes wishing he had died in the war when he was still handsome instead of praying for the day to come when he can join the rest of his men from the war; *Major Spoilers* The culprit of burning down the abbey has also killed three people by the end of the book by poison, including Louisa’s father and brother *End of Spoilers*; Many mentions of murders, murderers, deaths, grief, & dead bodies (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Many mentions of attackers and attacks, fainting, injuries, stitches, pain, & blood/bleeding; Many mentions of crimes, crime scenes, criminals, a fire, arson, & the culprit (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of blackmail & threats (including some blackmail “for the greater good” to solve a case); Many of the side characters drink alcohol (including at a party on-page) & smoke pipes, cigars, and/or cigarettes; Many mentions of smoking, cigarettes, cigars, & pipes; Many mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & pubs (including vicars drinking); Mentions of World War II, deaths, bombings, & injuries; Mentions of weapons, being shot, bullets, poisons, & being drugged/poisoned; Mentions of stealing, stolen items and money, & thieves; Mentions of break-ins; Mentions of prisons & arrests; Mentions of gambling & cheating; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars (including when Paul told Louisa that she was a terrible liar and said it like it was “the most pulverizing kind of insult”); Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of vandalism; A couple mentions of vomit/throwing up; A mention of novels where people are thrown into bodies of water for knowing too much about a crime; A mention of a con-man; A mention of a nightmare about being trapped in a fire; 
             *Note: Mentions of car brands; Mentions of singers & songs (The Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby, Fat’s Domino, & ‘Rum and Coca-Cola’); A few mentions of brand names (Dansette, Brown Betty, & Lenthéric); A couple mentions of prejudice towards those with German names after the war (and a family changing their name because of it); A couple mentions of gypsies; A mention of Grace Kelly; A mention of BBC; A mention of Louisa thinking her uncle would send for a different doctor if she told him her concerns about feeling as if her brother died (implied because he would think she’s crazy).
 
 
Sexual Content- An almost (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed) kiss, a throat/neck kisses (barely-above-not-detailed), and two semi-detailed kisses (one going from one’s neck to ear); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Louisa goes into a male friend’s apartment and his shirt is untucked and half unbuttoned which makes her feel nervous and embarrassed; A ‘bastard’ (used in the illegitimate child meaning); Mentions of an illegitimate child; Mentions of affairs (one is also called “illicit affair”); Mentions of a woman being in love with someone else when she got married; Mentions of unmarried couple being in a “compromising position” and while one half is in a “modern” engagement with someone else, the other promises to stop their relationship when he gets engaged; Mentions of dancing & touches; Mentions of romantic feelings for others, dates, & dating; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of kisses & a first kiss; A few mentions of flirting; A mention of a trip with two unmarried couples keeping “everything proper” by having a set of parents come; A mention of “worldly” women; A mention of girls going “a bit mad” for a handsome young man; Some love, possibly falling in love, & the emotions.
 
-Louisa Everly, age 26
                                P.O.V. of Lousia 
                                      Set in 1956
                                                    336 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

Oh, I have mixed feelings on this book. I liked so many parts about it, but I didn’t like the ending. 

 

This book had a charm about it that could only come from a book set in 1950s England; there were many humorous parts and lots of British phrases that added a delightful charm to the story. At times, it reminded me of a Murder She Wrote episode, just without the cringy 80s hairstyles. 

 

On that note, though, there was mentions of affairs and family skeletons which aren’t my personal favorite thing to be included in a Christian Fiction book. Another thing is that there was a lot of casual drinking and smoking by side characters. Perhaps accurate to the time, but it was nearly every time a side character appeared they were doing one or the other, which felt a little much. 

 

I liked Louisa and Malcom—we don’t get his POV, but because he is apart of her mystery solving parts, I mention him with her—but it was really the vicar and Mrs. Watson that stole the show for me. The vicar has to be one of the best members of the cloth I’ve seen in a book. And Mrs. Watson needs her own book series. Both of them were fantastic and added wisdom and humor to the plot. 

 

With the ending, let’s be honest. I cried with the epilogue. I was nervous about this book because of the sibling grief and that being something I’m all too familiar with. Prior to the epilogue, I actually didn’t see the villain coming and when I had an inkling it could be that person, I pushed it away because I didn’t want it to be that person. That’s what has dropped my rating half a star, because it felt a little far fetched, even if the motivation made sense. 

 

I suppose we can say I overall enjoyed it and would recommend for ages 16+. I will definitely try another book by this author in the feature.

 

 

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.

 

"Recruit of Talionis" by C.J. Milacci

About this book:

  “Her abduction was just the beginning. Her survival will change everything.
    Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed.
    The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined.
    Escape is impossible, and Bria is drowning in the evil of the city…and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?”


Series: Book #1 in the “Talionis” series. 


Spiritual Content- Prayers; Going to a church (plus a mention of the stained glass and a Scripture being partially available to read); Being witnessed to; Talks about God, Jesus, believing in Him, honoring Him, & His plans; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God and Jesus; Bria’s parents never cared for “religious things”, but after her brother’s death, they changed and clung to God while she ignored and tuned out whenever they talk about Him; Bria believes that God does not want anything to do with her because of a past event, so despite wanting to a few times to ask God why all of this is happening to her, she does not; Bria prays a couple times in a “if you’re there, God…” sort of way; Bria notices the peace that others have and yearns for it; *Major Spoilers* At the end, a side character dies to protect the innocent and those who aren’t ready to face death or what comes after it yet, which confuses Bria; She cries out to God asking why she is still alive and her friend tells her about having the freedom of Heaven; Bria thinks it’s too late for her and that God won’t want her, but her friend encourages her to reach out to God for forgiveness and Bria realizes she can’t go on by herself anymore and prays then feels peace *End of Spoilers*; A side character has a tattoo that says “Honor God” with a cross underneath; Mentions of God, Jesus, believing in Him, trusting Him, peace, & forgiveness; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of a church; A mention of sin; 
             *Note: Bria thinks that maybe the “evil of Talionis is the Hell” she deserves for a past event she blames herself for; Bria thinks of some others as evil; Bria thinks she deserves to be locked away from experiencing anything good because of demons of her past (because of her brother’s death); A woman comments on Bria’s cleaned-up appearance being “miraculous almost”.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah’, a ‘ticked’, two forms of ‘crap’, three ‘shut up’s, and eight forms of ‘stupid’; Eye rolling & Sarcasm (including both teasingly and disrespectfully; Bria gets called out by her mom for one of her disrespectful attitudes); Bria lies (mostly due to trying to not be caught by the enemy); Lots of attacking/fighting, being shot/being shot at, being hit/beaten/slapped, being drugged and kidnapped, setting and hearing explosions, pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, passing out, & throwing up (semi-detailed); Seeing others be killed and nearly killed, drowned and nearly drowned, shot, shocked/tased, hit/beaten, attacked, fighting, in pain, injured, bleeding, & unconscious (and recalling most of it all, up to semi-detailed); Bria feels guilt and responsible for her brother’s death; *Spoilers* Bria feels to blame for her brother’s death because he followed her out swimming when they weren’t supposed to; She feels heavy guilt over this and tells someone about the day and her father trying to revive him (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Towards the end, Bria feels like she is responsible for another person drowning to their death (barely-above-not-detailed) *End of Spoilers*; Bria and the others go through training exercises that seem very realistic and includes shooting and killing those in their way, seeing others shot and killed, kidnapping someone, and setting explosions (including of a building with people in it; Bria struggles with how realistic it all is and has nightmares of it; all up to semi-detailed); Bria and many others around her age are abducted and drugged to become soldiers (also a younger child who witnessed the kidnappings); Bria wishes she could strangle someone; A side character tells Bria that he doesn’t enjoy taking lives or harming people, but will do it to stop evil people from hurting the innocent; Many mentions of deaths, murders, bodies, guilt, & grief (Bria for her brother and her seeing her parents’ grief over the death as well); Many mentions of explosives and explosions, weapons/guns, being shot, being shot at, being held at gunpoint, & shooting others; Many mentions of beatings, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a war (including a video of a young girl disappearing in an explosion, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of child soldiers; Mentions of possible deaths & a leader not caring if others die while doing his plans; Mentions of kidnappings & being drugged; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of being betrayed & traitors; A few mentions of executions; A few mentions of a drug; A few mentions of bullies; A few mentions of a tattoo (that has a Christian meaning); A few mentions of rumors; 
             *Note: Groups cheer for others to be executed or drowned (which Bria and her friends are not apart of); Bria’s new friend, Nika, has hints implying she is from an unhappy and possibly abusive family; Bria stuffs down her emotions when thinking about her family or her brother’s death; Mentions of propaganda and brainwashing; A couple mentions of a father not loving his son.
 
 
Sexual Content- Touches, Flutters, Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hand kisses (greeting/thanks, not romantic leaning); Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of handsome/cute guys; A couple mentions of an illegitimate son & him being ignored by his biological father like he didn’t exist; A couple mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of crushes; Light possible falling in love & the emotions;
             *Note: A couple mentions of butts (butting into a conversation and someone ordering another to get their butt down).
 
-Bria Averton, age 17
                                1^st person P.O.V. of Bria 
                                                        450 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

This series has intimidated me for a while because of the length of the books. It’s a commitment and one I’ve been hesitant about, despite usually enjoying this genre. 

 

As an avid dystopian fan, I did find quite a few parts predictable and other scenes/events a little too easy. That said, Bria needed some easy wins because there’s a lot of brutal training and fighting she has to go through. On that note, though, towards the end, Bria and the group have to trust a lot of different people and I kept waiting for it to completely blow up and the plans not to work out because it seemed so sudden (and slightly out of character) for her to trust so many others.

 

I have to appreciate and comment on the fact that this book wasn’t super gruesome or violent. Sure, there’s life or death situations—many of them, actually—but we aren’t given a lot of the details of all the fighting or killing. There’s enough to know what’s going on and some reactions from Bria, but the author didn’t add in unnecessary details or go over-the-top explaining all the blood or injuries. It actually felt cleaner than some other Christian YA Dystopian books I’ve read in the past and this review isn’t super long with content details because of that. 

 

Bria does act like the teenager girl she is at times in the way of a near death situation is happening—but she’s noticing a cute guy and trying to convince herself she doesn’t like him like that. I honestly figured out my thoughts and predictions on him early on, but I can’t say I really like him as a love interest at this point. Perhaps he’ll get better as the series continues. She let her emotions control her at times and started frustrating me around the middle all the way to the end. There were poor decisions made that, thankfully, didn’t come back to bite her. I’ll admit that obviously I don’t know how I would handle the things she faces, but her lack of control bothered me. 

 

This book did what every dystopian book makes me feel: the need to work out and exercise more just in case I need to fight against a corrupt government. Hey, you never know! 

 

It did feel kind of slow to me at times despite all the events and action. I think this was because I wanted certain people and their evil agenda to be taken down already and we were nowhere near that—and aren’t going to be for a couple more books it sounds like. There’s a lot of explaining and setting the stage in this first book (which makes sense because it’s the first book in a series), but it dragged at times because I wanted justice to prevail and am instead having to go through the beginning motions of an uprising. 

 

There stronger faith content than I was expecting and just as a random note, I appreciated that the names for God and Jesus in the discussions in this book we’re just that—God and Jesus. No made-up fantasy code names. This really shone because a couple different people witness to Bria and talk to her seriously about God and Jesus dying for her in a slightly heavy-handed way. I don’t think these moments would have been as impactful if the actual names weren’t used so I’m glad the author decided to do that. 

 

Overall, I suppose I liked this book well enough. It’s definitely not a new favorite of mine for the genre, but I will definitely be continuing with the rest of the series and looking for good to win and evil to be destroyed.

 

 

 

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.

 

"A Lesson in Propriety" by Jen Turano

About this book:

  “With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather's privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she's inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves, by any means necessary.
    Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within castle grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family's safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies”.

 

Spiritual Content- A Scripture is mentioned; Church going & enjoying the service; Mentions of church, church going, services, a reverend, hymns, & a Sunday school class; Mentions of blessings; A few mentions of statues of angels and cherubs; A couple mentions of God; A couple mentions of people swearing on a Bible to keep a secret; A mention of a godsent opportunity; 
             *Note: Religious phrases/exclamations are said: ‘heaven forbid’ once, ‘for heaven’s sake’ twice, and ‘good heavens’ is said nine times;  Many talks about & many mentions of ghosts and a haunted place (many people believe that Drusilla’s aunt’s house is haunted by her ghost; Mentions of the reasoning behind this being because of hearing strange noises in the night, furniture rearranged, and messages written onto mirrors); Drusilla does not believe in ghosts and is not bothered by this rumor, but her mother is convinced that the ghost of her aunt will haunt her the most because they never cared for each other; *Spoiler* People are behind the “ghost” sightings *End of Spoilers*); A mention of “ghosts” in the afterlife apparently not being affected by screams by living people. 
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: five forms of ‘idiot’; Eye rolling; Being shot at, Being held at gun-point, Aiming guns and weapons at others, Shooting someone (in self-defense), Being attacked by ravens, Injuries, Pain, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of weapons, gunshots, shooting someone, & people being shot and aimed at with weapons (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a missing person & a couple possible murders and murderer; Mentions of deaths & grief; Mentions of an abduction/kidnapping; Mentions of criminals, members of the “criminal underworld” and crime bosses, crimes, & threats (including of harm and death through a potential drowning); Mentions of a man stealing Drusilla’s family’s money & embezzlement; Mentions of smuggling stolen goods and opium & smugglers; Mentions of arrests & jail/prisons; Mentions of fires; Mentions of fights/brawls, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & saloons/taverns; A few mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of eavesdropping; A mention of possibly corrupt police men; 
             *Note: Drusilla values how Rhenick respects and listen to her opinions and how he doesn’t think his opinion is superior only because of him being a man (unlike others she’s known); Drusilla also thinks about how Rhenick sees women as people and not as inferior beings that need to be spoken to as if “they were lacking in intelligence”; Mentions of insane asylums & some of the characters hoping a man is put into one (because of his delusions about a woman and unrequited love for her); Mentions of Drusilla’s sister, Annaliese, rescuing ferrets from a fur farm & being vocally against such things and women using real feathers in their hats; Mentions of dead rats & snakes brought as gifts form the ferrets to Drusilla and her family; A couple mentions of Drusilla’s father being disappointed when she was born because she was a girl & Drusilla striving to earn his praise; A couple mentions of books and authors (Jane Austen).
 
 
Sexual Content- Two hand kisses, an almost (semi-detailed) kiss, and two semi-detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss & Staring at lips (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Talks about kisses/kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Butterflies, Nearness, Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing & Staring (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of a man who is in love with a married woman (he loved her prior to her marriage to another man and continued to love her after her marriage); Mentions of flirting; Mentions of crushes & young teen girls mooning over boys; A mention of a married man having many mistresses around the city; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
             *Note: Mentions of women’s figures (one man suggests that Drusilla has a plump figure and Rhenick comments on liking Drusilla’s natural figure); A few mentions of Drusilla’s mother never have claiming to be overly fond of her husband & the two of them avoiding each other when he was alive.
 
-Drusilla Merriweather, age 22
-Rhenick Whittenbecker, age 28
                                P.O.V. switches between them 
                                          Set in 1885
                                                        352 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

Oh, that was just so fun! Jen Turano knows how to write such a great cast of characters who end up in the most amusing situations and this book was the epitome of it! Like always, I laughed at different parts and read this book overall too quickly because I was enjoying it so much! 

 

I liked both Drusilla and Rhenick and thought they were absolutely adorable together. He instantly fell for her and while I usually don’t care for that, it was actually really cute to see him tongue-tied over her and so smitten. He was just a doll in general and I loved seeing his big family where he is the oldest of five and has four younger sisters and his protectiveness over them—and their influence on him. Solid male lead and just a great guy all around. 

 

The faith content was very light and while I would have liked a bit more, what was there was natural for the plotline. 

 

There was a slight mystery throughout the book and even a bit of suspense. It actually reminded me of other books by this author at times, but had unique elements that will make it stand-out—such as the opening of a boarding school/finishing school! I can’t wait for the rest of the series and learn about about Drusilla’s sister, Annaliese and her friend, Seraphina (really, all of the characters in this book had great names!)

 

 

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.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.

"Mary Elizabeth: Welcome to America" by Eleanor Clark

About this book:

  “Mary Elizabeth's life undergoes a dramatic change when she leaves the only home she has known for another world far away in a place called America. The journey aboard the ship not only teaches her about perseverance but also that making a home in a a new world has its share of challenges. Join Mary Elizabeth as she lives one of the greatest adventures of a lifetime and learns the importance of family and the value of perseverance.”


Series: Book #1 in “The Eleanor” series. 


Spiritual Content- James 1:12 in the acknowledgments; A few Scriptures are mentioned & quoted; In bonus content at the end, there are over a handful of Scriptures shared and a lesson on perseverance while telling about Joseph from the Bible; Prayers & Blessings over food; Talks about God, being able to worship Him freely, & Jesus dying for our sins; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mary Elizabeth’s family is moving to America to be able to worship God freely; Mary Elizabeth’s father leads her younger brother in a prayer to ask Jesus to come and live in his heart; Mentions of God, loving Him, & being able to worship Him freely; Mentions of prayers, praying, thanking and praising God, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & those and events in the Bible; Mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A few mentions of churches;
             *Note: A mention of something smelling “heavenly”.
 

Negative Content- Some grief and missing family members and friends; Seasickness; Mary Elizabeth helps her mother kill chickens (which she dreads doing but preserves through it; barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of possible and near drownings & injuries; Mentions of grief & homesickness; A few mentions of deaths & illnesses (including the death of a child to smallpox); A couple mentions of Jennifer’s parents going through a divorce & her concern about possibly moving away; A couple mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of a tavern; A mention of tobacco; A mention of gamblers; A mention of jealousy; A mention of rumors;
             *Note: Mary Elizabeth and her family see slaves being forced to board a ship and she is very bothered by how they are treated (they are in chains, Mary Elizabeth cries when one is whipped, and when she asks why that is happening, her parents are sad as well and tell her that there are “a great many things we won’t understand in this life”; Mary Elizabeth’s heart breaks and feels heavy, wishing she could do something and has the idea to pray for them); Mary Elizabeth’s mother is concerned about Indians in their new area, but it’s recalled in a letter later that when they met Indians for the first time, they were “quite nice”; In the Prologue, Jennifer thinks going to a tea party at her grandmother’s is immature for her age and doesn’t want to go (she rolls her eyes once and also says she’s too old for dolls; By the end of the Prologue, she is having fun with her cousins); In bonus content at the end, there is a mention of perseverance is being faithful to a friend “even when they have hurt you”, a quote from Helen Keller about perseverance, and mentions of classic books (Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Gone with the Wind); A few hints to a grandfather not doing well (forgetting things and calling someone by a different name); A mention of a Raggedy Ann doll.
 
 
Sexual Content- Seeing married couples share a few kisses (no true details; Mary Elizabeth blushes when her father kisses her mother and her mother says “not in front of the children”, but Mary Elizabeth’s father says that “I want them to know that I adore their Mam.”); Mary Elizabeth noticed a young woman blushing around a man and the man stammering when he speaks to her; A beautiful young woman attracts the attention of fellows in the ship;
             *Note: A couple mentions of labor pains.
 
-Jennifer Jean, age 11
-Mary Elizabeth Powell, age 10
                                P.O.V. switches between them (Jennifer in Prologue & Epilogue only)
                   Set in present day (prologue & epilogue) & 1635
                                                        118 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

This was a very solid middle-grade story! There’s also bonus content at the end that has some great tips and recipes for having a tea party that could work great for a book club too. 

 

This book follows two girls: Jennifer Jean and Mary Elizabeth. Only the prologue and epilogue are in Jennifer Jean’s POV and the main part of this book was about Mary Elizabeth. At the beginning, I didn’t care for Jennifer Jean’s attitude and thinking she’s too old for hanging out with her grandmother and cousins with their dolls, but I was glad she started to have fun. We see her again in the epilogue and learn a little bit about how hearing about Mary Elizabeth’s perseverance helped her. 

 

I’ve never really been interested in the 1600s time-period or books set then, so I was very surprised to have enjoyed Mary Elisabeth’s story so much! She was an absolute dear and the story was very wholesome. There was an emphasis on perseverance and having a good attitude. 

 

This was a lovely start to a series I’m looking forward to continuing soon!

 

 

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.

 

"A Royal Redemption" by Melody Carlson

About this book:

  “Two princesses...one crown.
    The royal twins have battled it out for eighteen years, but Princess Heather was firstborn and now rules the Kingdom of Raspen. Meanwhile, Princess Rose is doing time in the dungeon. Caught in the act of usurping the crown—as well as her sister’s man—the second-born princess has time to think.
    After a failed scheme that sends her spiraling into despair, Rose has an epiphany. Before she can dwell on it, though, she learns that their kingdom might be in serious trouble, so with her sister’s help she dons a disguise and befriends a pair of cellmates, spies from an enemy country. Though Rose is only hoping to extract vital information from them, she ends up kidnapped when they make their escape.
    While Queen Heather tries to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom, Rose is forced into an adventure she never wanted, but which she’s determined to use for the good of Raspen and her sister. But with more enemies than friends and the threat of a wicked king hanging over her, Rose begins to worry that her redemption will do little to save her life.”


Series: Book #2 in “The Princess Wars” duology. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- A Scripture is quoted; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Going to a chapel to pray and light candles for others; Rose wonders about what happens after death and gets a sinking feeling that if God “really sat in heaven judging them”, He would be more likely to take Heather’s side than hers; Rose has never had an interest in prayer and even in church only pretended to pray, but starts to pray and attempt pleas to God; *Spoilers* When Rose thinks she may die, she tries to say her prayers like her mother used to; Towards the end, Rose thinks that she deserves the divine punishment for her sins *End of Spoilers*; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches/chapels; A couple mentions of thanking and praising the Lord; A mention of divine guidance; A mention of a miracle; A mention of the possibility of the Lord raining down judgement on someone; A mention of a mother frowning down on her daughter from heaven; A mention of a place feeling “like heaven” compared to another place;
             *Note: ‘Heaven knew’ is said once; Heather recalls her mother explaining that because of her and Rose being twins, they have a “spirit connection” and are able to have dreams about the other that would end up coming true (Heather is concerned one dream is a premonition); Heather comments on her seamstress’ abilities being like magic (though the seamstress says it is not magic); A dungeon cell is called “hell” and a “hellhole” once each; A couple mentions of an evil man.
 

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘Egad!’, a ‘good grief’, two ‘give a whit’, three forms of ‘shut up’, and six ‘stupid’s; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Sibling bickering & harsh comments (verbally and feeling hurt by the other); Being kidnapped (x3), Being attacked/grabbed, Being tied-up and locked up, Being knocked unconscious, Pain, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Rose wonders about dying (instead of being locked in a dungeon) & if starving to death would be painful (later, she wishes she was dead, but not truly; A bit farther in, she says her prayers just in case she does die); Rose is in prison/a dungeon for some of the book; Rose lies & deceives others to get her way; *Spoilers* About a quarter through the story, Rose realizes that she has been selfish and jealous & that Heather was born to be the queen; She tries to change and shoe her sister than she is sincere *End of Spoilers*; Many mentions of possible wars/invasions, attacks, treason, spies, & arrests; Many mentions of prisons/dungeons & prisoners; Mentions of deaths & grief (including from a plague; grief for a mother, parents, a wife, and an infant son); Mentions of possible deaths; Mentions of Rose impersonating her sister & threatening and planning to kill Heather (Book #1); Mentions of possible murderers (& someone wanting to slit the throat of another, but instead ties him to a tree for the vultures to get); Mentions of an almost drowning (Book #1) & a possible drowning; Mentions of kidnappings & a country planning to kidnap women from another country; Mentions of thieves, bandits/robbers, stealing, criminals, crimes, & bribes; Mentions of wine/alcohol & drinking; Mentions of nightmares (of a family member in trouble or dying); Mentions of lies, lying, deceit, & manipulation; Mentions of jealousy & hatred; Mentions of rivalry between siblings; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of beatings & possible torture; A few mentions of weapons & someone being held at sword-point; A few mentions of injuries & pain; A few mentions of drugging someone with a sleeping draught; A few mentions of tobacco, smoking, & a pipe; A couple mentions of possible executions or exiling someone; A couple mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of eavesdropping;
             *Note: A group of people prefer to be called “travelers” rather than “gypsies” (though both names are used); Rose want to rebel over the thought of someone else making decisions for her & wishes to control her own life; Rose feels like she was a disappointment to her father and leaned into becoming superficial and spoiled because everyone expected her to be that way; Heather faces a couple of her council members talking down to her partially because of her age and gender; Heather comments on it being time for women to be “let into some other roles previously reserved to men” now that she is queen (adding that young women should be able to learn about the things that interest her and to use the gifts the Lord gave her); A mention of a young woman being unable to gain an apprenticeship with the “closed-minded old men” of her town.
 
 
Sexual Content- A hand kiss, three not-detailed kisses, and two barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Some touches, hand holding, warmth, & nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Heather wishes to marry for love, but knows that most royal marriages are more about politics (she wonders if it is unrealistic to believe that a marriage could be founded in love); Rose deceives a man by making him think she loves him (such as writing his name with hearts and casting shy glances); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of love & wanting to marry for love; Mentions of being smitten with someone; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of large age gaps between couples (some unnamed in the amount of years and another that is twelve years; Heather says that if she loved a man, his age is “inconsequential”; *Spoiler* Rose ends up marrying a man twelve years her senior at the end of the book *End of Spoiler*); A mention of a bordello; Some love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
             *Note: Rose dresses as a man for her plan to gain information from the spies (she wears a binding around her chest; *Spoiler* A man discovers she’s a girl and threatens that he’ll find out for himself if she doesn’t tell him the truth; Rose feels unsafe traveling with a man alone when he knows she’s a woman, but nothing happens *End of Spoiler*).
 
-Heather, age 18
-Rose, age 18
                                P.O.V. switches between them 
                                                        244 pages
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Pre Teens- 

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens- 

Older High School Teens- 

My personal Rating- 

I had to reread the last chapter of the prior book to remember where this book would be picking up; I’m glad I did that because while the book somewhat explains and alludes to past events, I think it would be best to read them back to back, making it a very binge-worthy duology. 

 

I’ll say one thing: after reading Melody Carlson’s YA books for years, she sure knows how to write a teen girl that I would love to slap some common sense into. Rose was definitely this character and had me nearly banging my head into the wall with her thoughts and plans. Her 180 change was very sudden (even Heather comments in it) so while it was a bit jarring, it was also good to see and know that I wouldn’t have to put up with her hatefulness for the majority of the book. 

 

There are some…perhaps unrealistic events and conversations that happen, but it was overall fine. The ending took me by surprise as it felt out of left field, but alls well that ends well, I suppose? I feel a little meh about the romances, but they were clean and suitable for teens. 

 

I was bummed there was no epilogue, but I guess it wasn’t truly needed. I wouldn’t say this was anywhere near a new favorite duology of mine, though it wasn’t bad and I overall enjoyed it. I thinks ages 14+ that only want light romance elements would enjoy it the most.

 

 

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.