The Christian Book Report

 My Rating: 4 stars I want to start by stating that this book is incredibly thorough and incredibly over my head.  I will also be straightforward and admit that I didn't finish the book.  I will, however, offer my impressions of the book, as far as I read.  Carwardine begins his analysis by setting the religious stage in America for the reader.  He describes the religious atmosphere in early colonial America and moves forward through time, up until the pre-Civil War era, so the reader can understand the impact and significance of what Lincoln did during has presidency.  Carwardine then carefully analyzes the actions of Lincoln, explains why they were significant, and how it further changed the religious climate in America.   This book, while fascinating, is not written for a layman audience.  Carwardine quickly throws out names of religious figures in early America, often in a manner that assumes the reader already knows who they are.  ...

  My Rating: 4 Stars Synopsis: Mental health therapist Natalie Marsh and her husband, Gideon, become involved with a police investigation after witnessing the aftermath of a strange assault at a charity gala. In the following days, things quickly escalate as the primary suspect for the assault also becomes the primary suspect for a police officer's death--and he asks Natalie to help him clear his name, as well as the name of his brother who was convicted of murdering his own wife years before. Although she tries to distance herself from the case, Natalie finds she is becoming more and more bound to the center of it all. She and Gideon must find the truth and report it before the murderer tries to silence her forever. Review: I liked how this book didn't take long to really get going. Almost from the first chapter it was a whirlwind of detail! There were plenty of confusing, plot-twisting clues. I have to be honest though, the whirlwind-like quality of the plot flow made it a li...

Image courtesy of Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Capture-Heart-Proper-Romance-Victorian/dp/1639930515   My Rating: 4 Stars During the summer 1886, Eva Caldwell finds herself employed as photographer for a 10-day fundraising party, hosted by Detective Inspector Nathaniel Winston's mother at the Winston family estate in Seaside. Nathaniel and Eva agree to act enamored with one another to help Nathaniel stave off a few marriage-hungry harpies that have been invited to the party. As the party rolls on, two things become apparent: their affection for one another may not just be a show, and someone on the premises has murderous intentions. Eva and Nathaniel must have the courage to share their true feelings for one another and outwit the villain before he claims his victims. This is a cute companion story to Nancy Campbell Allen's other book, The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart . I enjoyed the appearance of a few familiar characters throughout the course of this story.  The roman...

  My Rating: Four Stars This book offers a fascinating glimpse into life as a royal under Queen Victoria’s rule. The story follows Princess Louise, who was the fourth daughter and sixth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England, during a ten-year period from age 13 until age 23.  T he book is well-named because it seems like Queen Victoria attempts–and often succeeds–to control as much of Louise’s life as possible, despite the princess's fiercely independent nature. At times this book felt a bit slow-paced and at other times the text was fairly repetitive. However, the work as a whole is worth recognizing because it is very well-researched and there are even historical notes included at the back of the book. I found these just as interesting to read as the story itself.  I will give warning: do not pick up this book expecting it to be a historical romance. Yes, it does take place during a historic time period, and yes, there is some romance. However, I would c...

    My Rating: 5 Stars Marseille, France, 1792. Civil unrest and tension grip French society as revolution becomes more and more likely. Marie-Caroline--a royalist, and Gilles--a Jacobin, are caught in the middle of the uncertainty. Though technically in the same social class, they see things very differently and cannot help but feel like oil and water around each other. That is, until circumstances require that they learn trust each other or suffer dire consequences. Can a precarious relationship survive between Marie-Caroline and Gilles when betrayal and violence between their respective political parties seem to swirl around them? I was very impressed by the character development in this book. It felt to me like Marie-Caroline had it all figured out from the beginning and her character development wasn't nearly as stark as Gilles'. Gilles, however, began the story as a young revolutionary who allowed others to think for him, and grew into a man, dedicated to his family and ...

  My Rating: 5 Stars Synopsis: Indomitable amputee. Actress. Factory worker. Idealist. The the people that helped defend justice and humanity during World War II came from varied backgrounds and with varied skill sets. However, when freedom was on the line, each dug deep and found ways they could help fight against Nazi Germany and its allies. Each made incredible sacrifices--and for many, those sacrifices affected their daily life for the remainder of their lives, even after the war was won. In honoring these real, flesh-and-blood people, their stories need to be told, their courage and selflessness must never be forgotten. Review: I really enjoyed this book. I usually really enjoy a good WWII story to begin with, but I find it particularly exciting that these stories are real. They really happened, and it is humbling to realize that their incredible courage--which often placed them right in front of death itself--was real too. To think a human being can be so courageous, so self-...

Image Credit: Shadow Mountain Publishers My Rating: 5 Stars London, 1885--During a time of surging societal changes, naive Amelie Hampton has joined the ranks of respectable working women and is employed at The Marriage Gazette , where she corresponds with readers and occasionally tries her hand at matchmaking. She longs for the day when she meets her true love and her lofty romantic ideals color her outlook on life. Grouchy Detective Michael Baker does not possess a natural affinity for tact, but he does have a strong intuition. This aids him when a young woman’s body is pulled from the Thames and he cannot rest until he discovers the circumstances leading to her death. After a chance meeting, Amelie agrees to help Michael gather information on a suspect. As they become more and more involved in the case, they begin to develop a relationship deeper than camaraderie--which is a beautiful surprise to both of them. However, all is not roses and daydreams, as the villain is watching them ...

  My Rating: 5 Stars Following an explosion at an airport, Stella the beagle is retired from her service as a security dog, only to be passed from home to home. Just when it seems that Stella has no hope of a happy future, a dog trainer named Esperanza decides to take Stella in so she can help Stella heal from her psychological trauma. The true healing comes when Stella bonds with Esperanza's daughter Cloe, who needs Stella just as much as Stella needs her.  This was a very cute book, and perfect for children and youth from late elementary through middle school grades. The story is told from Stella's perspective and you see how she yearns to love and be loved following the traumatic incident in the airport where she used to work. Her perspective is fairly naive, but very sincere. I think young kids would connect with her and her new owner, Cloe.  Content Guide: Sex & Affection: None Language: None Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse: None Crime & Violence: Some delinq...

  My Rating: 5 Stars "I AM INTELLIGENT" Charity is 13 years old, loves strawberry milkshakes, learning new facts about animals, and hanging out with her dad and grandpa. She also cannot control her body,  cannot speak, and, although people on the outside don't realize it, she cannot stand that she receives constant judgment and pity from everyone around her. She wants to be seen as the  real person that she is. When she enrolls in public school, she must choose to either be defeated by the judgement of peers and faculty, or persevere to show them how she, despite her physical challenges, is real-- just like them. Wow. Wow! This book was incredible. It's a short read, but it conveys a powerful message! I found myself re-evaluating how I interact with people who are physically and neurologically different from me. Charity has so much soul, and yet people assume that she is mentally inferior and incapable of learning because, despite all her efforts and willpower, she ...

 My Rating: 2 stars Cadence Piper longs to belong and to be needed. When the war between the North and the South breaks out, she answers the call for nurses. At first she is dismissed from the relief effort because she is far too young and pretty. She finally gets her wish when she is asked to help a local army hospital when they are short-staffed and at full capacity. Dr. Joshua Ivy, brooding and passionate, oversees an army hospital in Washington, DC during the war over slavery. His life is full of secrets and he feels a deep sense of duty to help abolish the slave trade and the evil that it breeds. He doesn't care to have the pretty, altruistic nurse Cadence help him in his hospital, but realizes he needs her help, even if he doesn't want it. Over time, Cadence and Joshua develop a bond, both in their professional and personal lives, that helps them find the hope that comes from Jesus' love amidst horrors of war, personal shortcomings, and evil men intent on destroying a...

  My Rating: 3 Stars   Susan Jennings is unmarried, and, though long past the threshold of spinsterhood at age 30, she is happy with her life. She bears the role of the doting aunt, devoted daughter and sister, and prides herself on her extraordinarily sharp intellect. As a result she cares very little for what society has to offer.  George Kendall has had too many close calls with death. After recovering from a deadly illness, he determines it is time to search for a wife in earnest. He simply cannot stand the flirtatious and scheming young ladies of society intent on securing wealth and a title. After crossing paths, both Susan and George cannot deny utter loathing for one another. However, when George is cornered by the Prince Regent and must either claim engagement to a young lady or suffer an arranged marriage, the only name that comes to George’s mind is the name of Miss Susan Jennings. Once he has claimed engagement to her, he--and Susan--must follow through and le...

  My Rating: 3.5 Stars Mary and Martha are two very different sisters. Mary loves to learn, study prophecies, and even lingers outside the synagogue in the hopes of catching pieces of knowledge unavailable to women of her time. Martha keenly feels her responsibilities at home and places great emphasis on fulfilling her duties. Both sisters live with their brother Lazarus, who is a wealthy olive oil merchant, and his young family. Then one day, amidst the toil and bustle of small village life, Jesus Christ enters their lives and things take a turn. Discipleship brings unexpected friendships and unexpected challenges. Each sibling must learn for themselves how Jesus' teachings apply personally to them, and the hope and healing that only He can provide. For anyone who enjoys a nice biblical retelling, I would give this book a 4-Star rating. For my own personal tastes though, I give it a 3-Star rating. I'm going to be completely open here--Scriptural fiction is not really my cup of...

My Rating: 3 Stars Piper Green: noun. Spunky and big-hearted female 2nd grader who misses her 14-year-old brother terribly. She manifests this ache in her heart by insisting on wearing green monkey earmuffs and playing hooky from school. After some misadventures, all is made right in the end. She manifests this ache in her heart by insisting on wearing green monkey earmuffs and playing hooky from school. After some misadventures, all is made right in the end. I just have to say, Tavia Gilbert does a phenomenal job narrating this book. She really brings the book to life and makes it interesting. Her voices for each character are so distinct, I actually listened to parts of the book over again specifically to figure out if there really was just one person narrating the book or if there was a full cast that, for whatever reason, wasn’t listed in the credits. Her voices for each character really are that distinct from one another! It blew me away. Her voice for Piper Green is mildly nasal-...

My Rating: 4 Stars Confident and daring Rebecca Rowley has carefully crafted a plan that will simultaneously bring her lifelong happiness and get to the bottom of her family's fifteen-year-old fallout with her father's former business partner. However, as Rebecca begins to investigate her father's old business journal and in the meantime becomes acquainted with principled and dashing Lieutenant Avery next door, she finds that her carefully laid plans begin to unravel. In order to make sense of her heart and her family, she must learn what it means to truly love and truly forgive.  At a Glance:  I liked this book a lot. The writing is delightfully witty--it had me laughing throughout the whole story! There is situational humor and no end of witty banter between all characters. Joanna Barker's writing is fluid and engaging. She weaves a story that is both light and deliberate in tone, much like Rebecca Rowley's personality. I found the characters are well-developed an...

  My Rating:   Four Stars "I don't think we fully comprehend what our purposes are, but we can be sure we all have one. And each is different. Even though we do not know, is it not true that we are stronger together?"  Europe, 1900. Molly Cooper is on holiday with her family in Europe, but this isn't an ordinary holiday. Her twin brother, sickly from birth, is faltering in health. Molly is accompanying her brother and their parents as they travel to the Black Sea via the Orient Express to seek treatment for her brother's physical condition. Molly has become near-obsessed with the book Dracula  and her obsession has given birth to a secret plan that will not only cure her brother of his physical ailments, but will also require her to leave the Orient Express and the companionship of her family in the secret of night, to travel through the mountains of Transylvania--alone. At a glance: I liked this book! It had something for everyone--adventure, suspense, danger, ...

  My Age Range: Birth to 6 years This is a beautifully illustrated children's book that follows a girl who takes matters into her own hands after finding her parents are too busy to spend time with her.  The writing in this book is spare and it makes for a very quick read. It would be suitable to read to an infant all the way up to a young school-aged child. The illustrations are beautifully done and worth taking time to digest.  I found this book to be particularly interesting on a few points--first, that the girl is brave enough to spend the night by herself in the woods, and secondly, that her parents find her at her favorite place in the end. This book feels instructive to both children and parents alike. It highlights courage and initiative in children to find their own constructive entertainment. The book seems to caution parents to give proper time and attention to their children or else they may turn to other sources for comfort and entertainment. The final emotio...

My Rating: 5 Stars  I really enjoyed this book! Not only is it fun because I'm familiar with the area where it takes place, but it is a sweet romance set amidst adventure, mystery, and suspense. Madison Bloom is is a very relatable main character, what with personal shortcomings, a dysfunctional family, and general feelings of self-doubt.  It is very fun and very clean--there is no language nor passionate displays of affection. Madison's relationship with her boyfriend, Nathan, is both supportive and uplifting. There is one scene where Nathan's shirt is unbuttoned, but there is nothing sensational about it. This book has a little of a Cinderella feel where the underdog hits the relationship jackpot and in turn she learns to see her own self-worth. I give this book five stars because of its engaging plot,  squeaky-cleanness, and good character development.

Welcome to The Christian Book Report! I am so glad that you are here. The purpose of this blog is to help people connect to uplifting media to support them on their path in following Jesus Christ. I have a firm belief that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ inspire people to create beautiful things and that They want us to enjoy and appreciate beauty. Some time ago I found a book I wanted to read in our library catalog, but because it was a new release there were only a handful of reviews on it. I also wanted a specifically Christian perspective on this book because I consider myself to have strict standards for my media selections and I really didn't want to run into any immorality or particularly strong language. I couldn't find what I was looking for, but I figured there had to be other people out there that would appreciate a resource for book reviews from a morally conservative standpoint. Thus, The Christian Book Report was born. I recognize there are near numberless Christ...