Archive | October 2024

A Noble Scheme by Roseanna White

Oct14

The Steadfast Love Of God

A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M White is a thrilling Christian Edwardian novel that consumed me from the start. It is the second book in The Imposters series and whilst it can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading the books in order for character progression and development.

Questions that arose in book one, find answers here. We now know why two characters are estranged. The animosity continues in A Noble Scheme as we see a character acknowledging that her mood is hurting herself. “I don’t want to miss the future because I’ve been crippled by the past.” Living in the past is unhealthy. By all means, visit the past but do not linger there.

Grief is handled differently by different characters. No two grief journeys are ever the same. We meet a character who has never grieved properly. To grieve is to admit to the loss, and that is far too painful. She swapped her tears for anger. “Hate was a horrible thing. It … consumed her.” Hate will destroy us from the inside out. Hate and anger projected onto God, will block our view of His love. “God wasn’t withholding love or forgiveness. But her heart was too cold to receive it.” The weather also mirrors a heart as it is icy and snowy.

Another character is also angry with God. The character does not own his choices, preferring to believe that God is a vengeful God. “Luck … didn’t believe in that any more than he did in God’s mercy.” Hearts that have known God will always want to be back with Him. “He wanted His Lord back … he wanted to trust that God was good back.” In his heart “he wanted to be the man who could believe.” All heaven rejoices when a prodigal returns home. “He’s waiting … God hasn’t given up on you.”

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The Lost Letters Of Christmas by Lisa Renee Ruggeri

Oct12

Christmas Cheer

The Lost Letters Of Christmas by Lisa Renee Ruggeri is a charming children’s Christmas novel that is perfect for ages ten years and over. It is a novel that will delight you whatever your age as you receive a little bit of Christmas magic.

We see the effects of loneliness on two generations of girls who have lived in the same house. “She felt so far away from everything she loved” … due to a house move. The other young girl, twenty five years earlier had felt unloved and ignored, even by Father Christmas after she had written letters. “My parents don’t care about Christmas… They don’t even see me… I wanted to feel like I mattered to someone… I guess you’re [Santa] too busy, or maybe I’m not worth it.”

Both girls react differently to loneliness. One withdraws. The other throws herself into a project in order to give herself a purpose.

There is a mystery to solve – who is the little girl from twenty five years earlier?

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The Beforelife Of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson

Oct10

Whimsical & Beautiful

The Beforelife Of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson is a very unique and beautiful contemporary offering that I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep.

The novel surrounds four siblings in the beforelife. The reader gets to know them as the tale is told through the eyes of one of them. We witness the love and the rivalry. We see their desire to exist and their questions about what happens if they are never born.

This is a novel about love. It is not your conventional love story but it is a love story as we witness the ultimate in sacrificial love. This reminds the reader of Jesus’ words, “Greater love hath no man but that he lay down his life for his friends.”

This is also a book about parental love – and the lack of it, in some cases. Some people just do not have the capacity to love, treating their offspring with indifference at best, verbal cruelty at worst. The children are forever left wondering if the lack of love was their fault. This persists into adulthood as a grown up character says “all I needed was for you to be there.”

In contrast there is a father who loves deeply. His pregnant daughter asks for advice on parenting. “How did you get it so right?”… “I just loved you… I loved you more than anything else.” Her father expands further. “Making one decision after another, but if you base them all on the love you feel, I don’t think you can go far wrong.” Good parenting is nothing to do with the size of a bank balance but it is all about the love in our hearts.

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A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M White

Oct9

Exciting, Thrilling & Adventurous

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M White is an exciting Christian Edwardian novel that thrilled me from the start. It is the first book in The Imposters series which promises to be fabulous.

The action is set in 1909 London and moves to Northumberland. Life in London is sweltering and claustrophobic, in contrast to the freedom found up North.

Tensions are beginning to rise world-wide. Anything or anybody with German ties is viewed with suspicion. German roots are definitely suppressed.

We see that the life lead can sometimes be an illusion. People will believe what is put before their eyes with a cursory glance, rather than looking closely. This enables characters to blend in and move stealthily.

The Imposters are determined to seek out the truth. The blend in and move silently, unseen by all – except the one who has found love.

Females have been suppressed for years. We witness a character who breaks out of preconceived ideas. She is free to be her wild, untamed self.

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