Archive | November 2025

Jacob’s Bell by John Snyder

Nov6

Rescued By An Angel

Jacob’s Bell by John Snyder is a powerful Christmas Christian novel that I loved.

The story is set in 1944 but also has flashbacks to the 1920’s as we follow a lead character who is estranged from his family.

Life was hard in America between the wars. A character slowly slides downwards as he keeps dubious company and seeks solace in alcohol and cigarettes. “His life quickly transformed from one of power and privilege, and respect to one of chaos and darkness.” A personal tragedy was the springboard to a life unravelling.

As we join the character in 1944, we see him regretting his choices. “Haunted by memories of the past, filled with regrets and what-ifs, he longed for love.” We cannot change the past but we can learn lessons from it.

We witness that there is power in forgiveness. “He realised the importance of forgiveness.” We forgive because we have been forgiven. Forgiveness is not a one-off event; it is a journey. “His journey towards forgiveness.” I loved this description: “Forgiveness is a gift that can’t be demanded, only requested through prayer and grace… I feel at peace with myself.”

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Graffiti Girls by Elissa Soave

Nov6

Sisterhood

Graffiti Girls by Elissa Soave is a powerful contemporary novel that consumed me from the start.

Graffiti Girls is set in Scotland and surrounds four female friends in their forties. The book is about sisterhood and supporting each other. The four have felt marginalised all their life but now they are in their forties, they seem invisible too. “The feeling of being useless as a shadow, and as insubstantial as one too, had crept up on her.” Together they highlight some of the wrongs in society.

Society has always been a patriarchal one. Even as children, they were exploited by a male teacher, feeling that they had to do as he said without question. “The way old Mouldy put it, it felt like we had no choice.”

Graffiti Girls is about having a voice and using it. “It is about striking back, making our voices heard.” They want to break out of society’s traditions and be free to be themselves. “We’re worth something, our lives matter.”

Each of the women is unique and with a very different home set up. What unites them is the way that they are all treated by the males they come across. “We’re here, we’re over forty but we’re still here. We won’t be ignored; we won’t be airbrushed out of the picture.” Graffiti Girls is about taking control – and as they do this, their lives are enriched. “It’s taken Graffiti Girls to wake me up and make me realise I need more from life.” The friends empower each other, and the wider female population too.

There are some very moving scenes where the women individually touch the lives of others. They see the lost and the hurting. They do not walk on without stopping and touching lives whatever the personal cost to them.

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A Family Christmas In Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen

Nov4

Closing The Gap

A Family Christmas In Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen is a most charming Contemporary Christmas novel that will warm your heart and leave you smiling. It is part of the Pelican Crossing series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once more Maggie Christensen has created a wonderful treasure chest full of characters as we catch up with familiar faces and get to know new ones. Pelican Crossing is a place of community where strangers become friends; and friends become family.

The leading characters are in their sixties and prove that life is for living whatever your age. At each new stage of life, there are new opportunities for fresh beginnings.

A character has spent a lifetime feeling hurt and angry. “It’s been a long time… I think I may be ready to… forgive her.” Forgiveness frees us from a prison of bitterness, enabling us to live light and free.

Another character finds himself single after losing the love of his life. There is life after loss. It will be different but one day you will smile again. “He missed her every day, but life had to go on.”

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An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M White

Nov3

Truth. Family. Love.

An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M White is a powerful historical Christian novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the third book in The Imposters series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I enjoyed meeting up with familiar faces, not only from earlier in the series but also from a previous series. This all helps to thoroughly immerse the reader within the tale.

The novel is set in 1912 in both Northumberland and London. The City is a grimy place full of dubious morals and entitled characters. In contrast, the air in Northumberland is fresh, and there is a lightness and freedom to be found. Kindness is the order of the day. The family help those whom society has marginalised. This care extends to widows and orphans too.

I loved the inclusion of the circus animals. Penelope, the monkey is adorable. They too, are saved from cruelty or worse.

There are the difficult themes of trafficking young girls and redundant ayahs into prostitution for the elite. This is sensitively tackled by Roseanna M White. We meet characters who are quite rightly outraged, and who will fight for those without a voice.

We see the importance of listening to the voice of God. “You’re too weak… It was mother’s voice in her head, reciting the phrase that had become her mantra.” Other voices speak lies to us. God’s voice speaks truth.

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