January Reading Wrap-up

My reading year is off to a good start with 10 books read in January from a variety of genres.  I was able to cover some categories from my challenges as well as read on a whim.  Here are the genres I read from:

Mystery: 3
Historical fiction: 2
Romantic Comedy: 1
Classics: 1
Non-fiction: 1
Thriller/Suspense: 2

My favorites were:













Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie


 

The House on Foster Hill by Jamie Jo Wright




The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

 
The majority of my reading came from the library, which is typical for me.  Somehow, when I buy a book for my own shelves, that virtually guarantees I won't read it.  The allure of roaming a building full of books, pulling books off the shelf to look at and bringing home whatever I want for free wins out over selecting a book from my own shelves.  I have become very intentional with my book buying and would like to cultivate the habit of reading my new purchases before buying more.  Except for the ones that I have already read and would just like a copy of to reread at a future date or the ones that I am adding to a collection or the ones I just don't feel like reading right now...  So you see the problem I run into.  I purchased several new books in December and received some for Christmas.  I have not read any of them yet and would like to read at least one in the month of February.

Also in February I would like to read a biography or memoir and a children's book.  Other than that, I hope to cover some more categories from my challenges as well as read serendipitously.

How was your January reading?  What do you hope to read in February?

Book Review: Promised Land by Robert Whitlow

Promised Land (Chosen People #2)

Author:  Robert Whitlow

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (2020)

400 pages

"For now, America is our promised land."

Hana and Daud are Israeli citizens who are living in the United States.  It is no longer safe for them to live in their homeland because of a terrorist ring with a bounty on Daud's head.  Previously, Daud worked for the Shin Bet, the Israeli equivalent of the FBI.  Currently, he is freelancing with the CIA.  Hana is a lawyer working for a law firm in Atlanta.  She speaks four languages so much of her work involves translating documents and acting as interpreter in meetings.  Hana is perfectly content living in the United States.  Daud, however, longs to return to Isreal.  

On Daud's most recent job with the CIA, his identity may have been compromised.  He is working with his CIA contact to cover his tracks.

Hana is contacted by an old friend and fellow litigator who would like her help on case involving ancient artifacts stolen near the end of World War II.  Meanwhile, her boss at the law firm has asked her to speak at an interfaith forum about Isreal.  Hana has a unique perspective as a Christian Arab and Israeli citizen.  After speaking with Daud, she agrees to take part.  Daud is hired to provide security for the event.  This will be a tough job as the potential for terrorist activity is high.  Will Daud be able to provide the security needed?  Will the terrorist ring who is after him be able to locate him?

This is the second book in the Chosen People series.  I would definitely read the first book, Chosen People, before reading this one.  Promised Land continues the story started in Chosen People.  One of the things I really enjoy about this series is the peek into a different culture.  In both books, some time is spent in the Middle East.  But also, the heritage of the characters is shown in their daily lives in America.  I especially enjoy the descriptions of the food eaten.

"The granola included rolled oats, multiple kinds of chopped nuts, coconut flakes, apricots, raisins, dried pineapple, and diced dried dates as a sweetener.  Dates were Hana's childhood candy.  She ate her granola mixed with plain organic yogurt." (pg. 93)

"Hana dumped cut up peppers and onions into a saucepan of olive oil..."

"Hana waited until the last minute to add the thinly cut pieces of Kobe steak to the onions and peppers sizzling in the pan.  She didn't want to overcook the expensive steak strips." (pg. 110)

"Daud hadn't eaten lunch and fixed a sandwich of salami and spicy Italian ham on ciabatta bread topped with provolone cheese, hot pickled peppers, and a sauce made with lime juice, garlic, and oregano that Hana kept in the refrigerator. (pg. 139)

The deep faith of both Hana and Daud comes through in the author's description of Hana's prayer times in the middle of the night, as well as the prayer times they have together.  The faith aspect is a very natural part of the story as it is just part of who Hana and Daud are.  The author's attention to the details of daily life make the characters really come to life.  This was a satisfying read.

Book Review: The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

The Secrets of Paper and Ink

Author:  Lindsay Harrel

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (2019)

326 pages

Sophia Barrett, a women's counselor, has spent the last three months doing little more than reading and napping.  This was how she was healing after having a mental breakdown in a grocery store on the one year anniversary of her fiancee's death.  Her best friend and boss, gave her three months' paid leave from work to heal.  But now she's ready to get back to work.  At least she thought she was until her first client is an abuse victim.  The client lied and said she was seeking counseling for anxiety.  Not only did Sophia's fiancee die, but he had also been abusing her.  The client's story brings back far too many memories and she flees the counseling session.  When her boss finds her at a book store, she encourages her to take the summer off.  That is the last thing Sophia wants to do, but realizes it is what she must do.  But, she can't spend every day for the next three months napping and reading.  As she is rereading one of her favorite books that takes place in Cornwall, England, she spontaneously decides to spend her three months there.

Ginny Rose and her husband Garrett moved to Cornwall, England five years ago to realize Garrett's dream of opening a book store.  Several months ago, Garrett decided he needed to find himself and went to live in London for a while in order to do so.  Ginny was left to run the bookstore.  Rosebud Books is in financial trouble.  After being denied a loan from the local bank, Ginny is desperate to find a way to bring in more money.  There is a flat above the book store that has been sitting empty.  She cleans it up and puts an ad on a vacation rental site.  

When Sophia sees the ad for the flat, it sounds perfect to her.  She books it for the summer and makes her way to Cornwall.  Sophia and Ginny connect instantly.  While Sophia is helping out at the book store she comes across a notebook in a box of donated books.  It is a story about a woman named Emily who lived in the late 1800's.  Who wrote it?  Is it real or fiction?  Sophia wants to discover all she can about the notebook.

The novel follows three story lines; Sophia's, Ginny's and Emily's.  The chapters alternate between the three voices.  It was so interesting to see the three stories come together showing the beautiful way God can work in our lives.  The importance of story was illustrated in the way Sophia used books to heal.  She would read her favorite books over and over and this brought her comfort.  She also deeply connected with Emily's story and felt compelled to find out more about it.  This also helped her heal.  While this is a story about healing, it is also about friendship and family dynamics.  There is some romance and the mystery of the notebook.  The descriptions of the small village of Port Willis in Cornwall were delightful and made me want to visit.  The one weakness in the novel for me was the faith theme.  There was very little mention of the place that faith played in any of the characters lives in the first part of the book, or maybe it was just very subtle.  So, I found it unrealistic when later in the book Sophia, after reading a few sentences written by Emily, realizes that what has been missing in her life is faith in God and that she is "slowly opening myself back up to that childlike faith I had once upon a time".  I didn't realize she previously had a "childlike faith".   But, even with that weakness, this was a delightful read.

Book Review: Counter Culture by David Platt

A Compassionate Call To Counter Culture in a World of Poverty, Same-Sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Persecution, Abortion, Orphans, and Pornography

Author:  David Platt

Publisher:  Tyndale House (2015)

267 pages

"'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me' (Luke 9:23).  Talk about countercultural.  In a world where everything revolves around yourself - protect yourself, promote yourself, comfort yourself, and take care of yourself - Jesus says, 'Crucify yourself.  Put aside all self-preservation in order to live for God's glorification, no matter what that means for you in the culture around you.  And isn't this, after all, the main issue in any culture?  Maybe better stated, isn't he the main issue in any culture?  What if the main issue in our culture today is not poverty or sex trafficking, homosexuality or abortion?  What if the main issue is God?  And what might happen if we made him our focus instead?"

David Platt hopes to compel Christians to not "quietly sit and watch evolving cultural trends", but rather to "courageously share and show our convictions through what we say and how we live".  He readily admits that he has seen a tendency in his own life to engage in certain social issues, while neglecting others.  In this book, he invites us to explore some of these issues in light of the gospel.  

The book has 10 chapters covering different social issues:

1.  The Gospel and Culture

2.  The Gospel and Poverty

3.  The Gospel and Abortion

4.  The Gospel and Orphans and Widows

5.  The Gospel and Sex Slavery

6.  The Gospel and Marriage

7.  The Gospel and Sexual Morality

8.  The Gospel and Ethnicity

9.  The Gospel and Religious Liberty

10.  The Gospel and the Unreached

In each chapter he gives examples of the particular issue in our country and around the world, includes Scripture about the issue and expands on what the Scripture means, and shares how the issue has impacted his own life.  At the end of each chapter is a section called "First Steps to Counter Culture" where he includes bullet point lists of steps we can take.  He includes things to pray for, actions to take and truths from Scripture.

I found the book easy to read and very helpful.  It will make a great reference book to keep on my shelf when I need to be reminded of what Scripture says on these issues.  

Book Review: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Death on the Nile

Author:  Agatha Christie

Publisher:  Harper Collins (2001, first published 1937)

373 pages

"The book has a lot of characters and a very elaborately worked out plot.  I think the central situation is intriguing and has dramatic possibilities, and the three characters, Simon, Linnet, and Jacqueline, seem to me to be real and alive."  (Agatha Christie, from the Author's Forward)

I think this quote sums up Death on the Nile nicely.  The central story line is a love triangle involving Simon, Linnet, and Jacqueline.  Simon and Jacqueline were engaged to be married when Jacqueline asks her best friend, Linnet, who happens to be the one of the richest girls in England, to give Simon a job as a Land Agent.  He is out of a job and has no money and Jacqueline loves him so.  Somewhere along the way Linnet steals Simon from Jacqueline.  The next we meet them, they are on a honeymoon trip to Egypt, cruising down the Nile.  

Hercule Poirot is on holiday in Egypt and definitely not working.  Only, he can't stop his brain from noticing things.  Simon and Linnet are on their honeymoon and Jacqueline has followed them.  She has been hurt and wants to cause trouble for Simon and Linnet and her presence seems to agitate them.  Hercule Poirot notices her and has a conversation with her where he says this, 

"It is deeper than that.  Do not open your heart to evil."

"Poirot went on gravely;  'Because - if you do - evil will come... Yes, very surely evil will come... It will enter in and make its home within you, and after a little while it will no longer be possible to drive it out.'"

Before long a murder has occurred.  There are plenty of other characters on the cruise who have their own secrets, but the obvious murderer seems to be Jacqueline.  But that seems too simple...  And so begins the investigation.  

This was my first time reading Death on the Nile and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I love the meticulous way Hercule Poirot works through the case and then finally explains it to the other investigator (and the reader) who can't quite figure it out.  

Book Review: The Solace of Water by Elizabeth Byler Younts

The Solace of Water

Author:  Elizabeth Byler Younts

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (2018)

359 pages

It's April 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama.  It has been a month since Delilah Evans buried her 4-year-old son.  She wears her grief like a cloak.  The entire family is grieving, but Delilah thinks she deserves to grieve more than the rest.  She can hardly look at her 15-year-old daughter, Sparrow.  She blames her for the death of her son.  She should have been watching him.  Malachi Evans has decided his family needs a change.  He grew up in Sinking Creek, Pennsylvania.  An old friend asks him to come and take the job as pastor of the church.  Delilah doesn't like the idea of being so far from the grave of her boy, but is looking forward to starting over somewhere new.  As they drive into the town, Malachi points out that there are no signs here saying "Whites Only" or "Colored Only".  Delilah can't imagine what it would be like to use the same door or the same bathroom as the white folks.  Maybe things will be better here.

At their new home, the Evans' closest neighbor is an Amish family,  John and Emma Mullet and their teenage son, Johnny.  The lot had fallen to John Mullet to be head deacon of their church.  However, John and Emma have their own secrets.  John is a drunk and has been using the communion wine to support his dependency.  Emma knows his secret.  In fact, she helps him by slipping some alcohol in his coffee cup when they have company so John can get through the meeting.  She knows it is wrong, but she loves her husband and wants to help him do the important work that he does.  Emma has her own secret as well.  She has been taking herbs for years to prevent her from becoming pregnant.  

Delilah and Emma come from such different worlds.  Will they be able to overcome their differences and become friends?

This novel is beautifully written.  It is not an easy read however.  The story deals with several weighty issues.  The main theme is grief and how people deal with it in different and often destructive ways.  Delilah is holding tightly to her grief.  She is no longer the person she used to be, but is cold and angry especially to those she loves the most.  She can't forgive her daughter, Sparrow.  She blames her for the death of her son because she was supposed to be watching her brothers, but had left them and gone further into the woods with a boy.  Sparrow feels her mom's unforgiveness every day.  On top of the grief of losing her brother, she feels the weight of being unwanted by her mother.  She just wants to pain to go away.  Soon she begins hurting herself as a way to relieve some of the pain.

Emma lost a daughter through still birth.  It was then that she started taking the herbs to prevent pregnancy.  She couldn't bear the thought of losing another child.  And, after John started drinking, she didn't feel he would be a good father to another child.  Emma is grieving her daughter, but also the life that she could have had.  She feels she is drowning in secrets and sin.  

The chapters alternate between Delilah and Emma and sometimes Sparrow.  It was easy to follow and gave the reader good insight into the characters.  The time in history adds another aspect to the story.  It was interesting to see how the issue of segregation was handled in two different parts of the country.  The novel ends in hope, but takes a long time to get there.  If you are looking for an uplifting read, this is not the book for you.

Book Review: Sweet Tea and Secrets by Joy Avon

Sweet Tea and Secrets (A Tea and Read Mystery #2)

Author:  Joy Avon

Publisher:  Crooked Lane Books (2019)

288 pages

In this second book in the Tea and Read Mystery Series, Callie Aspen has left her job as a travel guide to move to Heart's Harbor, Maine to help her Great Aunt Iphy at Book Tea. She continues to question whether she has made the right decision. It all seems so final. She really liked her job as a travel guide, but she is looking forward to helping Aunt Iphy at Book Tea and in the preservation of Haywood Hall, a rambling old house on the outskirts of Heart's Harbor. She is also looking forward to growing her relationship with Deputy Falk. However, she is not sure if they have a relationship as he didn't respond to the emails she sent him.

Aunt Iphy is thrilled to have Callie living in Heart's Harbor and has arranged a cottage for her to rent. The cottage has been uninhabited for several years and could use some updating. So, Iphy took the liberty of posting a notice at the community center looking for help with the updates. When they arrive at the cottage, they find a man with a clipboard inspecting the outside of the cottage. He tells them he is answering the notice from the community center and thought he would get started right away. He introduces himself as Quinn. Although it seems a little odd that he would show up this way, he seems like a good fit for the job. While Quinn is looking around inside the cottage, Aunt Iphy tells Callie she would like her to arrange something spectacular about the history of Heart's Harbor to present before the fireworks at the Fourth of July party they are planning on the grounds of Haywood Hall. Quinn overhears and suggests that the newspaper archives would be a good place to start and offers to go with her. Who is this mysterious man? Why is he being so helpful?

While at the newspaper archives, Quinn mentions the mystery of the movie star who disappeared from Heart's Harbor over thirty years ago. Callie decides that would make an interesting presentation and decides to find out more. Their first stop is to see the Editor-in-chief of the local newspaper. He was a reporter when the disappearance occurred. They don't learn much from him, except that he doesn't want to talk about the disappearance. The next morning, he is found dead at his office. Who would want to kill him? Is it related to the disappearance?

There are several mysteries at play in this story. One is Quinn. Is he really who he says he is? Why is he really in town? The second is the disappearance that was never solved. And the third is the murder of the Editor-in-chief. By the end of the story, after several twists and turns, all three are solved. As well as the mystery of why Deputy Falk didn't return Callie's emails. Aunt Iphy has a small part in this story. Very little time is spent at Book Tea or Haywood Hall. Much of the story is spent on building the character of Quinn. At first Callie is suspicious of him, but once she sees some of the truth behind his motivations, she becomes a good friend to him. I hope to see him in future books. The cute Boston Terrier, Daisy is back. And some of the other characters from the first book as well. This was an entertaining read that ends on a hopeful note.