Tag: dual time periods

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Specters in the Glass House: (A Haunting Dual-Time Inspirational Gothic Suspense Book)

336 pages Bethany House Publishers October 1, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

An ominous butterfly house. A sinister legacy. An untraceable killer.

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron’s empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family’s Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian’s sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer’s ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer’s quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold’s mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian’s great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

MY THOUGHTS

Specters in the Glass House is perfect for the spooky reading season. Unlike quite anything I’ve read before this book goes beyond leaving you feeling spooked to feeling a bit unsettled. Written in alternating timeline from 1921 to modern days.

The book is about mental illnesses, several different types but the author does it well and writes with sensitivity. Mental illness is so hard to get a grasp on and we yet don’t have a clear understanding of it.

As I read it was hard to put my finger on what was reality and what was perceived as almost as a dream state by a main character. I enjoyed the characters and seeing how well developed they were as their stories became clearer.

Disembodied voices, a feeling of not being alone, dealing with what is reality and what is not as the mind plays tricks on you, a hint of romance and butterflies, I’ve never thought of butterflies as creepy before.

Excellent read for its many twists and turns that’ll keep you glued to the pages.

Recommended!

About the Author

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of twelve novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She’s also a four-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater, and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines. Learn more at JaimeWrightBooks.com.

Thank you for stopping in. May your light shine bright.

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By Evening’s Light: (A Dual-Time Amish Christian Fiction Book Set in Cold War Germany and Present-Day Lancaster County) (Amish Memories) 

416 pages Bethany House publishers August 20, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Treva Zimmerman finds herself at a crossroads in life after a heartbreaking failed relationship. Returning to Lancaster County to visit her Amish grandparents and elderly aunt, Treva plans to leave her Plain heritage behind for a fresh start in Alaska. Torn between the expectations of her community and her own desires, she seeks to follow her own path–but all that changes when her aunt Rosene suffers a heart attack.

As her aunt recounts her own past–a poignant journey through Cold War Germany and a fervent desire to escape her Plain life to search for a lost love–Treva is determined to discover the whereabouts of Rosene’s former sweetheart. Amid the turmoil, their former farmhand Gabe Johnson returns unexpectedly, throwing Treva’s plans into further disarray.

While working hard to save the farm and explore her own destiny, Treva confronts her deep-rooted ties to her heritage and must decide if she will embrace her family’s legacy or break free from the pressures of her past to forge a life of her own.

MY THOUGHTS

By Evening’s Light is the third and final book in the Amish Memories series. I enjoyed all three books in the series and fully recommend you read this series in order to get the full backstory with all the characters.
This is told as a dual timeline story.

Though taking place in an Amish community and incorporating the Amish culture into the book it is not strictly an Amish story. A character comes back from a missionary trip to Haiti not having expected things to work out the way they had.


We are transported back in time with a storytelling Aunt who tells of her struggles and joys during WWII in Germany.
I enjoyed how well the series was researched by the author, making for a fascinating and entertaining series.

The characters are well developed and perfectly imperfect with their own struggles and joys. I enjoyed reading their faith journeys.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of more than 48 novels, including four Lancaster County Amish series. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and an MFA in creative writing. She enjoys church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four adult children and two grandchildren. Learn more at LeslieGould.com.

Thank you for stopping in. Your visit is always appreciated.

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Black History Month Read: A Nurse’s Tale: An extraordinary and moving historical novel inspired by a true story of WW2!

384 pages One More Chapter publisher 07 Jul 2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Born Nigerian royalty, Princess Adenrele Ademola trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital in London and stepped up to serve the people of Britain when war broke out – facing both the devastation of the Blitz and the prejudice of some of the people she was trying to help.

80 years later, Ade’s great-niece Yemi arrives in London clutching the Princess’s precious diaries and longs to uncover the mysteries they hold…

MY THOUGHTS

Another beautiful read I’ve read for Black History month.
I find it so fascinating to read historical fiction book based on actual people and events such as this one is. Richly detailed, I’ll admit to having never reading about Nigeria and knew very little about its customs, people and foods and I found the learning process interesting.


This dual timeline effortlessly blends past and present this debut novel is one not to pass up.
Princess Adenrele Ademola was born Nigerian royalty, but you would not know by her actions. She only wants to help the people of Britan, training at Guy’s Hospital in London as a nurse, she receives no special treatment. She faces the devastating effects of WWII and prejudice behavior of some of those she is trying to help. She won’t let this stop her though.


Through diaries Yemi who also comes from Nigeria to London, the great niece of Ade and her friend Mike who’s relative was a friend of Ade are able to find out more about their families.


The story is magnificent and unique, I’ve never read a story taking place during WWII like this.
Though Adenrele Ademola faces many adversities she is strong, and she shines, not letting anyone hold her back.

Pub Date 07 Jul 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ola Awonubi was born in London to Nigerian parents. She grew up and attended school in Brighton and lived in Nigeria before returning to England in 1992. She now lives in London. An avid reader, she nursed the idea of getting back to writing – something she had enjoyed doing as a child and enrolled in some writing classes and went on obtain an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East London.

In 2008 her short story The Pink House, won first prize in the National words of colour competition. This was followed by another story – The Go- slow Journey, winning the first prize in the Wasafiri New writing prize 2009. Some of her short stories feature on blogs and journals and anthologies such as African writing.com, Afreada, The Ake Review, Brittle Paper, Wasafiri Magazine as well as various literary magazines, journals and on blogs.

Author of 7 books – Love’s Persuasion was published by Ankara Press – the Romance imprint of Cassava Press, Abuja. Nigeria in 2015. Her second book for the imprint – I love You Unconditionally was published in 2017. Her third book – an anthology of short stories – Naija Love Stories was published by Conscious Dreams Publishing in October 2018.

Her 4th book 14 Days and Other Stories is a romance novella and her 5th book Reasons Why I Need to Get Married Yesterday and Other Poems was published in 2019.

Her 6th book – Lovers, Leavers and Keepers was followed by her Christmas Novella – The Keresimesi Wish in 2020.

Her current historical fiction manuscript – ‘A Nurses Tale’ has been published by One More Chapter Books; an imprint of Harper Collins and is due for release in July 2023.

Thank you for visiting today.

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Giveaway for Leslie Gould’s new book, A Brighter Dawn and Review

Publication date March 28,2023 Bethany House Publisher Print length 425 pages

About The Book

Ivy Zimmerman is successfully navigating her life as a young Mennonite woman, one generation removed from her parents’ Old Order Amish upbringing. But when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, Ivy’s way of life is upended. As she deals with her grief, her younger sisters’ needs, the relationship with her boyfriend, and her Dawdi and Mammi’s strict rules, Ivy finds solace in both an upcoming trip to Germany for an international Mennonite youth gathering and in her great-great-aunt’s story about Clare Simons, another young woman who visited Germany in the late 1930s.

As Ivy grows suspicious that her parents’ deaths weren’t, in fact, an accident, she gains courage from what she learns of Clare’s time in pre-World War II Germany. With the encouragement and inspiration of the women who have gone before her, Ivy seeks justice for her parents, her sisters, and herself. –This text refers to the paperback edition.

My Thoughts

This is very different from any Amish/Mennonite book I have ever read. And right there I applaud this because with so many books out there it’s truly hard to stand out and be an original, but this book succeeds. I have read every Amish book that the author has put out and am very impressed. I have not read her contemporary books yet, but I am looking forward to doing so.
This book interestingly enough takes place during two time periods modern times and late 1930’s.
Anyone who has read enough of my reviews knows how appreciative I am of a very well researched book that I also learn things from. This book fits those criteria.

2014- Ivy Zimmerman, a young Mennonite woman is adjusting to life without her parents after a fatal car accident. She’s also a carer for her younger sisters’ needs and coping with the strictness of Dawdi and Mammi’s strict rules. She’s also trying to figure out if she feels comfortable continuing her relationship with her boyfriend.
To leave behind some stress she is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Germany for an international Mennonite youth gathering.

1930’s Germany- We find out about a family member’s story that happened during WWII. We also read some history of the Anabaptists, their persecution and the things they have gone through during this time period. The German’s quest to find the “perfect people” led to a lot of disgraceful experiments and eugenics. Though this is hard to read about it is an important thing to talk about and not forget. The book has many topics for discussion which adds to its interest. The flow between time periods is an easy transition. We see strong women in both time periods.

There is a revelation of the truth, and it adds a vulnerability to this character which makes the book even more realistic.
There are ups and downs and many surprises in this story. I loved this story and kept me reading. My husband also read this story and enjoyed it as much as I did.
Make sure to read the author’s notes at the back of the book, informative and interesting.

Pub Date 28 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Giveaway

The author is generously giving one copy away. Sorry, USA residents only due to postage costs. Starts 3/31 ends 4/7 2023.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2f42aca11/?

The Author

Leslie Gould is the best-selling and award-winning author of over forty novels. She loves research, traveling, and church history. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon and have four grown children and one grandchild. http://www.lesliegould.com/

Thank you for stopping in today. Have a wonderful day and good luck.