April's Books with Dienece

Hi, I'm Dienece!

My first name is an alternative spelling of Denise, and I'm a former Georgia Belle turned Aussie.

I ploughed through so many books this month, so let's just jump right in and talk about them!

(FYI, I only read 1 TBR book this month, and that was Donna's book. Everything else was new.)

Historical

Miss Westwood and the Lake by Iris Lim

Clean Regency Romance

I love an honourable hero, and James was that. He's a little naive but endearingly so. And I love that he was honourable even to his own detriment. That was really nice to read.

Felicia is very much like Anne Elliot and Fanny Price. The good girl, wrong done by and you can't wait for her to be richly rewarded. And she is, with a little humour thrown in too! I also liked that she was three years older than him. You don't get that often in Regency tropes.

A very sweet and enjoyable read of a deserving couple.

Pursued Beyond Treachery by Teah Kemp Weight

Clean Regency Romance

I love a good friends to more romance and the author adds in some good secondary threads to help carry the story through. The hero is endearingly shy and suffers from a stutter around beautiful women. Hence why he struggles to speak to the heroine! And she doesn't know what to think or why he's suddenly stopped talking to her after years of friendship. A charming couple.

I also loved the secondary characters. They added to the story, made it richer and deeper without taking away from the main couple. Even though I haven't read book 1. This still worked.

This is a clean and wholesome story. Well worth the read. No faith content.

Where Love Illumines by Donna Fletcher Crow

Inspirational Georgian romance

A wonderful, challenging, and surprisingly relatable read. I loved how the fellow struggles to walk his faith. Does he keep doing the right thing when it might cost him everything? How many times will he be knocked down? How can he get his happy ending?

And while I didn't like the heroine that much at first, I knew it was because she had so much to change. And the more I read her, the more I saw the church goers of today. Yes, this is the timeline with the big white wigs and outlandish styles, but the author writes it tastefully and still I could see modern Christianity in the heroine, even down to her fashion choices. Those who think attending church and saying all the right things is all that's needed. Those who are called and almost come but then are taken up by the cares of the day. Those who think the newest, latest fashion is more important than what God thinks. It's really quite relatable. Well done, Crow!

It's a little slow in parts because of the time appropriate language, but I loved reading that too even if it slowed the tempo a little. It's well worth the read. It has a happily-ever-after ending, but make sure you read the author's note at the end. You'll be surprised to learn the parts of the story which are historically accurate and based on fact! I'd tell you but that would ruin the story.

A great read with a good spiritual challenge against apathy and being strong against spiritual opposition from within and without.

The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen

Inspirational Regency Romance

I loved this series, but this book was my favourite. I don't normally like books where the girl ran off and ended up in disgrace, but this one was different. The family dynamics were spot on. The moments between the sisters, the struggles to forgive yourself and others. It was a touching, special read.

And I loved how the widowed hero had married his half India, half white wife. Their daughter was gorgeous! I also enjoyed how it talks about the social prejudices of that day honestly and with grace. It's a really special read.

Contemporary

A Hero's Nature Sandra Ardoin

Inspirational romance

Squeal! It was finally here! Feels like I've been waiting forever for this book, but it was worth the wait. Loved the characters. Loved the complexity of their issues, loved how it gets resolved. Also loved all the secondary characters. And I already can't wait for the next book! Just go read this friends-to-more story already! :)

Shattered Lullaby by Laura Scott Love Inspired Suspense

This one has less bullets than his twin's book (the one I read last month) which is good considering there is a three-month-old along for the ride. I appreciated that. But it's still got action, especially the start. I did love the time they spend together taking care of the baby. It was nice to see what they'd be like as a family.

An enjoyable read with some good twists to keep you guessing!

Fantasy

Lumen by J. J. Fischer

Christian Fantasy

This is book 2 of a trilogy and where the faith starts to come into the series. I loved how the author wrote this. The hero and heroine are sceptical of this 'ordinary-looking' man who tells them to call upon Him when they need Him. And encourages them to just believe in Him. And yet, it all seems too simple for the heroine and hero. They fight back unwilling to believe and struggling to maintain control over their lives. How often we do that!

And what a mess it makes, but I can't say more because that leads into book 3. I kinda devoured this book. She was looking for her family, wondering about the two boys--which one will she choose?--and finally learning about God and the trinity. I finished it quickly and couldn't wait for book 3 to arrive!

Memoria by J. J. Fischer

Christian Fantasy

This is the last book of a trilogy and my absolute favourite. In fact, I think it's probably going to be in my top 5 for this year.

I don't reread books often, and never if I just read them. But I re-read this one twice and the ending 4 times!

The faith element really comes to shine in this book. It's so special and interesting, hence why I read it four times. Seriously, my best recommend is just go read it already. The writing is intense and sweet. It sweeps you along in the story. I mean that's why I read the ending 4 times because I wanted to read it slow to savour it, but I kept getting swept up and devouring it. Then I'd go back and read it again.

There were turns I didn't see coming and fascinating parts to the story. A great read. Looking forward to the spin off standalone novel, Caligo, coming out this year!

Kid's Fiction

(otherwise known as books I'm reading to my kids)

Mandie and the Dangerous Imposters by Lois Gladys Leppard

Ages 12-14

Mandie is back in America after touring around Europe, and there's a mystery with her Cherokee kinspeople. White men are digging holes around the mountain, and a troublesome boy is missing. Can Mandie figure out the mystery? (spoiler, she always does!)

Note: I've lost the book before this one, but this book lets you know that Mandie's little brother died in the book before. Since I cry at everything, I'm kinda glad that book went missing.

Secret Agent Dingledorf and his trusty dog, Splat by Bill Myers

Books 1-4

Ages 7-8

One sporty kid finds himself saving the world when a secret agency mistakenly believes he's a secret agent. The books are only 8 chapters long. It's a quick read if the adult is doing the reading. Has large text and pictures if the kid is doing the reading.

Note, this has a lot of 'boy' jokes. My kid loved the telephone underwear, eating worms, and a dog that runs into everything (hence the dog's name Splat), me not so much. HOWEVER, the first three books had very clear spiritual messages. Those are getting a little less clear as the series progresses, but it's still there. I appreciated that.

Book 1: Don't make people into what you think they ought to be. Let them be who God made them to be.

Book 2: Look out for others. Don't just 'look out for you.'

Book 3: Don't lie!

Book 4: Obey authority

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