Archive | February 2016

The Steeplechase by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Feb12

Dastardly Villains and Handsome Heroes

The Steeplechase coverThe Steeplechase by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a good old fashioned Christian historical romantic adventure. There is something for everyone – a handsome hero, a brave and beautiful heroine, sibling rivalry, sibling bonding, a dastardly villain, talk of spies and duelling. I really enjoyed it and could not put it down.

The story is set in America in 1810. Any meetings or friendship with the British is viewed with suspicion. Martha’s stepmother is British so the whole family is viewed with caution. She is visiting her family in England. Martha is relieved to be free from her constant demands. There is something about her like the stepmother in Cinderella, even though the reader does not meet her, it is implied.

There is a beautiful bond between Martha and her stepbrother six year old Johnny. Abandoned at school, it seems like only Martha cares that he is unhappy. Her desire is to have Johnny home again. Carrie Fancett Pagels in her writing has delightfully captured Johnny’s character and personality.

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Return To Shirley Plantation by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Feb11

Listening To God

Return To Shirley PlantationReturn To Shirley Plantation by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a Christian historical novella set in 1862 during the American Civil War.

There are several themes within the novella including that of trusting in God and in His timing. Angelina, a free slave trusts God. She listened to His whispers. She could have gone North but obeyed God and stayed put. It is always important to obey when one hears His voice.

Carrie Fancett Pagels has delightfully drawn Angelina’s niece and nephew. As a reader I could ‘see’ them clearly. They reminded me of the children in the 1942 film Holiday Inn.

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The Dandelion Field by Kathryn Springer

Feb11

Love Conquers All

The Dandelion FieldThe Dandelion Field by Kathryn Springer is a contemporary Christian romance that deals with the subject of teenage pregnancy.

Tied in to this theme is that of judging others. Kathryn Springer shows that we should never judge others, we are to love them. Unfortunately this message has not got through to all the residents of Banister Falls. Even some of the church goers are quick to judge the teens. Proving that going to church does not make you immune from the struggle with prejudice and gossip.

The novel deals with the past repeating itself down the generations as Raine’s mother Ginevieve also fell pregnant as a teen. What is different is the reactions of those around to the news.

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Keeper Of The Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher

Feb10

Letting Go

Keeper of the starsKeeper Of The Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher is book number three in the Kings Meadow series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Penny used to be a happy, carefree girl. Thirteen years earlier her Mum died leaving Penny, her younger brother Brad and her father Rodney as a tight family unit. Then Brad got killed. As the novel opens Penny is angry. She is angry with Brad for dying. She is angry with God for letting Brad die. And she is angry with Trevor for employing and encouraging Brad to pursue his dream. “Some days it felt as if anger would eat her up from the inside out.” Penny needs to let her anger go. She needs to take it to God so she can begin to live again.

Tied up with the theme of anger is that of guilt. Penny feels “guilty for being alive and having a future… she expected to pay a penalty for living on.” Penny does not believe she deserves happiness because she is still alive. How easy it is as a reader to empathise with Penny, one feels guilty when one smiles again after a loved one has passed. Penny needs to forgive the face in the mirror. She is tied to the past by her guilt. Again she needs to give her guilt to God in order to move on from her imprisonment in the past.

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