Archive | January 2019

The Windmill Cafe: Autumn Leaves by Poppy Blake

Jan21

A Whirlwind Of Chaos

The Windmill Café: Autumn Leaves by Poppy Blake is a delightful contemporary mystery that will entertain whilst having the reader glued and guessing.

For anyone who knows the BBC series Death In Paradise, Autumn Leaves has a similar format and atmosphere. It is very much a light-hearted read whilst characters bond around cake.

Village life is uncomplicated – or is it? A community atmosphere where everyone pulls together could not possibly hide a potential murderer – or could it?

Autumn Leaves shows amateur super sleuthing at its best. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, the reader follows two would be crime busters as bit by bit they try to piece together the action.

Everyone has a motive but only one committed the crime. Can you guess who before the big reveal?

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Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Jan20

Limitless Love

Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a delightful contemporary Amish novel about healing and new beginnings. It is the first book in a new series, The Deacon’s Family and I cannot wait for the subsequent books.

Broken people are at the heart of the story. Some are broken due to poor choices, others have been broken and shaped by childhood. “God does His best work with messes.” Events have coloured our view of ourselves. We need others to point out our true worth. “You’re not just a girl on the streets. You’re a child of God… a pearl of great price.” We need to turn to God and believe what He tells us. God loves us and His love “wasn’t finite… It was limitless.”

There are some huge hearts for people in the novel that believe that we all deserve second chances. She saw “troubled people… as if she could see the diamond inside.” Kindness, patience and even tough love can all help to transform the troubled soul. Once transformed, hearts want to pay it forward and help others in need.

The novel shows the destructive power of addiction. We need help to overcome and there needs to be a desire for change.

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Home Another Way by Brenda Anderson

Jan19

A Preview… Full review coming on release day 5th Feb.

Home Another Way by Brenda Anderson is a delightful contemporary Christian romance. It is the eighteenth book in the Potter’s House series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once again Brenda Anderson has created a story that consumes the reader. There are godly lessons to be learnt as we examine our lives.

I adore all Brenda Anderson’s novels. She creates warm and welcoming characters who have realistic flaws and are just waiting to be re-shaped in the hands of the Master potter. Just perfect.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON

The Healing Season by Shannyn Caldwell

Jan19

Mighty To Save

The Healing Season by Shannyn Caldwell is a powerful book about God who heals our brokenness.

Shannyn Caldwell lost both her parents in a tornado when she was twenty nine. The loss tore her apart. This is her journey towards healing. “I didn’t know what to do. I don’t know how to live. I’m so lost.” The good news is that in our lostness, Jesus will search for us. He will leave the ninety nine to look for the one. Shannyn Caldwell was immersed in her pain. Life stopped. “I didn’t want to let the world turn without them and yet, I couldn’t stop it.” Only her daughter kept her going. She did not know God but God knew Shannyn Caldwell and He had a plan for her life.

The Healing Season is a story of brokenness made whole. “How my grief was healed because Jesus loved me.” It is also God’s story of meeting hurting people and healing them. God sends people across our paths to help lead us to Him.

This book has some very raw pain. The reader’s emotions are shot to pieces. The glory of God shines through the pain. “He was the God of all hope, not some, not sometimes… all hope.”

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