Tag Archive | Celebrate Lit

The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik

Jul30

Gripping And Horrifying

The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik is a fascinating historical Christian novel based on real life crimes. It is part of the True Colors series.

The action is set in 1876 and follows a rather gruesome killing spree of an actual character who seems to be a real Jekyll and Hyde, turning his personality in an instant.

We follow a young lawman with a traumatic past that still haunts his dreams and his life. His mission is to seek out evil and to protect lives.

Our God is a faithful God and He can be trusted. “I know I should trust Your timing, but … I don’t.” Nothing happens that is not within God’s perfect timing.

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Bridge Of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse

Jun27

God’s Fingerprints

Bridge Of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse is a most delightful dual timeline Christian novel. It is part of the Doors To The Past series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The story alternates between present day and 1933 at the time of the construction of the Golden Gate bridge. It is told from various alternating points of view enabling the reader to become emotionally invested in the characters.

The lure of gold corrupts lives. When people live for treasure, there are no depths to which they will not stoop.

In counter balance there are people of faith who realise the true treasure that is found in God and others.

There is the theme of loss. When accidents happen, we want answers but sometimes we just have to accept that there are no answers this side of heaven.

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The Silver Shadow by Liz Tolsma

May27

Blending Fact With Fiction

The Silver Shadow by Liz Tolsma is a marvellous Christian historical novel and part of the True Colors series.

It is a fascinating novel set in Denver in 1900 and based on true crimes. Fact blends with fiction to produce a cracking tale.

We witness the plight of women. They were seen as the weaker sex who need to stay protected in the home. It was deemed unsafe for them to walk the streets after dark. Women may have received the vote but were still viewed as unworthy by some. There were some plucky women who were determined not to be put down by chauvinistic attitudes and who actively sought out the perpetrator of the crimes against women.

Women were prejudiced against in the workplace. The leading lady longs to be a serious journalist but is given the frivolous social events of females to cover. Her writing skills are not taken seriously by either her employer nor her father.

The characters were well drawn and realistic. The women with their caring attitudes, looked out for each other.

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The Good German Girl by Erica Marie Hogan

Apr23

The Deepest Pit

The Good German Girl by Erica Marie Hogan is a very powerful historical novel that will consume you as you read.

The novel is set in 1944 alternating between the voices of an American soldier and a German girl. The reader travels from Omaha beach eastwards and from Berlin to Auschwitz. An invisible thread unites the two main characters.

Not all Germans were Nazis and not all Americans were honourable. Berlin was a terrible place to live. It was a place of fear, suspicion and ever decreasing liberties. The atmosphere of terror was palpable. The Germany of the leading lady’s childhood was gone. They were “drowning in the fear of what Germany has become.”

Within the novel there were close friendships. “If you stay, I stay… I will always be with you, as you promised you would always be with me.” This echoes the bond between Ruth and Naomi in the Bible.

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