Historical Fiction Review: Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candice Sue Patterson

Book Description:

The Safety of the First Lady Rests in Shirley’s Hands

Shirley Davenport is as much a patriot as her four brothers. She, too, wants to aid her country in the war efforts, but opportunities for women are limited. When her best friend Joan informs her that the Coast Guard has opened a new branch for single women, they both enlist in the SPARs, ready to help protect the home front.
 
Training is rigorous, and Shirley is disappointed that she and Joan are sent to separate training camps. At the end of basic training, Captain Webber commends her efforts and commissions her home to Maine under the ruse of a dishonorable discharge to help uncover a plot against the First Lady.

Shirley soon discovers nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust? Why do the people she loves want to harm the First Lady? With the help of Captain Webber, it’s a race against time to save Mrs. Roosevelt and remain alive.

My Thoughts:
I love stories like this that give the reader a peek into the many nuances of WW 2. I'd not heard of the SPARS, a group of women who served under the Coast Guard. In Saving Mrs. Roosevelt, Shirley must decide whether she can put her reputation on the line and serve her country. Shirley's story is interesting and intriguing. Captain Webber is the perfect hero. Not in the "does everything right" way, but in a way that fits what Shirley needs. My favorite character is Alma. She's a great friend and Allie. If you enjoy WW 2 stories and historical novels, you'll enjoy Saving Mrs. Roosevelt. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Autumn Gold

Psalm 96:11-12
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
 let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
 let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Autumn dresses up in gold, the richest season of the year. -Angie Weiland Crosby

I sat with my daughter at Trunk-or-Treat. In the corner of the parking lot, a tree glowed golden. The sun's light, as it faded from the sky, lit up the leaves as if gold dripped from the branches.

There is a rhythm to nature—a time to hold on and a time to let go. Leaves tumble to the ground as the trees let go. As I watch the branches drop their red and orange gems, I think about the things I want to let go. Fear, worry, doubt, guilt. I want to hold up my arms like tree branches, and let those things that plague me drop into God's hands.

After the leaves fall, the deciduous trees nap in winter. Their trunks and branches adjust to a time of rest and prepare for regrowth. I seem to remember God rested on the seventh day of creation, and Jesus said, "Come to me and I will give you rest."

I've let go of the negative burdens, now I can rest in Jesus' assurance, his promise of renewal and strength.

Let go—then rest sounds like good advice from the golden tree and from the Father who created me. Release the overwhelming and rest in his arms. Then in spring, or after renewal, rise stronger than before. With my arms up, I rejoice and sing with joy like the forest.

In this month of November, as I enjoy the vibrant colors and the cooler temperatures, I thank God for so much. The golden tree reminds me to look at creation and appreciate the incredible gifts God has given. Because of the rhythm of nature, I know the leaves will return after they rest for the winter. Because of God's promises, I know my faith is renewed daily.

Stop and appreciate God's creation, rest in his beauty, and thank Him.

Autumn Dances

Tim and I spent time over the weekend checking out the beautiful autumn foliage.

I am in awe every year, when God paints His canvas in the lovely tones of autumn.

Enjoy what God has given, and be grateful for the beauty.

 

Suspense Book Review: Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley (Natchez Trace Park Rangers #3)

Book Description:
Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target--nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame. 

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

My Thoughts:
I've enjoyed the books in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. Crosshairs is the best one yet. Filled with suspense from start to finish, Bradley kept me on the edge of my seat, as I kept turning pages. Ainsley is a strong protagonist, set on making things right for her aunt and grandmother, even though she is in danger. Linc is scarred by his past, but he cares for Ainsley and wants to protect her, even when he thinks he can't. The many twists and turns kept me guessing who the killer was up to the end of the book. If you enjoy a good suspense story in a unique setting, you'll enjoy Crosshairs. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Our Fingerprints Don't Fade

Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch. -Judy Blume

For the last few weeks I've been a member of the launch team for a book called Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith by Kathy Howard. As I read through stories Kathy included in her collection, I was inspired and encouraged. Many wrote of their grandparents and the example of faith which left an imprint on their lives. I like that Kathy suggests ways to impact our families.

My grammy lived to ninety-two years old, so I enjoyed knowing her into my late forties. She worked as a dorm mom at KCC, where I went to college, managed a trailer park in Florida, and worked in hospital food production. She read and studied her Bible every day and prayed for everyone. She played piano at church and loved listening to Billy Graham. Her faithful fingerprints touched my life. Looking back, I know she influenced me in ways I didn't understand until years later.

The Bible holds four accounts of Jesus life. Luke's writing is the one I read time and again. Known as a physician, he was also a follower of Jesus, and he chose to capture the events he witnessed about his Savior in writing. He says himself other accounts have been drawn up or written, but he wants to leave a legacy of Jesus life for his friend Theophilus.

Luke chose to tell Jesus' story again so others could read it long after he was gone. And we have. The book of Luke, written so many years ago still bears truth and inspires today.

So my question comes to this: What do I want to leave for my family and friends? What fingerprints do I want to leave behind? What footprints? Ones that follow Jesus or the world?

I pray the words I leave on my blog influence others to seek Jesus. I hope my words and actions inspire folks to look to God. I also hope my grandchildren see Jesus in me.

What legacy are you leaving today?

P.S. The photo was taken on the beach at East Fork Lake. Even the animals leave their footprint.

Entering the Season of Thanks

Four-hundred years ago, the the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans prepared and sat together for the first Thanksgiving meal.

Eighty years ago, the fourth Thursday in November was declared

the national holiday Americans call Thanksgiving.

My word for 2021 has been gratitude. I've tried to keep my focus on what I'm thankful for and the love God pours over me. Even though I've grieved over loss and celebrated with joy, I know whatever my circumstance,

God calls me to be thankful.

As I prepare to enter the month of November, and the season of thanksgiving, I appreciate the example the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoogs set for us.

Let's sit down together in peace and celebrate what we have.

 

Fiction Book Review: A Flicker of Light by Katie Powner

Book Description:
For generations, the Jensens have raised their families in the small Montana town of Moose Creek, where gossip spreads faster than the wind. Yet some secrets need to be told.

When twenty-one-year-old Bea discovers she's pregnant on the heels of her husband losing his job, she's forced to admit she needs help and asks her dad for a place to stay. But past resentments keep her from telling him all that's going on.

Mitch Jensen is thrilled to have a full house again, though he's unimpressed with Bea's decisions: dropping out of college, marrying so young--and to an idealistic city kid, of all things. Mitch hopes to convince Bea to return to the path he's always envisioned for her, but she's changed since her mom died. And he refuses to admit how much he's changed, too, especially now that he might be losing his mother as well.

Grandma June is good at spinning stories, but there's one she's never told. Now that her mind is starting to fade, her time to tell it is running out. But if she reveals the truth before her memories are gone forever, the Jensen family will never be the same.

My Thoughts:
A Flicker of Light is a beautiful story filled with hope, heartache, and possibilities. Mitch Jensen's heart still aches for his wife, who passed away. Bea and her hubby need to start over and figure out their future, with a baby-to-be in tow. Rand wants the best for his wife, whose mind is fading. Grandma June throws an unexpected twist into the story as she begins to forget. The characters and their stories found a place in my heart as I read this heartrending story. I love the next-door neighbor, and Mitch's friend, the pastor. They added so much to this already wonderful story. Katie Powner knows how to write a lovely story. The spiritual thread and family ties blend together beautifully. If you enjoy a good story filled with heart, read A Flicker of Light. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.