A View from an Adirondack Chair by Jonathan Miller Barton

Rated: 5 star rating

I picked up A View from an Adirondack Chair by Jonathan Miller Barton because the title sounded like a peaceful read, but it turned out to be a really deep and moving book. 

Dr. Barton started writing this book while hospitalized in March 2020 during a tough health scare. Lying in that hospital bed made him look back on his entire life, and that's how this memoir started.

As the main person in his own story, Dr. Barton shares a lot of personal memories about his years working in ministry and fighting for social justice. But what really grabbed me was how honest he is about his own family history and how knowing your roots helps you figure out who you actually are.  

He also talks about some terrible heartbreaks, specifically the painful experience of losing his wife and his daughter. He carried that grief while trying to keep his faith alive. This felt very real and relatable.

This book gives you an idea of what it's like for someone, who has survived life's worst storms and still manages to look at the world with kindness. It doesn't give you easy answers, but it leaves you with a sense of hope and a reminder to cherish the people around you. If you are looking for an inspiring, down to earth true story, I absolutely recommend giving this one a read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Köehler Books, and Jonathan Miller Barton, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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The Court of Venus by Bel Banta, author with Samantha Hydeson, narrator

Rated:  5 star rating

I just finished reading The Court of Venus by Bel Banta, and it was a really enjoyable fantasy book. The worldbuilding is clever because everything revolves around star magic. Basically, whatever planet or star was aligned when you were born determines what kind of magic you can do. For example, Jupiterborn people get great luck, Venusborn can literally read and control what you desire, and Moonborn can read memories and shape-shift.

The main character, Bianca, is Moonborn, and her powers actually change depending on what the moon looks like that night. She has a ton of power during a full moon but is practically defenseless when it’s a new moon, which kept me hooked. She gets dragged back into a dangerous royal court ruled by a mad king, and she has to deal with a lot of political drama, a magical tournament, and a big murder mystery. 

The author did a great job blending the mystery elements with all the backstabbing politics, and all the side characters feel like real people with their own hidden motives.

I actually listened to the audiobook narrated by Samantha Hydeson, and she did an excellent job. The book is written in the first person, so it feels like Bianca is talking right to you, and the narrator really nails all the emotion and magic.

The ending wraps up the main mystery really well in the last chapter, so you aren’t left hanging, but then the very end gives a little teaser for what’s coming next.  It’s a fun read and a great start to a new series. Highly recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Bel Banta, author, and Samantha Hydeson, narrator, for this ebook review consideration.  All review opinions are my own.

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This is a review of the audiobook

Can You Drink the Cup? by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Rated: 4 star rating

Can You Drink the Cup? by Henri J. M. Nouwen is a short but really deep book that makes you look at your life in a completely different way. The author uses a simple cup as a metaphor for everything we go through, whether it is the good times or the hard times. He breaks the whole spiritual journey down into three simple steps: holding the cup, lifting the cup, and finally drinking the cup.  

He shares real experiences from his time living and working at the L'Arche Daybreak community, showing how we can handle our own struggles and joys instead of trying to run away from them.

The main point is that we have to fully accept both the blessings and the sorrows in life to find true peace.  

It is written in a very warm, personal style that feels like you are just talking with a friend about the meaning of life. It makes you really think about how to live your life with a lot more focus and gratitude every single day. 

If you want a quick but powerful read that gives you a lot to process without being confusing, this is a wonderful book to pick up.

In memory of Henri J. M. Nouwen, Born: Jan 24, 1932, Nijkerk, Netherlands Died: Sep 21, 1996 (64 years), Hilversum, Netherlands

Thank you, NetGalley, Ave Maria Press, and Henri J. M. Nouwen, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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The Fire Born by Deborah Hufford

Rated: 5 star rating

The Fire Born by Deborah Hufford is an great historical fiction book that tells the story of what happened on October 8, 1871. That was the night of the famous Great Chicago Fire, but it was also the same night a much bigger and deadlier wildfire destroyed the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin. 

The author does a wonderful job of bringing this forgotten history to life. The book follows a few different people from all walks of life, showing how their worlds were turned upside down by the fires. You really get a sense of how dry and dangerous everything was leading up to that terrible night.

The story connects four very different people who you can't help but root for. There is Delia, a brave Swedish orphan girl who is adopted by a lumber camp Madam and is trying to survive in a rough Wisconsin brothel. Then there is Big Mo, a Scottish immigrant, poet, and lumberjack who quotes verse and is trying to leave a violent past behind him while helping Delia find her own inner strength. 

You also get to see the perspective of William Butler Ogden, who was the very first mayor of Chicago and known as the Richest Man in the West. He owns an empire of railroads and timber land that connects both locations, and he inadvertently creates the perfect tinderbox for the upcoming disaster.

Finally, there is Zelda, a mysterious Turkish woman who immigrated to America to perform as a lion tamer in P.T. Barnum's circus. She becomes a haunting muse to William and acts as a bridge between his wealthy high-society world and the struggles of ordinary frontier people like Delia and Mo.

This is a wonderful read because you see these characters going about their normal lives, dealing with their own private struggles and dreams, while a massive disaster is heading right for them. 

The author makes you feel like you are there in the dusty lumber camps and the fancy streets of Chicago. When the fire breaks out, it becomes an incredible story about survival. It shows how strong people can be when they lose everything and have to rely on each other to get through the night.

The book ends with a note of hope and how to start over after a tragedy. It also recognizes the ordinary people who showed so much courage. 

If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on real human emotions and stories you might not have learned about in school, this book would make a great read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Köehler Books, and Deborah Hufford, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Up from the Ashes by Sharon Cameron

Rated: 5 star rating

Up from the Ashes by Sharon Cameron is just an incredible book. It is a historical fiction story based on the real lives of two Jewish prisoners, Selma Wijnberg and Chaim Engel. They get sent to the Sobibor death camp during World War II and somehow fall in love in the middle of a total nightmare. 

The story actually jumps back in time a bit to 1940 to show Selma's life during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam before she gets separated from her family and sent to the camp in 1943. 

Her job in the camp is sad because she has to sort through the clothes of people who didn't make it. The characters are what really hooked me. 

Selma has a lot of attitude and courage, and Chaim is a steady guy who wants to protect her. They have a crazy first meeting where a Nazi guard forces Selma to dance at gunpoint, and Chaim steps up to dance with her. The wildest part is they don't even speak the same language at first, but they still fall for each other. 

You can tell the author did a lot of research and even talked to the real family to get the details right, which makes the emotional stuff feel totally real.

The last part of the book gets so intense, when the prisoners plan a huge escape. You will be on the edge of your seat trying to see if they make it out through the gates. It is a pretty heavy and sad read, but it is inspiring because it shows how love can help you survive anything.  

I totally recommend grabbing this book, if you want a great historical book that will stay with you.

Thank you, NetGalley, Scholastic Press, and Sharon Cameron, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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Coming Christ: A Daily Devotional from Advent to Epiphany by Adam M. L. Tice

Rated: 5 star rating 

Perfect for Christmas music lovers!

Carols for the Coming Christ: A Daily Devotional from Advent to Epiphany by Adam M. L. Tice is a great book if you want a simple way to slow down and enjoy the Christmas season. 

This is a daily book that helps you look at holiday music in a brand new way. It runs for five weeks, starting on December 1st and going all the way to Epiphany on January 6th, making it perfect to read a little bit every day with your biblestudy.

What makes it fun is that each day starts with a different song, using a mix of classic old carols, like Silent Night and O Come, O Come, Immanuel, along with newer hymns like Hope Is a Candle. 

The author gives you the lyrics, matches them up with a Bible verse, and shares the background stories about how the songs were made. He also leaves you with easy questions to think about and small creative prompts like writing or drawing to get you involved. 

It is written in a down to earth way, not like a textbook, making it a relaxing gift for anyone who loves holiday music and wants an enjoyable holiday, from Advent to Epiphany.

Thank you, NetGalley, Herald Press, and Adam M. L. Tice, author, for this ebook. review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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5 Minutes with Every Book of the Bible: Old Testament by DaySpring

Rating: 4 star rating

I liked 5 Minutes with Every Book of the Bible: Old Testament. This book breaks down every book of the Old Testament into short, easy to read sections that only take a few minutes each. It talks about the main people, what happens in each book, and the lessons you can learn from them. This is similar to what you have as a summary in a good bible, at the beginning of each book, but all in one place. I just wished that each one had been a little longer with more detail.

It was written in a way that was easy to understand, and I learned a few things I had forgotten or never noticed before. Some days, I read one section, and other days, I read several because they were so short.

By the end, I felt like I had a much better understanding of how all the Old Testament books fit together. This is a nice book to keep beside your Bible for quick reference or when you want a short devotional reading. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to read a quick summary of the Old Testament without having to get the whole bible out.

Thank you, NetGalley, Day Spring Publishing, and the author, Day Spring, for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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The Ferryman's Daughter by Yasmin Angoe

Rating: 5 star rating

I just finished reading The Ferryman's Daughter by Yasmin Angoe, and it is a crazy good thriller. The story is about a woman named Sanaa who has been hiding a secret for almost twenty years. Her dad was a famous serial killer called "The Ferryman," but she changed her name and rebuilt her life as a forensics teacher. She is even engaged to a detective named Marcus, who has no clue who her father really is.  

Everything goes wrong when a new killer starts murdering people and putting pennies over their eyes. This was her dad's exact signature move, so Sanaa knows that someone is copying him. Things get super scary when the killer starts sending her creepy messages and targeting her directly. She can't go to the police or her fiancé without ruining her life and exposing her secret, so she has to use her own skills to hunt this person down alone.  

Just a heads up for other readers, this book definitely has the normal warnings you would expect in a thriller, like plenty of cursing, violence, and death. The ending is an intense and surpising event that keeps you guessing while making you think about whether serial killers are born that way or raised that way.  

It doesn't end on a total cliffhanger, but the conclusion definitely sets you up for the next book so you know the story continues. I definitely can't wait until the next book comes out, and I really hope it's soon! If you love fast-paced mystery books that keep you wanting more, you should definitely check this one out.

Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, author Yasmin Angoe, for this free ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.

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