Books You Can Feel Good About

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

“It’s a bit unnerving making a trek to an unknown place, where everyone is a stranger.”

Kentucky 1856, Depression Era. Addie was at college, getting ready for her final exams when she's told that she can't continue, because her parents hadn't paid the bill. Quite a shock. She had to find a job. She had a part time job in a library and learned of a program that President Roosevelt started, bringing books to the poor people. There was an opening in Boone's Hollow delivering books and it paid very well. She was afraid but was left little choice. It turned out to be the hometown of a fellow college student that she briefly met recently. He was looking for work too. Deeply moving story of these two and the people of Black Mountain. Superstition, old grudges and ignorance were a hallmark of this small backwoods town, where everyone knew everyone else, back for generations. Beautiful story of God's love and Grace. You thoroughly get to know these people, true to life. Where it seemed hopeless, God's love and light shown in.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheLibrarianofBoonesHollow #NetGalley #KimVogelSawyer #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction

Quote

"Stories can stir compassion, can inspire integrity, can show different lifestyles and problem-solving skills."

My reviews

The Blizzard Bride, DAUGHTERS OF THE MAYFLOWER #11 by Susanne Dietze

“I hope we can all draw strength from God’s Word, but also through the example of those who’ve gone before us."

1800s Christian Historical set in Nebraska. You never know where one of the Mayflower books are going to take you, but you can guarantee you'll be attached to the characters quickly. In our lives, some of us are deeply hurt by others, and ostracized by no fault of our own. Forgiveness and compassion through God's love will see us through healing. Murder, mystery, friendship, understanding and love are woven throughout. Abby moves to a small town as a teacher, working for the secret service to catch the man who murdered her father. Dash is her partner, but also her old love who hurt her deeply. They make a good team as they work through misunderstandings on both sides, while forming lasting friendships in the town. Told with some humor and great lessons.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheBlizzardBride #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #SusanneDietze #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarBooks

My reviews

Monday, December 12, 2022

The Preacher's Unexpected Bride - Walton Valley Series: Book 2

1868 Kansas

Next in the series after Eliza and her sister run away from their uncle and join a wagon train. New people enter their lives whom they learn they can love and depend on, and their lives become richer for it. And more complicated. Hannah has a hard time trusting men after what her uncle had done to her. An interesting twist of things makes the town people force Hanah and Luke to marry. They get to know one another in some of the most difficult ways. Good story, good read.

#BookSirens #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CatherineKennedy #HistoricalFiction

Quotes
Was it possible that God had the perfect plan for her future before she had even known what she needed herself?

Hannah’s family was from the English aristocracy. His were about as far removed from that level of society as it was possible to be.

My reviews

Saturday, December 10, 2022

The Polish Girl by Malka Adler

"Even when we quarreled I stayed near her and didn’t leave. It seems I needed Mama’s support."

Tough read with life as a constant struggle for Danusha. She is two before WW2 and six when it's over. They lived in Poland, hiding and moving constantly because they were Jews. They found some kindness here and there for short times. She was always expected to be silent, as though she wasn't there. She stayed near her mother, who didn't show her love, yet they needed each other. Her mother did show love for Danusha's brother, as he was the son of the family. The story is told by Danusha and her perspective in pieces of their lives, then from her mother's perspective as she tells stories to her friends about their experiences during the war. It was a tough time for them to live and survive through the war, it was also very hard for Danusha to find her own way, her own meaning, to figure out life and how to live. Based on a true story of a daughter and mother. It's not an uplifting story, rather of constant struggle and sadness, but there are lessons to be learned about how the same thing can look entirely different from different perspectives and expectations.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ThePolishGirl #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HistoricalFiction #MalkaAdler #fivestarbooks

My reviews

Thursday, December 8, 2022

5,000 Blankets

You don't want to miss this heartwarming story coming to theaters December 12 and 13. Get your tickets today!

Wow what an impactful movie. The acting and production are flawless - it feels like you are watching the people that this real story is based on. The father (Bobby) in a well-off family is strongly physically and mentally affected in such a way that he runs off and enters the world of the homeless in the Texas area. After losing everything, the mother (Cindi) and son (Phillip) move in with her mother and start over. In their ongoing process of looking for Bobby, she discovers that the homeless people in the area need blankets. Even though it's Texas, it still gets cold in December. It's Phillip's wish that they reach out to their community to get blankets for what they figure are 5,000 homeless people in their area. It's an interesting process, and a story well worth watching. Very well done. Touching. Inspiring. Good story. Real. A story that needed to be told, brought to light.

Many thanks to Sony Pictures for providing a sample of the product for this review.

Opinions are 100% my own.

#5000BlanketsMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

Buy tickets today to see 5,000 BLANKETS exclusively in theaters December 12 & 13 only!

Movie Website: https://www.5000blanketsmovie.com/

Buy Tickets Link: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/5000-Blankets

Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard

(Note: This is limited to US winners only. Winner chosen at random from comments on this post by 12/12. If chosen you'll need to submit your full name and email address.)

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen

1819 Sidmouth England. When their father dies, his estate goes back to an heir. Their Mother and four sisters own the house at Sea View but have little to live on. Their former lady's maid helps them to consider taking in borders to help keep them going. This is the start of a fabulous series with shadows of Jane Austen. It's easy to settle in and feel involved in their lives. The struggle of starting this business after being a Gentleman's family, lost loves, new interests, new people and their lives, social norms and their reduced state add flavor to the story. Originally, they had come there because their mother was in need of the healing of the sea. One sister was born with a cleft palate has had several surgeries, left more scarred inside than she is outside now. Interesting things to learn about the area, healing baths and cleft palates. Beautifully written, keeps you enthralled to the end and looking forward to the next in the series.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheSistersofSeaView #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #JulieKlassen #ChristianHistorical

My reviews

Friday, December 2, 2022

Wagon Train Wife by Catherine Kennedy

She will do anything to ensure her sister's safety… even marry a man she barely knows.

Good read. I love wagon train stories, the trip, the starting over. The reason Eliza, Hannah and Thomas left is enough to get hooked. The path they take and people they meet on the way are quite interesting and endearing. Has some interesting twists.
I received this book free from the publisher and Book Sirens review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#BookSirens #WagonTrainWife #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HistoricalRomance

Quotes:

“I believe God put us in each other’s paths. He knew before we did we needed each other.”

"As Thomas had stated earlier, this was supposed to be a happy day. There would be time later to mourn what she had given up securing her sister’s safety."

My reviews