Book review: Her Sister's Shoes by Ashley Farley

Her Sister’s Shoes by Ashley Farley tells the story of three very different sisters. Their only similarities are their workplace: their family seafood market, and their birthdays all land in the same week but in different years. Each live completely different lives, each envying the lives of the other two. It’s not until they each learn to walk in her sister’s shoes are they able to fully appreciate the bond of sisterhood and their own inner strength.

Farley has written quite a lovely story that will appeal to a very wide audience. Each one of the sisters has a different struggle (or struggles) that someone can find at least something relateable. And on top of their own personal issues, they must deal with their mother who begins to show signs of Alzheimer’s. It’s not one of those novels where the plot is apparent and really, that’s okay. It was nice to just read the story of these sisters and see where it ended up without wondering the point of the little things.

I honestly hated the character of Jackie. Yes, she eventually had her own redeeming qualities but even then I still didn’t like her. And that’s fine. We’re not always meant to like all of the characters in a novel. I also wasn’t really a fan of how everyone ended up. Spoilers ahead! It felt like everyone just paired off romantically just to add some romance into the story. I don’t think it added anything, and probably would have been a little stronger without it. But that’s just me. And I love a good romance novel. Spoilers ended!

Overall, Her Sister’s Shoes is a vivid, and realistic story of three sisters who finally learn to see the good in their own lives, and appreciate the struggles they each go through daily.

Book review: A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith

A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith tells the engaging story of Hannah, a woman who lived in ancient Israel. A descendant of Levi, Hannah had always loved to sing at the Tabernacle during the feasts and festivals. She loved and adored Adonai, her God, and praised Him in all that she did. When she married the love of her life, Elkanah, she thought she had it all. But they soon discovered she was barren. Questioning Adonai’s plan and purpose for her life, Hannah began to learn what it was to give it all to God.

I’ve been a fan of Smith’s book for quite a while now, so I jumped at the chance to review this novel of hers on Netgalley. She has such a way of bringing these Biblical figures to life without taking away from scripture. Of course, we don’t know exactly what these people thought or said exactly back then, but Smith does an excellent job making it all sound as though this is what happened. This is the type of Biblical fiction I enjoy, as opposed to the novel I previously reviewed ‘Joseph, Rachel’s Son’.

I was not completely aware of Hannah’s story, but I was glad I was able to read it now. The beginning of her story is very similar to my own. My husband and I have struggled for a few years conceiving, and continue to struggle, and even though I know God promised me children I so often falter and question his plan for me. Hannah is an amazing role model in her dedication to God, her attitude and graciousness towards others is still something I’m working on. Even towards her husband’s second wife she shows compassion, although her heart breaks.

But it all comes down to Hannah’s vow to God, that she would give her son to Him. A change was needed in the temple, a change was needed to bring Israel back to God, and she promised her son to Him to use for that purpose. For His purpose. And of course, God fulfilled His promise to Hannah. Her son was Samuel, one of the prophets of Israel, and the man who found David, the King of Israel.

Hannah’s story is a good reminder to trust in God, no matter your circumstances. Smith has done an extraordinary job bringing to life these Biblical figures and showing the love of God, and the promise of Jesus.

Book review: The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa

The Daughter’s Tale by Armando Lucas Correa tells the story of a Jewish family during the Second World War. We follow the family as they are forced to leave Germany in their quest to survive the persecution of the Nazis, and their own people.

I’ve read quite a few novels set during this time period and with this similar storyline. Many times, reading the same story over and over can become tedious but this is something different. This topic, this story, can never be told too many times. It can never stop being told.

At times I found the narrative a bit difficult to follow, and it jumps between character points of view within the same paragraph. I’m not typically a fan of that style, but there were points in the novel where I found it worked. I think I would have preferred if the narrative had been a bit more limited, mostly between Amanda and Elise. While some historical points may have been missed, or descriptions of scenes, I feel it would have added to the confusion caused by the chaos. It would have also allowed me to become attached more to those characters, especially Elise. I found her voice got a bit lost, but then again, I think that was her character all along. She was shuffled around, lost, found, her identity completed changed throughout the entire novel.

The descriptions of the people, and how they acted, I found very realistic. I haven’t read too much about the people of France during the Wars, so I was happy to learn a few new things. It was important to add how convinced they were that Germany would never invade, that some people were so detached from it all that they thought the war was fake. It’s also frightening that the mindset is still present in some people today, whether it’s about the holocaust or current wars.

Overall, this novel is a must read. It’s moving, and powerful. If you can get past the character switches, I can tell you that you will enjoy this book. Whether you enjoy historical fiction or not, it’s an important story people need to read. In a way, this isn’t really historical fiction. While Lina Sternberg in name was not a real person, her story represents someone who is, was, very real. So we can remember. So we can say “never again.”


Buy the book on Amazon.

Book Review: Joseph, Rachel's Son by Mark Morgan

Joseph, Rachel’s Son by Mark Morgan recounts the Biblical story of Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph is delivered to Egypt. It is here God uses him to save the sons of Israel.

Whether you’re a Christian or Jew, most people likely know the story of Joseph. I’ve read quite a few novels already based on his story, and of course seen the movies and musical. I was a bit disappointed when reading this version that there wasn’t much added to the story. Now, if the point of it was to make the Biblical story more readable, then Morgan surely achieved that. But I can’t truly say this was a told in a new or exciting way. It starts off quite slow, in fact focusing more on Jacob than Joseph. There were only a few times where the narrative was expanded upon.

I do see where Morgan may have preferred to not add to the Biblical narrative, but with a novel at times it is necessary to in the very least expand on what we know. Personal dialogue, for instance, is an easy way to do this.

With all that being said, I did like how Joseph’s faith was the main focus. He wasn’t just any ordinary person. In fact from a Christian point of view, Jesus doesn’t even come from Joseph’s lineage but from Levi his brother. Morgan makes the point, as does the Biblical narrative, that Joseph was put where he was to ensure the sons of Israel survived. It was his faith that helped him through his ordeal, and changed those around him. Some novels portray Joseph as an intelligent man who was given the interpretation of dreams, and while that in itself was quite a bit, it was ultimately his faith that allowed him such favour.

Overall, this was a quick and easy read. If you’re familiar with the story of Joseph this will not bring anything new to the table. But for those who are not as aware, this is a nice introduction to the story of Joseph, the power of faith, and the power of our God as El Shaddai, God Almighty.

Book Review: Dark Sun, Bright Moon by Oliver Sparrow

Before I talk about what I read, I have to mention my first flip through. This is a novel which I received a physical copy so I was able to do that this time. I have to say how oddly it’s formatted. That is to say, it’s not formatted as a novel at all. Rather than indentations to show paragraphs, each paragraph is separate on its own. And dialogue is shown justified, indented and begins with dashes. (Note: I’ve learned since that this style of dialogue, with the dashes, are seen largely in non-English writing, called a quotation dash. My advice to the author would be to format the novel according to the audience and language in which it will be read.) It’s all very strange. And there are pictures every now and then. It reminds me more of a textbook formatting, than a novel. I’m not against pictures, but the placement is more in line with a textbook. There’s even quite a large appendix to go along with it.

That being said, it’s clear the author has done quite a lot of research for this novel, but seems like he needs to prove that he’s done all the research by adding the appendix rather than showing it through the writing. Again, this is all before I’ve even started reading the novel. In fact, I’ve read through the Appendix first and indeed that is all basically a textbook. If the novel is written correctly, the entire appendix should be unnecessary.

Once I began reading, I noticed there’s quite an odd shift in style at chapter 8. The previous 70 or so pages were heavy on unnecessary details and lengthy explanations. It takes until roughly this point for me to even care about what’s happening. Granted, it’s not even 1/6th of the way through the book but it’s still been a big time investment for very little reward. The majority of the novel itself could be severely reduced without harming the integrity of the characters or plot. That’s a very big issue with this novel.

That is likely what makes this novel so disappointing. The concept is, in fact, quite interesting. It isn’t until near the end of the novel that I actually begin to like the main character, Q’ilyasisa. I’ve never read a novel with a focus on the Incan (or technically pre-Incan) empire so I was glad to have the chance. I learned quite a bit about the culture and cosmology, much in the same way I would learn from a text book. I don’t really feel I read a novel, to be honest. I really wanted to enjoy this novel, and at times I did but they were far and few between with great allowances.

This novel needs a massive edit, which is unlikely to happen at this point. Sparrow has clearly done a lot of research into the topic, especially as he has lived in Peru for some time. He likely would have been better to write a textbook than a novel. Overall, I cannot say I recommend this novel unless your objective is to learn about the Incan religion.

You can buy the book on Amazon.

Book Review: Ours is the Storm by D. Thourson Palmer

Ours is the Storm tells the story of the Huumphar, the people of the plains, and their struggle against King Halkoriv. They longed for the appearance of their saviour, the one to fight with them against the corrupt and evil king. Revik longed for vengeance on the man who held him prisoner. In time, the fates of all peoples wound together in one final battle that would put an end to an ancient and hungry power. For theirs was the Storm.

I often have a hard time really getting into fantasy like Ours is the Storm. Worlds tend to be detailed in a way that is overwhelming for the reader with too many additions to the plot that really add nothing. Thankfully, this is not the case with Palmer’s writing. The world and people are introduced slowly and organically. It’s honestly a very good example of showing, not telling (as much as I hate that phrase). The focus shifted between chapters well, and rather than keep the reader waiting for chapters and chapters, things were planned in a way that we could keep up with what was happening off stage. The first few chapters I did find flipped a bit too much within the chapter itself, but that sorted itself out after chapter four or five.

While the world itself was well built, it was still a little difficult for me to picture the kingdom. Despite some mentions of time passing, it was difficult to get a sense of how far people travelled. That could be simply my lacking, rather than the fault of Palmer. What I did really rather enjoy, were the simple twists and turns I was taken on, the bait and switches, and the inclusion of a strong female character. Yes, she was still seen as a romantic goal, but she was strong because that’s who she was. Not because Palmer needed to add a strong female to check off a list, as I have seen many authors do. Her strength fulfilled a purpose. In fact, every character seemed to have a purpose.

I think perhaps my favourite part of the novel was that we think we know the main players, the important people, but really they were the side characters in someone else’s story. Had the entire novel been from the saviour’s point of view, I think it would have been far less entertaining. I’ve read that story before. I haven’t read this one (unless you include Lord of the Rings. It was all Aragorn’s story, after all but I digress).

If you’re a fan of medium-high fantasy with a well-planned world, Ours is the Storm is the book for you. It has a beautiful ending that leaves it open for more, but can sit well as is. I also suggest this novel to those who need a little encouragement finding the strength within yourself to follow your destiny.

You can buy the book on Amazon.

Review for " Nadia's Heart: Part 1" by Wendy Altshuler

Review for "Nadia's Heart: Part 1" By Wendy Altshuler

Nadia's Heart is the first book in a series about Nadia, a young girl in a small village who is suddenly thrust into multiple strange new worlds, with a mysterious boy as her guide. Nadia seems to be brought along by this boy on his quest, only to eventually learn she plays an important role in his quest. Nadia struggles to come to terms with this knowledge, while trying to help the people she meets and comes to appreciate.

Woah boy, this book was a ride, and I can't be sure it was a good one. The book starts relatively safely by introducing the reader to the main character, Nadia, and it also introduces her weird hobby (spoiler alert: it revolves around hearts). Altshuler doesn't however, describe much else. In fact that's a pretty consistent theme in the book, where places are mentioned, people spoken of, dialogue present, but there is very little detail given. Many times in books the author will keep things vague and keep secrets, only to reveal them either mid way or throughout the tale, which brings on an 'AHA' moment, and despite waiting on the edge of my seat, that moment never came. If I had to make an analogy to how it felt reading this book, I would say its like sitting on a train and watching through the window straight on and getting dizzy from watching the scenery whiz by. I mean so many plot points and characters came flying at me when I read the story, and considering it was only 77 pages, that's quite the feat.

Despite the execution somewhat lacking, I did like the story. There is huge potential here with what Altshuler has laid out already, and even though I would say he plot is chaotic there is still interest there about where the story is going. I also know that the more you write, the better you get at it, so perhaps later books in the series will read a little more cohesively. I will also say there is something to be said for quick reads; where you want to throw yourself into a new world, a new plot or timeline, but perhaps larger volumes are just not for you, and if that's true then I think this series would be great, its got enough to satisfy any love of reading, while not totally eclipsing your life (looking at you Fire & Ice).

To learn more about the author, Wendy Altshuler, click here.

To purchase this book, go here.