Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

My Rating: 4.8

In the 1850's, Pheby is born on a plantation in Virginia and has led a relatively sheltered life. Shielded by her mother’s position as the estate’s medicine woman and cherished by the Master’s sister, she is set apart from the others on the plantation, belonging to neither world. The Master has promised freedom on her 18th birthday but, instead, she ends up sold into the infamous Devil's Half Acre, a jail in Richmond.

This was very loosely based off of the real story of Mary at the Lumpkin Jail. It was so vivid and graphic that it was an extremely uncomfortable read at time but, so worth it. Such a horrific period of history that we all need to know about.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

My Rating: 4.5

An 1850 novel that was considered a masterpiece for it's time. Set in 17th century Massachusetts, Hester has a daughter through an affair. She is condemned as a sinner by the town and forced to wear a scarlet letter A. As her daughter grows she feels the stigma put upon her mother. Her mother, tries to live within the community that will not have her while trying to repent for her sins.

This wasn't a great read but, in hindsight, it grew on me. I couldn't figure out how Hester had no resentment - towards the town or the man who fathered the child. Towards the end of the novel, you discover who the father is (although there were clues along the way) and you see reason she never said anything - she loved him.

The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer

My Rating: 4.9

In 1942, young Elizbieta/Emelia befriends her neighbor Sara. Elzbieta makes a discovery that propels her into a dangerous world of deception and heroism. Inspired by the real-life heroine who saved thousands of Jewish children during WWII.

I love historical fiction and this was amazing. This covers a lot of time. I found it fascinating not only how Sara and Emelia could make trips to/from the ghetto and how, for Roman, the war continued after the Nazi's were gone. So incredibly sad the things that unfolded and yet so heroic the things that people did to survive and help others to survive.

Control Girl by Shannon Popkin

My Rating: 5.0

"Control Girl" is a penetrating look at how selfishness and self-protectiveness wreck lives--and why surrender and trust are God's life-giving pathways to true freedom and joy."

This book was so good. It takes 7 different women from the Bible and shows how they were controlling (or in some cases, being controlled). Shannon also inserts a lot of personal antidotes that were so helpful. It was uncomfortable to realize how we are all living out Eve's curse but, the awareness was so beneficial. EXCELLENT book that everyone in my Christian women's book club raved about.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

 My Rating: 4.9

This book starts with Marjorie Post's father very ill and seeking treatment. The treatment center feeds him vegetables and he proceeds to deteriorate but, at the home near the center where his wife and daughter Marjorie are staying, the hostess believes in good old fashioned American cooking. Soon, C.W. Post starts to heal and understands the power of food. He also sees how much time women spend in the kitchen and decides to invent a convenience food for breakfast - which was the beginning of Post Cereal Company.

Marjorie's live definitely feels like many "lives" or chapters and they are all equally fascinating! I learned so much about her including that she built Mara-Lago. Allison Pataki unfolds Marjorie's life so beautifully that I couldn't wait to listen to more. This book was thoroughly delightful and got me to buy a box of grapenuts! I will definitely be reading more by this author.

The Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris

My Rating: 4.5

Fenna Vos, orphaned young, has learned to focus on her own survival. Though she performs onstage as the assistant to an unruly escape artist, behind the curtain she's the mastermind of their act. Ultimately, controlling her surroundings and eluding traps of every kind helps her keep a lingering trauma at bay.

Yet for all her planning, Fenna doesn't foresee being called upon by British military intelligence. Tasked with designing escape aids to thwart the Germans, MI9 seeks those with specialized skills for a war nearing its breaking point. Fenna reluctantly joins the unconventional team as an inventor. But when a test of her loyalty draws her deep into the fray, she discovers no mission is more treacherous than escaping one's past. 

This was an intriguing novel based on true events. The first portion of the book seemed disconnected from her time in the British military until it all wove together with the past coming into the present. I enjoyed Sold On A Monday more than this book but I will continue to read more by this author.

The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Sogavia

 My Rating: 5.0

Old Nana Reja finds a baby abandoned under a bridge and the life of a small Mexican town changes forever. Disfigured and covered in a blanket of bees, little Simonopio is for some locals the stuff of superstition, a child kissed by the devil. But he is welcomed by landowners Francisco and Beatriz Morales, who adopt him and care for him as if he were their own. As he grows up, Simonopio becomes a cause for wonder to the Morales family, because when the uncannily gifted child closes his eyes, he can see what no one else can—visions of all that’s yet to come, both beautiful and dangerous. Followed by his protective swarm of bees and living to deliver his adoptive family from threats—both human and those of nature—Simonopio’s purpose in Linares will, in time, be divined. Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the devastating influenza of 1918, The Murmur of Bees captures both the fate of a country in flux and the destiny of one family that has put their love, faith, and future in the unbelievable.   

I can't properly describe this book to do it justice. Translated from Spanish, it is so beautiful. All of the characters come to life as does the Mexican Revlution, the horror of the Spanish flu and dealing with the farm and raising children. Such a beautiful book and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Whistling Past The Graveyard by Susan Crandall

My Rating: 4.6

In the summer of 1963, nine-year-old Starla runs away from her strict grandmother’s Mississippi home. Starla’s destination is Nashville, where her mother went to become a famous singer. Starla hasn't seen her mother since she was three but firmly believes her mother will reunite them with her father who works on an oil rig and they will be a happy family. Walking a lonely country road, Starla accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman traveling alone with a white baby. Now, on the road trip that will change her life forever, Starla sees for the first time life as it really is—as she reaches for a dream of how it could one day be.

While the story has a lot of the uncomfortable truth, this still had a wholesome feel. You feel for Starla but the people she encounters on her journey help to shield her even as she is exposed to the harsh realities of life.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

My Rating: 4.9

This heartwarming story has beckoned generations of readers into the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan, has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely. A much-loved classic that explores all the vulnerability, expectations, and dreams of a child growing up, Anne of Green Gables is also a wonderful portrait of a time, a place, a family… and, most of all, love.

A lot of these characters went from being irritating to very endearing. By the end, I loved Marilla almost as much as Matthew and I was definitely in love with Anne. I can see why this is a classic and one that I think every girl/woman should read.

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer

My Rating: 4.8

1930's Berlin: Although Sofie and her husband Jürgen do not agree with Hitler's views, they benefit which they struggle with.  

1950's America: Twenty years later, Jürgen is one of the many German scientists offered pardons for their part in the war, and taken to America to work for its fledgling space program.

This book had so much to it. I loved the Berlin story line and I enjoyed learning about how America offered pardons to Germans where we could benefit from their knowledge. It shows that no one is blameless and you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. I felt that Lizzie's story could have been condensed and Lizzie's brother should have been edited out completely and kept the focus more on Sofie and Jürgen. This is my second book by Rimmer and it won't be my last.

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

My Rating: 4.8

Isobel is a young seamstress who sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. Edward is an apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts have forced them to flee Edinburgh for a fresh start in the New World. But only days after they've arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a departing ship as a medic––leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a strange country, forced to make her way by any means possible.

This book unfolded in a beautiful way - between Isobel's gorgeous needlework, her ability to see in colors, and her relationships with the other townsfolk. It was only once I was quite far in to this book that I realized with it's flashbacks to the Salem witch trials and Nathaniel Hawthorne that I realized it was a retelling of The Scarlett Letter which I haven't read...yet. It is now on my TBR list. 

Foster by Claire Keegan

 My Rating: 4.8

It is a hot summer in rural Ireland. A child is taken by her father to live with relatives on a farm, not knowing when or if she will be brought home again. In the Kinsellas’ house, she finds an affection and warmth she has not known and slowly, in their care, begins to blossom. But there is something unspoken in this new household—where everything is so well tended to—and this summer must soon come to an end.

This is a quiet little book that captures so much. I can see why this was a winner of the Davy Byrnes Award. I have another book by Keegan on my kindle that I will prioritize as she has such beautiful writing.

Faith Still Moves Mountains by Harris Faulkner

 My Rating:  3.3

These are stories to remind us that God’s light always shines through the darkness. Through these testimonies, we learn prayer isn’t just a ritual, it’s a vital spiritual strategy in a world that wants us to give up the fight. 

This was a pick for my Christian Women's Book Club. This was various "inspirational" stories. Several of these were so depressing it was hard to find the motivation in them. Others were uplifting but, not really miracles and they also rambled on. I listened to the audio book and double timed most of the stories to get through them. I was surprised at the high ratings on Amazon and Goodreads as that didn't match my experience with this book.

Red Notice by Bill Browder

 My Rating: 4.8

This is a story about an accidental activist. Bill Browder started out his adult life as the Wall Street maverick whose instincts led him to Russia just after the breakup of the Soviet Union, where he made his fortune. Along the way he exposed corruption, and when he did, he barely escaped with his life.

A book about a financial investor in Russia doesn't sound very interesting. This book came highly recommended from a trusted girlfriend and I am so glad I listened to her. We listened to this book on audio and we both enjoyed it. The corruption in Russia boggles the mind and how Bill Browder was able to do what he did is astounding. An incredible story. Highly recommend on audio.

Fasting & Feasting by Erin Davis

 My Rating: 4.9

In this 40-day devotional filled with heartfelt reflections on key passages of Scripture (and a few inspirational stories thrown in for good measure!), you’ll learn just how satisfying it is to join in the biblical rhythms of fasting and feasting.

When this book was selected for my women's book club, I admit it....I was nervous. The mere idea of fasting made me uncomfortable .... and hungry. Erin's book was so easy to read, non-judgmental and has some great stories. As I read further, it made me understand fasting, the need for it and the power and it made me want to explore it. I can truly say that this is a book that has changed my life as, I now incorporate Spiritual Fasting into my life on a regular basis and enjoy it so much. Thank you Erin!