Things I Didn't Love

Content Advisory & Conclusion

Longshot in Missouri by Keith R. Baker
JD's rating: 3.5 of 5 bookmarks

I have loved westerns for many years. In fact, some of the first novels I ever read as a kid were by Louis L'Amour who quickly became one of my favorite authors and the western genre became a reading staple for me. So when I saw this book on a Kindle deal a few months ago I decided to give it a try.

My first impression, as I began reading, was that this story was well researched. Which is a good thing when using actual historical figures, such as Abe Lincoln and Allan Pinkerton, as part of the main plot. Rob "Longshot" Finn is an Irish immigrant to the US and has found himself as a sharpshooter in a unique position, working in a special capacity for both the Union army and the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Baker's descriptions of the inner workings and day to day running of Allan Pinkerton's organization were fascinating. I've been intrigued by the Pinkertons for some time now, but I had no idea of the full scope of what they accomplished early on. The agency was, in fact, a forerunner to what we now know as the Secret Service. Check out the Wikipedia page for the Pinkerton agency for some fascinating info. But back to the book at hand.

The story is set during the Civil War and as mentioned above, the main character, Rob Finn, is a soldier in the Union army. Due to his special arrangement with the Pinkertons, he is not assigned to a particular unit, therefore, the story follows him as he goes out on assignments alone. Finn is a great character that you can't help but like. As he faces victory and loss, tragedy and happy times, you can appreciate his responses to each situation and you start to care about what happens to him as the book progresses. Most of the other supporting characters are great as well with a few exceptions. There are occasional tertiary characters which feel a bit flat and forced.

That brings me to Baker's writing. While he obviously did a lot of research and knows how to put together a great story, his writing lacks a certain polish of a Max Brand, Zane Grey or Louis L'Amour. It's not so much in the dialogue but is more apparent in the sections when he has to play the narrator and advance the story along or move things from one event to the next. The action sequences on occasion also suffer from a case of not following the rule "Show, Don't Tell". While these gripes didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story enough to make me abandon the book they were present nonetheless. That's not to say Baker is a bad writer, just that there is a certain finesse that is missing in my opinion.

Alternate cover

The storyline was intriguing and will no doubt delight western fans. Finn faces many friendly characters in his journeys but also encounters his share of unsavory ones as well. There are even some folks he interacts with while undercover who, while they are technically on the opposite side of things, he relates to in a human way and has an internal conflict over their positions which felt very real and genuine to me. The book has many typical elements of your standard western; gunplay, long horseback rides, displays of horsemanship, even some fistfights. All of which are told in an engaging, conversational tone. The story progresses at a good pace and has a relatively smooth flow to it with a couple of gaps between chapters that are then recapped later.

In terms of content advisories, there are quite a number of instances of foul language which I would have preferred to do without. There was no sexual content which I was glad for, seeing how there are certain western authors I've encountered who seem to thrive on using the genre simply as a backdrop for explicit, sensual escapades. Kudos to Baker for not going that route. As one would expect from a story set in the "old west" there are many examples of violence and death, but they were not gratuitously described.

I really enjoyed this first book in the Longshot Series and I look forward to reading more about Rob Finn. If you can overlook the swearing and the slightly inelegant writing style then you should check out Longshot in Missouri. I'd recommend it for adults only due to the language.





J.D. Sutter is the producer and host of the Bookworm Banquet podcast and editor of the blog. He is the founder of Porchlight Family Media.










Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

"No one's going to remember seven years from now what you read on Facebook today. But if you read the right book today, it's going to change your life forever."
― Seth Godin




Seth's Blog

Today we present our first Indie Spotlight episode. The spotlight is shined on Victoria Lynn and her novel, London in the Dark and Angie Thompson and her novel, Bridgers. We are excited to promote these two independently published books and we are very grateful to both authors for submitting their books for consideration. Also in this episode is Nicole's Fact about a famous West Point student and JD's Tip about a man who gave away his birthday.


Download Episode 15

The Appetizer

Most Beautiful Libraries in All 50 States

The Review - Indie Spotlight

Victoria Lynn

283 Pages
Publication Year: 2017
Victoria Lynn's Website
Purchase London in the Dark on Amazon

JD mentioned his written review of Lynn's second novel, Bound.

JD's Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Bridgers by Angie Thompson

129 Pages
Publication Year: 2017
Angie Thompson's Website
JD's Rating: 5 out of 5






Nicole's Rating: 5 out of 5

Nicole’s Bookworm Fact

...is about the West Point library.
Full Story

JD's Bookworm Tip

...is a podcast episode about Robert Louis Stevenson deeding his birthday.
The Man Who Gave Away His Birthday


JD's flash fiction story - Walk in the Rain


Today’s episode is brought to you by Adagio teas. Adagio is the premiere source for loose leaf teas on the internet. To find out more you can click the banner in the sidebar on our website.

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A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette
Stephanie's rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Wow. From the opening salvo to the satisfying conclusion, Connilynn Cossette kept my full attention in her newest book, A Light on the Hill, which is Book 1 of the Cities of Refuge series.  I tried to speed-read through a few lengthy descriptions of food preparation or scenery and found that I had missed some important action! I deduced that this is one author where every word counts and skimming is not advised!

This book does draw on characters from the author's previously written series, but can be read and understood without having read the others. However, once you have met the characters, you may find a burning desire to go find the earlier books! The characters are very real and not larger-than-life depictions with whom it would be hard to relate. I felt that their emotions and actions were those of all mankind in similar situations.

The biblical setting of the settling of the Promised Land and the victories and defeats that made up this pilgrimage are a fresh way of looking at how life may have been in that transitory time. While some tribes were settled, and the land was divided, it was not all freed from heathen groups and God still was driving out the armies of the enemies. The Cities of Refuge were an important insight into the mind and ways of God.

The concept of Mercy is deeply explored: as it was understood in that time frame (especially in the laws of the Cities of Refuge), as we extend it to others, and as we stand and look at our own sin and guilt, and then receive Mercy from He Who is the Giver of all good things. Without being preachy, or including long theological discussions, the heart and mind are encouraged to reflect on the work of Mercy in our own lives.

I enjoyed the way the main character, Moriyah, grows in her relationship with God as she struggles to make sense of the troubles God had allowed in her life. At first, we find her hiding from life and allowing shame and pride to keep her sequestered from her people at large. As events spin out of her control, she is forced to plumb the depths of her heart and finds there the strength and the desire to engage in life freely as she had in her youth. As she is forced to rise to each occasion, she finds that her strength comes from the Lord, and the tight control she had tried to keep on life was only an illusion; God is in control, always.

With the clean romance, fast action, and happy ending, I would like to recommend this book to a large audience. However, there is some violence and tasteful reference to the vile practices of those who worship false gods, so I'm going to suggest this book might be best for those 18 and older.




Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn
Sarah Grace's rating: 3 out of 5 bookmarks

Lynn H. Blackburn’s new series, Dive Team Investigations, starts out with a bang.

First off, the characters. Leigh is an interesting and well-rounded character. Her issues of faith and fear felt very real and relatable. Ryan’s character was also good, and I think I liked him even better than Leigh. I appreciated how he wasn’t your stereotypical perfect specimen of humanity that all the girls fall for. He was awkward at times, bumbling in an adorable way, and didn’t always handle things perfectly. He was realistic.

Interestingly enough, I think I enjoyed the supporting cast of characters even more than the main characters. From Anissa and Gabe to Adam and Sabrina, they were all such fun additions. Gabe, in particular, was fabulous, and I am really hoping he gets his own book. I adore these types of sidekick characters who perfectly complement the others, yet still have so much depth and personality. He made for some great comedic relief throughout – there were even sometimes I actually laughed out loud – but he also had his serious moments that were just as great. While a supporting character, he was the best character, in my opinion.

The story gets going pretty quickly and captured my interest. I did feel that a portion of the middle got rather boring and repetitive at times, but it keeps you pushing through to find out “who dun it”.

The element that I least enjoyed, and the main reason I docked some stars, was the romance. It felt very shallow and based mostly on physical appearances, which always annoys me. Frankly, you could have taken that whole aspect out of the book and I would have enjoyed the story that much more. There was also some semi-detailed kissing/embracing/attraction that was definitely too much for me.

The themes of faith and trusting God felt slightly shoe-horned in, but were nonetheless very solid and encouraging.

All in all, I can’t say this was my new favorite novel, but it’s worth checking out if you enjoy romantic suspense.

Content Advisory: I’d recommend this book for ages 16+. There are mentions of violence pertaining to a serial killer, dead bodies, a kidnapping, and a really psycho villain. Also mentions of an unfaithful spouse, and a stalker. The romance is on the heavy side, and there is a lot of attraction/desire between the main characters. I’d say this rates pretty high on my ‘creepy-scale’, so if you are a young or sensitive reader, maybe this one isn’t for you.





Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

The Big Book of Bible Stories for Toddlers from B&H Publishing
Written and Illustrated by B&H Kids Editorial Staff
Stephanie's rating: 5 of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: This book is part of the Big Picture Interactive Series from B&H Publishing.

The Big Book of Bible Stories for Toddlers is a colorful and interesting take on this popular concept. It is aptly named "for Toddlers" as the durable construction and thick cardboard pages will not be destroyed by young children.

The 19 stories chosen are typical for this style of book, but the corresponding illustrations are not. For example, while most stories about Noah's Ark show the animals entering the Ark, this book has the animals exiting the Ark under the glorious spread of a rainbow. Each page presents a fresh view of these well-known and loved Bible stories.

Beyond the story on each page, there is also a "Big Picture Question" and a "Big Picture Answer". At first glance, it seemed like some of the questions had nothing to do with that particular story, but on further reflection, I realized that the question is meant to be a launching point for discussion about the "Big Picture" behind the story. These questions and answers could make for some interesting and spiritually profitable discussion with children older than the Toddler category who might also pick up the book to read the short, simple stories and see the vibrant artwork.

Sample page from this book Click image to enlarge

Of interesting note, this book is connected to the B&H Kids app for smartphones. Once downloaded, a scene from the book can be selected and the picture on the page turns into a pop-up picture on the phone screen. A woman's voice also begins to tell the story in more depth than the short story printed on that page. My toddler was not able to make this work unassisted as the phone needs to be held very still for a prolonged time, but he did enjoy seeing the picture in a new way and hearing the story anew.

While there are many Bible story books for children, this book has a few interesting characteristics which help it to stand out from others similar to it.




Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.




Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Prophet (Books of the Infinite, #1) by R.J. Larson
J.D.'s rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

I really enjoy a well-written fantasy story that is clean. And it's not always easy to find one that is both. But Prophet is! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The characters are fabulous! The heroine, Ela of Parne, is a wonderful character who you can't help liking. She is courageous, resolute, and righteous without thinking too highly of herself. Her little sister, Tzana, adds an interesting element to the story and in many ways helps keep Ela grounded, although subconsciously. Ambassador Kien is an interesting character also.

The plot of the story loosely parallels biblical events from the Old Testament but with elements of the fantasy genre, such as mythical creatures. Therefore the religious themes are very overt unlike classic fantasy of Tolkien, MacDonald, or even Lewis. I do not have any issues with this at all, and in the case of Prophet, there wouldn't be much of a story without the religious overtones. There were a few moments where things got a bit slow, but not to the point where I completely lost interest.

There are several instances of graphic violence and lots of death in the book. There is no strong language, though there is a small romance element that while certainly not lewd, did have a couple moments that some might find distasteful. Due to these things, I'd recommend this for older teens and up.

On the whole, I really loved this book and have no glaring problems with it. What a great story! I look forward to the rest of the series. And I will be checking out Larson's other writing as well.



NOTE: Prophet is Book 1 in the Books of the Infinite series. It is followed by Judge and King.


J.D. Sutter is the producer and host of the Bookworm Banquet podcast and editor of the blog. He is the founder of Porchlight Family Media.










Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

I Will Not Fear: My Story of a Lifetime of Building Faith Under Fire by Melba Pattillo Beals
JD's rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

I was not very familiar with the history of the Little Rock Nine nor had I ever heard the name of Melba Pattillo Beals before hearing about this book so I had no idea what to expect when I began to read. As one of the nine African American high school students to be selected to integrate the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, Melba's story is one of incredible fortitude and resoluteness in the face of adversity. Her memoirs are filled with awful moments of gross injustice, physical attacks, and even death threats yet she chose to never retaliate in like manner. She stood firm and spoke out when necessary, but she didn't resort to the low behaviors of those who would torment (both verbally and physically) her and her family.

At around 200 pages, this is a short book, but it packs a hefty message. Beals begins the narrative with the story of her birth and shares the struggles her mother endured just to simply get hospital care with her difficult pregnancy. She continues her story with highlights from her life—which are told in mostly chronological order—and brings the reader up through current day. While she does spend a few chapters on the events surrounding the integration of the high school in Little Rock, it is not the main focal point of the book and she moves on to focus primarily on her life following that period. (See her other books, Warriors Don’t Cry and March Forward, Girl, for more about her early years in Arkansas.)

Beals' grandmother, "Grandma India", had a great impact on her in her formative days and that influence has stayed with her to this day. Throughout the book, she references anecdotes about her grandmother and recounts conversations and oft-quoted sayings that Grandma India said. A couple of my favorites are:

"Above all else, God loves you. He has your pictures on His refrigerator just as I do."
"Faith is the consistent trust that God is all powerful and always on your side if you need help."

Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals

At the end of each chapter, Beals includes a sentence or two which sums up the theme of that chapter. It's as if she's giving the reader the takeaway or lesson which can be gleaned from her experiences which she's just recounted. One line which appears at the end of chapter 13 stood out to me. Beals writes, "God is our employer, no matter who we see as our earthly boss. At all times we must be aware that we are serving God in our work."

I Will Not Fear is a gripping story of an incredible woman who stood strong through all sorts of adversity. Reading this firsthand account of the despicable ways she was treated by so many was heartrending, but also encouraging and inspirational because of her attitude and faith and reliance on God through it all.

Visit Dr. Beals website to learn more about her and her books.





J.D. Sutter is the producer and host of the Bookworm Banquet podcast and editor of the blog. He is the founder of Porchlight Family Media.










Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin
Victoria's rating: 4 of 5 bookmarks

The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
Hannah's rating: 3 of 5 bookmarks

I'm generally up for trying out continuity series, because there's something so fun in seeing the way authors/publishers tie the ideas together, and I feel safer trying out new authors in this way. When I heard that Barbour was releasing a new series based on American history, of course, I was excited to start reading it!

The first book of the Daughters of the Mayflower series is easy to place timewise, considering it's titled The Mayflower Bride. I really loved this time period as a child, so I've read all sorts of books on it. In many ways, it was a review session for me, and it was pleasant to find some familiar events replayed. I felt that the interactions with the historical figures were well handled and felt believable in the context. I also liked the heroine, Mary Elizabeth, and her friend Dorothy.

Historical Accuracy

The actual parts relating specifically to the Mayflower were very carefully researched. The cramped quarters and the stormy seas were colorfully displayed, as well as the sickness that resulted from both cramping and storms. Two comments jumped out at me. Pneumonia was mentioned as a diagnosis; the treatment that was prescribed wouldn't have helped, the disease wasn't even recognized for another century at least (official discovery in 1882), the possibility of catching it twice in a year would have been a sure death warrant with lungs already weakened by the first round. Also, there's a comment made that a profane sailor should have his mouth washed out with soap. This punishment wasn't heard of until the 1830s and wasn't at all common until the latter half of the nineteenth century, a full two decades later. Why? Because that's when bar soap (as opposed to soft soap) became more widespread. A more accurate treatment for profane men and one which Captain John Smith used was to dump a bucket of cold water down their arms or over their heads.

Plot & Characters

I felt like sometimes the plot was a trifle cramped by the historical boundaries, but I was quite impressed that the author didn't force the facts to conform to the story. Rearranging history to fit a fictional tale drives me nuts, and it was a relief that this book didn't do so. Most of the characters were colorful and interesting, and the only one that didn't have much usefulness as a person was a certain person who had an antagonistic role, which seemed to me to be mainly a distraction from the characters I wished to continue watching.

Dialogue

This is a difficult one to comment on. The author's comment in the preface states that she felt it would be offputting to include too many "thees" and "thous", and decided to write with a more modern tone. With a statement like that, I feel overcritical even mentioning it, but I think the modernization wasn't successful. Instead of modernizing specific words and terms and leaving more of the flavor of the original speech style, the everyday speech feels more late-Victorian, interspersed with lengthy Scripture quotations from the old 1611 Bible. The two in conjunction could feel jarring.  Also, I found the editor's decision to use ampersands in the Bible quotations when said aloud to be extremely distracting and offputting. Why not spell it out as it would sound spoken? I don't get the logic behind that. The conversation also included some clichés and turns of phrase from later times, rather than using more literal terms that would have expressed the time period better.

Content Advisory & Final Notes

Coarse Language: None.
Content: Some descriptions of illness/death.
Christianity: Lots of quotation of Scripture; clear message to "have faith"; but we also have a strong Christian heroine starting to fall for a man before he begins to believe.

I will continue to read the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I would recommend The Mayflower Bride for ages 16 and up.




Editor's Note: There are six books in the series scheduled for publication in 2018. The complete list follows:

The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1620 Atlantic Ocean (February 2018)
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1725 New Orleans (April 2018)
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep – set 1760 during the French and Indian War (June 2018)
The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1774 Philadelphia (August 2018)
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1794 on the Wilderness Road (October 2018)
The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall – set 1814 Baltimore (December 2018)


Hannah Gridley has been a dedicated bookworm since the age of 4.  By day she works for a local nonprofit; in her spare time she works in a bookstore, teaches music, plays violin in two local orchestra groups and in her church, and enjoys hiking.  Favorite reading genres include Christian, historical fiction, suspense, and vintage/classic novels.  When she isn't working, writing, or reading, she spends money adding books to her home library or collecting fountain pens and fancy inks.





Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

This past weekend was time for the annual used book sale down at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. This amazing book sale is held by the VNSA, a non-profit organization, and it is a bookworm's dream. Thousands upon thousands of books under a single roof at fantastic prices. I have gone to this event once previously but it has been several years ago so I was excited to go again.

Lines at the VNSA Book Sale

Both Nicole and I went to see what literary treasures we could find. Nicole went to get a place in the line the night before; I went when the doors opened the next morning. I ended up standing in the queue for over 2 hours. Nicole, on the other hand, was already inside shopping her little heart out.

Inside the Book Sale

Regardless of the trying wait times, I still found some wonderful deals and am very glad I went. I ended up purchasing 13 books and 3 audio items for a total of $28. Below are the books that I acquired.


Malcolm Gladwell Boxed Set

Blink
Outliers
The Tipping Point
I've read all three of these books in the past and thoroughly enjoyed them. Gladwell's writing is intellectual while still remaining engaging. I didn't own any of these and this beautiful hardcover boxed set which looks nearly brand new was a no-brainer for $6.

The Island of Sheep
by John Buchan

I read Buchan's The Thirty-Nine Steps several years ago and absolutely loved it. I really like a good adventure story. This book features the same main character so I snagged it for a buck.

Blood of Thieves
by Michael J. Sullivan

I have been looking for some new authors of clean fantasy so after getting a recommendation to check out Sullivan's work from a fellow fantasy fan on Goodreads, I kept an eye out for his books at the sale. I found the only Michael J. Sullivan book that was left in the entire building and lucky for me, it was an omnibus volume of the first two books in his Riyria Chronicles series. Unlucky for me, it was also the most expensive book I purchased at six dollars.

Isolation
by Travis Thrasher

I read one novel by Thrasher a handful of years ago and while some of the circumstances which took place weren't my favorite, I really liked his writing. I also have seen a few folks I know reading him so I decided to give this one a try.

Rooms
by James L. Rubart

Another author that I've had some friends read and enjoy so I decide to check it out. A nice bonus is that the volume is in near mint condition.

This Present Darkness
by Frank Peretti

Another book that I've already read, but had never purchased. It was only $1 and I have been thinking about re-reading it and the sequel so this was perfect. It is also in excellent condition.

Resistance
by Jaye L. Knight

Originally heard about this author on the Our Favorite Things podcast and it's been on my radar since. Not long ago, I purchased the ebook edition of this title as well as the next book in the series, but have not read them yet. Since I prefer physical books and this copy was nearly brand new I couldn't pass it up.

Iscariot
by Tosca Lee

I've never read anything by Tosca Lee, but I know she's co-authored several books with Ted Dekker (who I'm a huge fan of) so I figured she's got to be a good writer. I also love biblical fiction stories so I decided that it couldn't be a bad choice to grab this book.

Under the Banner of Heaven
by Jon Krakauer

I already owned the audiobook version of this book as well as a paperback copy. Unfortunately, I had loaned out the book and it has never come back home. This was a nice hardcover volume in excellent shape so I had to grab it.

The Works of Charlotte and Emily Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A couple classics that Nicole has repeatedly told me that I need to read but I just haven't got around to picking up yet. So why not kill two birds with one stone? This is a gorgeous 2-in-1 hardcover volume with an embossed cover, gold-edged pages, and ribbon bookmark for $4.

Though None Go with Me
by Jerry B. Jenkins

The only books by Jenkins that I can recall having read are the Left Behind stories co-authored with Tim LaHaye. I decided to go ahead and pick up this book since it sounded interesting and it was only a dollar.