Bookworm Banquet

More Than We Remember by Christina Suzann Nelson

Victoria's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

This book was a really enjoyable read! With threads that intersect again and again and a focus on grace and the power of redemption, I found this book not only enjoyable, but also heartwarming. The many characters whose lives have been turned upside down by difficult circumstances somehow all intersect and their stories were moving, heart rending, individual but connected, and overall, an amazing reminder of the power of compassion.

I found myself most relating to Brianne, with her compassion, heart for children and the guilt and shame that can too easily come from a perceived mistake. The characters had depth, their backstories unraveling as the story, somewhat slowly, unfolded. Unraveling is the best word that I can think of to describe this book. The author did an amazing job of taking her time in discovering the different stories, motivations, pain, drives and complex combinations that made up these characters and their connected stories.

With one of the main characters involved in an accident he can't remember, his wife tries to be supportive, but has doubt beating at her door. A police officer who wants nothing more than to see justice done, for personal reasons of her own. A neighbor struggling with her career choices and a budding romance. Children caught between the prejudices and circumstances of their parent's lives. This book packs a punch in the character department and I applaud the author with her ability to focus on individual drives, backstories and motivations, all while keeping it relatively clear and understandable.

My only critique of this book would be that with the wide cast of characters, it took about a quarter to a third of the book to really get the feel for what was going on and who everyone was. It really took off at that point and while not necessarily an edge-of-your-seat type of story, it definitely kept me turning pages till I felt the satisfying victory of the ending.

If you enjoy books with suspense, stories that tug at every heartstring that you possess and a subtle thread of inspiration and scripture, then you will love this book!

Check out More Than We Remember on Amazon

Victoria Lynn is a “Jane of all trades” who seeks to master them. She runs several small businesses and is an indie author with a passion for literature and the written word. She lives in the glorious state of many lakes, Michigan, with her parents and eight siblings. She devours books and likes to say that if she could get paid for every book she has read, she would be a millionaire. Some of her favorite things to do include writing fiction, learning new things, acting, creating something with her hands and playing the piano or singing. She also is one of the founders of Ichthus Family Productions and seeks to honor the Lord in all that she does.

Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon

Lilian's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

What a well-rounded, riveting story! Starfish Pier definitely snagged my heart with its endearing characters and setting.

Set in the cozy and welcoming town of Hope Harbor, Starfish Pier starts off with the two main characters, ex-Delta Force operator Steven Roark and first-grade teacher Holly Miller. I loved how caring Steven Roark was and how family-oriented he was; the first chapter right off the bat offered some struggles in way of his family life to Steven and I appreciate how Hannon handled it.

I also really adored Holly and how similar she was to me. Holly's obvious love for children and the fact that she took initiative in a lot of situations out of her comfort zone really endeared her to me and helped me relate to her.

Hannon's writing was about as fluid and lovely to read as it can get. I definitely found myself wanting to get back to the lovely town of Hope Harbor throughout the day; it's so richly depicted that I can easily see it as a real town and a place I'd want to visit!

There were a couple of characters in Hope Harbor that I found slightly odd as well as repetitive; Charley, the town sage and taco man, and Father Murphy and Reverend Baker, the town's clerics. Having read a book from the series in the past, I was already well acquainted with these men and I found it odd that the way the characters are talked about as well and introduced is pretty much the exact same as in this book. Given that this series currently has 6 books, I would personally find it extremely repetitive to go through the same spiel each time. However, these characters did add quite a bit of interest and entertainment to the story.

Overall, I think Starfish Pier would certainly be a lovely addition to anyone's bookshelf. It teaches real biblical values and hard topics such as alcohol addiction that are handled well by Hannon, and I love how frequently verses from the Bible are sprinkled throughout the book.

Check out Starfish Pier on Amazon

Lilian S. has been a hardcore bookworm since the tender age of 7 and a book reviewer for a couple of years. She is currently a student and in her spare time enjoys singing, graphic designing, and interacting with other Christ-minded readers. A couple of her favorite genres in both books and movies are: Christian contemporary, fantasy, and dystopian. She occasionally enjoys science and historical fiction and likes a good suspense novel as well. Lilian is also an athlete (Ultimate Frisbee, anyone?), a blogger at Green Tea With Books, and founder at reviewer site Stellae Books.

Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr

Stephanie's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Book Synopsis:

Centuries before the magi arrived in Bethlehem,
a prophecy sets a young magus on his path . . .
Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel calls forth a select group of men who will count down the calendar until the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day draws near, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are slain by a ruthless Parthian queen.
Equipped with very little, in haste Myrad escapes the city and, searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is keeping secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable asset, an epic journey filled with peril, near captures, and dangerous battles begins.
With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget, and the promise that the world will never be the same.

Wow. What a journey! Mr. Carr blew this one out of the water. I am a very fast reader and usually find myself lightly skimming over uninteresting parts in otherwise good stories. Not so for this book! I carefully read every single word! There was no superfluous scenery or unnecessary conversation; every phrase was carefully crafted to work together to build an amazing tale of action, suspense, and international intrigue. Into such a scene steps our protagonist, Myrad. The reader is not given omniscient knowledge or insight beyond that experienced by Myrad. The reader must walk the same confusing and frustrating path that he walks. We come to the understanding of times and events and people at precisely the moment that he does. We experience the same despair, rejoice in the same victories, and ask the same questions.

Myrad, and every character around him, has been fully developed to be exactly the character that is needed for each scene. Some characters you will like, some you will not, but each person demands from you, the reader, an emotional connection.

Patrick W. Carr

Myrad is on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, following a star only he and a few other magi can see. Near-death experiences, closed trade routes, and nations at war cannot deter him from his chosen course. He knows there is a significance in the star, but doesn't fully understand its effect in his life until long after the star has faded.

Mr. Carr takes a well-known portion of Scriptural happenings, the birth and death of Jesus the Christ, and weaves before it and after it a story so compelling and well-researched that it causes the reader to experience this setting of Scripture as if for the first time, and in a deeper way. Read this story! Join Myrad in the quest for understanding of the Scriptures! Your mind and heart will be engaged from beginning to ending, and you will be stirred.

I would recommend this book to anyone from age 12 and up. There aren't any objectionable scenes that I can remember, no untoward innuendoes to mar the work, and much will be learned along the journey. This book will challenge you to face your weaknesses and confront your inadequacies. I give this book a full 5 out of 5 bookmarks with no hesitation!

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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 for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.