Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

Lisa Harris has quickly been climbing her way up my top favorite suspense authors list, and with the 300-plus page Deadly Intentions, I think she has made it to my top five!

Summary:

Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First, a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victims' husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.
Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team--and what their end game is--before it's too late.

Harris tackles some very difficult topics in her newest release from Revell, including the loss of a spouse and loved one, abuse, betrayal, and more. I applaud her not only for attempting to take on these topics, but for doing it so well. From the prologue, the reader can't help but be sucked into the emotions of the story. I think a lot of books in this genre can forget to include the emotional and psychological impact of the hard events the story touches upon, and the emotional aspect gets lost. But this book ends up being very emotive as Harris dives deep into some tough situations. Detective Josh Solomon and research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey are both very real characters who are dealing with some real-life issues, which instantly makes them so relatable.

Any good suspense novel has many twists and turns, but Harris takes it to a new level with Deadly Intentions. My expectations were turned on their head about a quarter of the way through, and the book continues in that vein with smaller twists throughout the remainder of the story. This one definitely keeps you on your toes!

All in all, this story is a wild ride from page one! If you are a fan of romantic suspense (lighter on the romance than suspense) with lots of twists and emotion, I highly recommend checking out Deadly Intentions!





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

Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse
Stephanie's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

This book is a short but interesting read. It does not confine itself to following the lives of just one or two people with all other characters only important in their interactions with those main characters. Rather, Ms. Luesse presents a cast of characters, both past and present, whose lives intersect daily just like in real life. The portrayal of each character is very believable and the threads are very easy to follow as they weave together into the big picture.

Back Cover Copy:

With America's entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants--and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.
A struggling young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, and a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war are all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.
When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

As you read Almost Home, you will enjoy how the characters are able to work through their individual problems by support from the other boarders in Si and Dolly's centuries-old home. From marital problems to PTSD, each character finds help and healing in the loving atmosphere created by Dolly, and the wisdom and experiences of their fellow sojourners. The plot of the story was encouraging and fun.

My issues with this novel are as follows: the main characters, Si and Dolly are portrayed as Christians, but Si has a whiskey still behind their house and invites the male boarders to join him there after dinner! Also, several of the also "Christian" boarders use "sissy cussing", and the house in which they are all staying is embodied with feelings; doors open without help, curtains blow without wind, and the chandelier shakes at will.

Lastly, I could not recommend this book to anyone unmarried, or younger than 25, due to numerous marital relationship scenes. While not explicit in nature, the intent is very obvious and could be intensely embarrassing to a young, unmarried person.

I give this book 4 out of 5 bookmarks. While I enjoyed the storyline in this novel, a few points diminished my overall enjoyment.





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. This post contains affiliate links.

Epic: The Story that Changed the World (One Big Story) by B&H Kids Editorial Staff & Aaron Armstrong, Heath McPherson (Illustrator)
Stephanie's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Epic: The Story that Changed the World, takes many of the main Bible stories and puts them into comic book format. The stories were compiled and retold by Aaron Armstrong and the B&H staff, who did their best to highlight in every story the foreshadowing of the plan of God for the eventual birth, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The illustrations by Heath McPherson are superb. The colors are very rich and the pictures are easy to understand. The characters are drawn in patent comic book style.

If taken as a storybook, and NOT as a replacement for the actual Bible, I think this book is fine. The pictures and comic book layout could help a child understand a Bible story a little better. I understand, however, that some might be offended at the Holy Scriptures being made into something common - personal discretion must be used for that issue.

While my smaller children enjoy looking at the bright pictures, I would recommend this book for ages 10 and above due to the long story explanations and the grasping of the "Big Story" concepts.

As a storybook, this 320-page volume is a beautiful way to explore the main stories from the Bible in full color. Children aged 10 and up may better understand how the salvation plan of God was being revealed from Genesis all the way through the time of Jesus the Christ!

I give this book 4 out of 5 bookmarks, one less than a perfect score only because I'm not quite sure how I feel about seeing the Bible message reduced to comic book form.





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. This post contains affiliate links.

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson
Rebecca's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: This review is a guest post by Rebecca Grzybowski.

Book Summary:

Anne Norris moved to Savannah, Georgia, for a fresh start. Now her pirate-tour business is flagging, and paying the rent requires more than wishful thinking. When she discovers evidence of a shipwreck off the coast of Tybee Island, she knows it could be just the boon she needs to stay afloat. She takes her findings to local museum director Carter Hale for confirmation, but she runs after a disastrous first meeting.
Carter has been searching for the location of the wreck detailed in the worn pages of an 18th-century diary, the discovery of which could open the door to his dream job at a prestigious museum. But convincing Anne to help him fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle is no easy task. And working with Carter means that Anne will have to do the one thing she swore she'd never do again: trust a man.
Finding a monetary backer and sticking with a search that's turning up nothing will take all their dedication--and every secret they've tried to hide. If they can find the lost ship, they may discover a treasure worth more than all the pirate gold in the world--love.

What a spellbinding book. I will be honest, the journal entries were my favorite part. I don’t know if that is just the lover of historical fiction side of me or just because I found it more intriguing. Suffice it to say, at one point I did jump ahead in the book just so I could read the rest of the journal entries! But I did go back once I was through with the journal entries. The modern day story was also very good and blended with the historical side to create a well-written novel.

Anne and Carter are well-developed, believable characters who had real struggles. Carter struggles with having an influential family and trying to make a name for himself without having to use those connections. Anne struggles with shame over a mistake she made and the consequences her actions brought about. Through the book Anne and Carter learn and grow, eventually coming to the point where they can accept and overcome.

"Treasure is trouble." This saying comes up when Anne and Carter begin searching for their sunken ship. Even though they aren’t looking for treasure in the traditional sense, just the wreck, this saying still applied to their search. As one of the minor characters explained, searching for treasure can bring out a person’s hidden or underlying traits, good or bad. The question Carter and Anne face is, what traits will surface when hunting for the treasure doesn’t go their way?

Recommend?
Yes! Who doesn’t love a story about discovering a lost ship and a girl disguised as a boy to find her brother? Throw in a little bit of romance and learning to overcome the shame of past mistakes, and you have the makings of an intriguing, well-written story.

We're bringing you two book reviews today. Nicole is reviewing the spy comedy novella Red Rover, Red Rover by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick and JD reviews the literary fiction book All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner. These are two very different types of books but each is a great read in its category. Also in this episode is Nicole's Fact about author Agatha Christie and JD's Tip about how to get tens of thousands of ebooks for free. And we chat for a bit about cool bookshops and the lost art of letter-writing.


Download Episode 29

The Appetizer

Best Bookstores in all 50 States

Other Bookshops We Mentioned:
Upstart Crow in San Diego, CA
Powell's Books in Portland, OR
The Old Sage Bookshop in Prescott, AZ

Review: The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White - historical fiction
Review: Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse - fantasy
Review: On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher - contemporary
Quick Bonus Article: https://www.janeausten.co.uk/a-history-of-love-letters/

On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Hannah's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

I haven't read anything by Suzanne Woods Fisher before because she's mostly written Amish novels, and I'm not a lover of "bonnet" fiction. So I really had no clue what sort of story I was about to read, but let's be honest: I chose this one for the cover.

Book Summary:

Sometimes love hurts--and sometimes it can heal in the most unexpected way.
Camden Grayson loves her challenging career, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. "Moving on" is Cam's mantra. But there's a difference, her two sisters insist, between one who moves on and one who just keeps on moving.
Cam's full-throttle life skids to a stop when her father buys a remote island off the coast of Maine. Paul Grayson has a dream to breathe new life into the island--a dream that includes reuniting his estranged daughters. Certain Dad has lost his mind, the three sisters rush to the island. To Cam's surprise, the slow pace of island life appeals to her, and so do the locals. One in particular: Seth Walker, the scruffy island schoolteacher, who harbors more than a few surprises.

Suzanne Fisher Woods Photo Credit: © Dan Davis Photography

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: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White
Stephanie's rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Roseanna M. White

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. This post contains affiliate links.

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz
Hannah's Rating: 3 out of 5 bookmarks

Overall, it was a good read. The characters are solid and the plot progresses well. The cover is absolutely dreamy, and I especially loved the unique touch of Lark's name.

Summary:

Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he is hoping will provide a tincture that might help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Yet even when all hope seems dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony, it may be that in this New World the two of them could make a new beginning--together.

Laura Frantz

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: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker
JD's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

First off, let me say that this book is simply mesmerizing. I call it a psychological fantasy thriller with religious undertones. That's the only way I can think to describe it. It is weird and wonderful.

The characters are some of the most realistic and genuine-feeling ones that I have ever read. Sam and Abra, our two child protagonists, have found themselves deep into circumstances that they are having a difficult time wrapping their minds around. The way they respond and react to events and other characters throughout the course of the book just felt so believable. While I think they (especially Sam) sometimes make the wrong decision I still couldn't help but root for them as this strange adventure was unfolding.

Smucker is an excellent writer. His prose is beautiful and the story world he creates is vivid and filled with such genuine characters that I couldn't help but be pulled into it. This was my first Shawn Smucker book but it won't be my last.

If you have a concrete theology about angelic beings that you hold to and don't enjoy considering other possibilities or suspending reality long enough to read a story that dashes most typical ideas of said beings, then you might want to skip this book. But if you don't mind just enjoying a well-told story with some unusual supernatural elements then I'd recommend giving this book a try.

Favorite quote: "Time covers things. But that doesn't mean they're gone."

Note: If you enjoy this book, you'll want to check out the followup to it, The Edge of Over There.




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, a network of quality audio programming and review websites based in Phoenix, AZ.









Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Wait For Me by Susan May Warren
Lilian's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Wait For Me was a really enjoyable book to read! Susan May Warren has such an intriguing writing style that I quickly fell in love with and definitely found to be the highlight of the book.

Having not read the first five books of the Montana Rescue series, I did find myself a bit confused in the first couple of chapters, but once I got to know and differentiate the characters a bit more it really wasn't a problem at all (unlike what I had anticipated). And having read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it, I would definitely go back to read the first five!

EMT Jess Tagg finds herself crashed on the side of a highway from an impulsive decision. They're taken captive and dragged into untamed Montana wilderness, and Pete Brooks, a member of the  PEAK Rescue Team, takes it upon himself to rescue her. Wait For Me had characters like none other I've read -- Jess is first painted as a rich and alluring woman (at least it seemed like it to me), but I loved getting to slowly know her soft yet aching and real heart. I didn't love Pete Brooks as much because he felt very immature to me and didn't really seem to grow from his actions at all, but I still loved getting to see what he did as a PEAK member. Most of the other characters didn't speak to me much either.

Like I mentioned earlier, I really found Warren's writing style to be the highlight of this book. I wouldn't call it choppy, but it has this beautiful fast, but well-paced, feel which I thought was so interesting and unique. I've never seen anything even mildly close to it and she really kept me hooked for the majority of this book. She also subtly weaved in spiritual elements into it and among the characters as well, which I really appreciated! And the plot twists. Ohhhh my goodness. Warren really has a gift with plot twists -- one of them I thought I saw coming but completely was flipped around and shocked the stars out of me.

Overall, I loved this read! I would definitely recommend Wait For Me to any suspense lovers, and I'll also be on the lookout for more Montana Rescue books!




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. This post contains affiliate links.

Code of Valor by Lynette Eason
Lilian's Rating 4 out of 5 bookmarks

What an extremely riveting suspense tale! Although I have never been a face-right-on-the-cover type of person, the cover did intrigue me enough to draw me to it and Lynette Eason is definitely a suspense author you often hear about, so I'm glad I read it!

Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Rachel Fordham's sophomore novel, Yours Truly, Thomas, is as delightful as her debut, The Hope of Azure Springs! From cover to interior formatting to the story itself, this historical fiction novel is a beautiful journey. This is not a sequel to The Hope of Azure Springs although the setting is the same and some characters overlap.

Penny and Thomas are wonderfully realistic and charming characters. I must admit, I struggled to get into the story in the beginning, but just a few chapters in and I was hooked. Penny is a bit naive, but I think that only adds to the attractiveness of her character. Thomas is running from his painful past and is finally ready to put it behind him when he reaches the small town of Azure Springs. These characters are quite the opposites, which brings about an engaging story.

Fordham's writing style is very simplistic and perhaps a bit unsophisticated, which is not usually my favorite style to read, but I think it lends a great deal of charm to the historical setting of her novels. And her descriptions are nonetheless beautiful and enjoyable. The small town of Azure Springs and its people that she has created (which is also featured prominently in her debut novel) are so darling and enchanting, I wish it were a real town I could visit. The supporting cast of characters from Margaret, Abraham, the twin girls, Dinah, and even Jeb and Eliza is unique and colorful, lending diversity to the story.

There is a bit of a mystery thread to the story that had me very intrigued, and the action towards the end wrapped up the story well. I won't lie, I'm a sucker for a sweet romantic storyline, and while it was not the main feature, the romance was incredibly sweet, pure, and realistic. I think that romantic storylines may be Fordham's greatest strength. I also enjoyed the inside look into the United States Postal Service's Dead Letter Office. That is a subject that has always fascinated me, and in this historical setting, even more so.

All in all, I highly enjoyed Yours Truly, Thomas and recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction and sweet romance. This book is appropriate for any age.




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 for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

On Tour with Prism Book Tours JD's Review

Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse
JD's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: Flight of the Raven continues the fantasy series, The Ravenwood Saga, that began with Mark of the Raven. If you have not read Book 1, be aware that this review may spoil some plot points from that book.

Flight of the Raven picks up right where the previous book left off without much passage of time; a few hours at most. Selene and Damien's relationship with one another plays a huge part in the arc of this book so there is obviously a larger romantic element here than in the previous book. And while this book felt much more slow-moving than Mark there were still some developments in the story that advance the plot.

In this book, Selene is really on a journey to discover just who she is. She wants to learn as much as she possibly can about the history of House Ravenwood and their gifting and use that information to inform her current situation and position in the realm. She's also digging down deep inside of herself and grappling with her feelings, emotions, and confusion about the things she's been brought up to believe. Selene is a very rich character and it was interesting to get to know her further in this book. It's a good thing that she is such a great character since the majority of the book is dealing with her and her internal struggles regarding her marriage to Damien, how she should feel about the Light (the deity of the Old Ways whom her husband and his people worship), and even the smaller issues like fitting into daily life at Northwind Castle.

Lord Damien is the perfect gentleman character. Though he does make a few blunders on occasion, for the most part, he is the quintessence of refinement and poise. You might even criticize him for being too perfect, though he felt genuine enough to me to not find him to be flawless to the point of annoyance. His earnest care and concern for his people was a great quality that he showed from the moment we're introduced to him in Book 1. He's a truly just and honest leader.

Sprinkled throughout the first three-quarters of the book are some tidbits of backstory on Damien, some history of the giftings, and other information which helps to flesh out the story world even more and make it that much richer and vivid. But the action doesn't really get going until much later. After all the character development that takes up the majority of the book, there is some action at last near the final quarter of the book.

In summation, this is a highly character-driven book with lots of time spent getting to know the major players from Book 1 on a much deeper level. And we learn more about the story world and its history and lore. This all builds up to the few bits of action we get near the end and sets up things for a much quicker-paced, action-filled adventure in the next volume. So let's hope Busse keeps the momentum going that was built up in the final chapters and carries it over to Book 3.

Content Advisory
Mentions of marital infidelity (though not graphic), multiple murders, typical war-related violence that you'd expect from a fantasy story with kingdom rivalries. There are also allusions and references to intimacy in marriage though nothing is described or explicitly stated beyond a few kisses. Would recommend for male and female readers ages 18 and up.




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, a network of quality audio programming and review blogs based in Phoenix, AZ.








Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

We review the book that was our first introduction to author Charles Martin in today's episode. Send Down the Rain is the latest novel by Charles Martin and it just released in paperback in the past few months. This novel tells a heartwrenching tale of brokenness, deceit, and ultimately, redemption. We also ask about which five books you would choose if you could only save five books on the planet, Nicole has a Bookworm Fact about the top bestsellers of all time, and JD's Bookworm Tip is a resource for the book nerd.


Download Episode 28

The Appetizer

If every book on Earth would soon be destroyed and you could only save five books in the world, which books would you save and why?

Review: Living Lies by Natalie Walters (thriller)
Review: The Refuge by Ann. H. Gabhart (historical fiction)
Review: God Gave Me Grandma by Pamela Kennedy & the B&H Kids Editorial Staff

The Review

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin
Purchase Send Down the Rain on Amazon


JD's Rating: 5 out of 5







Nicole's Rating: 5 out of 5

Nicole’s Bookworm Fact

...is about the top bestsellers of all time.
Full Story

JD's Bookworm Tip

...is the FictionDB website, a resource for book nerds.

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The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
Sarah Grace's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

I fell in love with Reay's writing style when I read A Portrait of Emily Price (see my review here) a while ago, so I was excited when I first saw The Printed Letter Bookshop. Also, that cover is so whimsical, I was instantly intrigued! And I was not disappointed.

The Printed Letter has a somewhat slow and even meandering plot at times, but I would not say that is a bad thing in this case. (Although it certainly didn't help my reading slump) It was, in fact, a delightfully fresh breath of air after several dud reads and fast-paced suspense books. I fell in love with this fictional bookshop, its people, and its city. Reay creates a beautiful location to set her story.

Our main characters are three women--all in different walks of life. Madeline, a young attorney; Claire, a forty-something mom and wife; and Janet, a divorced, middle-aged woman who is trying to find her place in this life. They all are, in fact, trying to find their place. And that alone makes each of these characters incredibly relatable, I believe. While the point of view jumps were confusing at times for me, I think Reay does a fabulous job keeping each of these characters unique and individual, all the way down to switching up the points of view, having both third-person and first-person points of view--something you don't see a lot, and some may find unenjoyable, but I personally liked that decision. They each had their own beautiful and complete storyline, yet the three were interwoven perfectly to form a cohesive whole.

Reay tackles some difficult and serious issues in The Printed Letter, not the least of which are adultery, divorce, and teen issues. Yet she does so with incredible tact and authenticity, weaving lines of grace, forgiveness, and mercy throughout the pages of this lovely story.

Overall, I highly recommend The Printed Letter Bookshop! Katherine Reay is an incredible author and I look forward to reading more.




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 for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.