Review: A Matter of Conscience by Mary Hosmar

Is rebellion treason?

It’s 1837 and Jamie MacPherson is fifteen, living with his family on their Canadian farm. William Lyon Mackenzie is calling for Canadians to reject the frustrating and undemocratic British rule, a call that places his family in opposition to many of their friends and neighbours. Is armed rebellion against the God-ordained government appropriate? What if the government gained power through unfair means?

A Matter of Conscience did an excellent job of fairly presenting both sides of the issue, and this was refreshing (in contrast, most Christian fiction about the American Revolution is written by Americans, and reflects the American view).

There were a handful of typos (e.g. outrages instead of outrageous), and while they were a little distracting, they were easy enough to overlook. There were also a couple of small factual errors (Canadians, like other citizens of the Commonwealth, were British subjects until 1949). My other issue was that I didn’t initially know where the book was set. Yes, I knew it was in Canada, but Canada is a big country. There were references to Upper Canada and Lower Canada, but I’m not Canadian so had no idea what that meant (I’ve since checked Wikipedia, and it seems they are the modern-day provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Perhaps that should have been explained in an introductory note from the author).

The novel raised some interesting questions, questions which have no easy answers, and the author did an excellent job of attempting to convey the internal conflict this causes Jamie. However, I felt the story dragged in places, with too much introspection about the arguments for and against rebellion, and too little action. When the action finally came, it felt almost flat, as though the book had been leading up to a conflict which never happened.

A Matter of Conscience is a solid young adult novel with interesting characters, a unique plot and setting, and it asks some difficult questions. Itwill be of interest to Canadians, those interested in Canadian history, and anyone who’s ever wondered when rebellion or war is appropriate.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

ACRBA Review: Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsey

3 - 7 February 2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Shadowed in Silk

WhiteFire Publishing Sept 2011

By

Christine Lindsay

About the Book

She was invisible to those who should have loved her.

After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women . . . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American pluck to survive.

Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.

Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.

About the Author

Christine Lindsay writes historical inspirational novels with strong love stories, and she takes pride in her Irish roots. Her great grandfather and grandfather worked as riveters in the Belfast shipyard, one of those ships her ancestors helped build was the Titanic. On her mother’s side it was stories of ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in India that seeded Christine’s long-time fascination with the British Raj and became the stimulus for her Twilight of the British Raj series.

The Pacific coast of Canada, about 200 miles north of Seattle, is Christine’s home where she lives with her husband, David, and they enjoy the visits from their adult children and grandchildren. Like a lot of authors, Christine’s chief editor is her cat

www.christinelindsay.com

My Review

Shadowed in Silk is a story filled with conflict at several levels. While Abby arrives in India determined to have a proper marriage and family, it is soon apparent that Nick has his own agenda, and encourages her to do what the other wives do. Claude, a civil service man, is only too pleased to show Abby around. Meanwhile, Geoff has to fight his own feelings for Abby, feelings which are inappropriate towards a married woman.

Behind this search for the Russian spy, and the overarching backdrop of the rise of the Indian independence movement, led by Ghandi. While I knew something of India’s struggle for independence, I hadn’t realised the movement dated back that far. A huge amount of research obviously went in to making Shadowed in Silk as historically accurate as possible, yet this research never overwhelmed the story, a huge achievement. I was also impressed by the use of description in the way the author made me feel as though I was in India in 1918, and the use of a sprinkling of the local languages to give it more Indian flavour.

Shadowed in Silk had everything I want in a novel: an original plot, interesting and intelligent characters, plenty of conflict and tension (I could feel my heart-rate increasing as I read it), and an underlying Christian theme. I highly recommend Shadowed in Silk for those readers who enjoy historical fiction, especially that set outside the more traditional locations of the US and the British Isles.

Thanks to the author and ACRBA for providing a free ebook for review. You can find out more about Christine Lindsey at her website.

Blog Chase and Giveaway: Falling for the Farmer by Narelle Atkins

Today we have something new—a blog chase, where we join Australian author Narelle Atkins in celebrating the release of her debut novel, Falling for the Farmer. During the chase, we will visit six blogs in Australia and New Zealand, ending at Narelle's blog where you'll find the entry form and giveaway information. 

Each stop on the blog chase has an excerpt from Falling for the Farmer, and a question. Follow the chase in order to read the opening pages, starting at Australasian Christian Writers (follow the link to visit now—you can then come back and read the second excerpt below).

Narelle is giving away three print copies of Falling for the Farmer to three lucky readers who provide the correct answers to all five blog chase questions. We hope you enjoy the ride!

Back cover blurb:

KATE LAWSON IS A RUNAWAY BRIDE 

And she’s incredibly grateful when Jack Bradley offers her a job on his apple farm. Working side by side in the orchards with her best friend’s brother seems like the perfect way to get over her disastrous engagement. Until Kate finds herself falling hard for the handsome farmer. 

Jack Bradley knows city-girl Kate isn’t here to stay. Yet suddenly he’s imagining a life with her in the country. When Kate considers going back to the city, can Jack find a way to show her that her real home is here on the farm, by his side? 


CHAPTER ONE excerpt:

Gulping air into her burning lungs, she wrenched open the cumbersome passenger door of the Cadillac and threw her bridal bouquet on the floor. She slid onto the soft cream leather seat, the full skirt of her gown settling over her legs.

Jack Bradley spun around in the driver’s seat, his tawny-brown eyes widening after she pulled the door closed and fastened her seat belt.

Her pulse raced and she sucked in a shallow breath. “Let’s go.”

“Where? Why?” He stashed his phone in the dashboard console. “Aren’t you supposed to be inside the church getting married?”

Kate glanced out the rear window. Her mother hobbled down the church steps in three-inch heels, her crimson face glowing in the late-morning Sydney sunshine. “Please, Jack, I’ll tell you later.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If Kate ran away to Tauranga, New Zealand, where could she go? 

Tauranga is the main city in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, named by Captain Cook for the plentiful supply of food and water. If Kate ran away to Tauranga, she would get a temporary job in the kiwifruit industry and would spend her days off swimming, surfing or getting a suntan at The Mount. The Mount is the local name for the beach suburb of Mt Maunganui, which includes shopping, a famous surf beach and a 242m peak rising straight out of the sea.

If Kate wanted to travel a little further afield, she could visit Hobbiton, the set from the Lord of the Rings movies, now a permanent tourist attraction.
 

My question for the blog chase: What is Mt Maunganui beach called by locals?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You're at Stop 2 on the Falling for the Farmer blog chase. 

Please fill in your answers to the questions located on each of the participating blogs when you reach Narelle’s blog at Stop 6. 

If you have five correct answers, you'll receive an entry in the drawing to win one of three print copies of Falling for the Farmer. 

You can gain a bonus entry in the drawing if you have five correct answers and leave a comment below on this post.  

Current and new subscribers to Narelle’s email list will automatically receive an extra entry if they correctly answer all five questions. The giveaway entry form and terms and conditions are included with Narelle’s post at Stop 6. The winners will be announced in a comment on this post on Wednesday, February 12.

Your next stop on the blog chase is Ink Dots.

The full blog chase itinerary is listed below.

Stop 1: Australasian Christian Writers (ACW) http://australasianchristianwriters.blogspot.com.au/ 

Stop 2: Iola’s Christian Reads http://christianreads.blogspot.com/ 

Stop 3: Ink Dots http://dorothyadamek.blogspot.com.au/ 

Stop 4: Come Meet Ausjenny http://ausjenny.blogspot.com/

Stop 5: Soul Inspirationz http://soulinspirationz.blogspot.com/ 

Stop 6: Narelle Atkins http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com/

A fun question: Do you have a favourite beach to visit, or one you dream of visiting?

Text Copyright © 2014 by Narelle Atkins 
Cover Art Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited 
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. 
Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. 
All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.
Copyright© 2014 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited 
Cover copy used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Review: When Courage Calls by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

A Modern Christian Classic

My love for Christian fiction was inspired by Frank Peretti, Michael Phillips and Janette Oke. I think I’ve read every book Janette Oke has ever published. She effectively created Christian prairie fiction with the Love Comes Softly
series. She introduced me to Canada and inspired an enduring respect for the hardworking settlers and the Mounties with When Calls the Heart (and twenty years later, I think I'm still a little in love with Wynn).

Where Courage Calls
is co-authored by Janette and her daughter, Laurel Oke Logan, and it’s just as good as the early books. It features Beth Thatcher, a young relative of Elizabeth (from When Calls the Heart), and Beth is following her aunt’s footsteps by leaving the security of her well-to-do Toronto home to take a job teaching in the West—Coal Valley, a mining town, in the 1920’s.

When Calls the Heart is not a romance (although there are romantic elements). It’s the story of a young woman from a privileged upbringing who finds herself serving in a small town with no conveniences (no shops—not even indoor plumbing). As When Calls the Heart progresses, Beth is challenged by people and circumstances, and learns to rely on God for guidance in times of difficulty. It’s reminiscent of the story of Elizabeth Thatcher, but it’s also entirely Beth’s own story as we watch her struggle, cope and mature (and I do hope there is a sequel).

Recommended for all Janette Oke fans. If you’ve read and enjoyed the When Calls the Heart books, you’ll enjoy this. It is a standalone novel, as there are only passing references to the earlier books and locations, and this is set in a new time and place. So if you haven’t read When Calls the Heart, you can still enjoy Where Courage Calls.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

February 2014 New Releases and Givewaway

It's the beginning of a new month, which means the fabulous Ellie Whyte at Soul Inspirationz is hosting another giveaway. This month she has ten titles to give away, including Love's Sweet Surrender by Ann Shorey, a worldwide giveaway (most other titles are US only—sorry, international readers).

New releases I'll be reviewing this month

• Wishing on Buttercups by Miralee Ferrell
• A March Bride by Rachel Hauck
• Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck
• Poison Town by Creson Mapes
• When Courage Calls by Jannette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
• Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate

I'll also be hosting giveaways of the following books:

• Falling for the Farmer by Narelle Atkins
• Friend Me by John Fabion
• It Had to be You by Susan May Warren

And I like the look of Shadows of the Past by Patricia Bradley (an author I haven't read before). What are you looking forward to reading?