Review: Circle of Spies by Roseanna M White

Outstanding

It is 1865, and young widow Marietta Arnaud Hughes will shortly come out of mourning, and it is expected she will then marry her brother-in-law, Deveraux, who has been in love with her since they first met. Marietta is an odd combination of believable and fantastic. Her foibles and weaknesses are both familiar and relatable, but she has a gift, a photographic memory, and can remember every conversation she has ever had and every page of every book she has ever read.

A visit from her grandfather reveals a long-standing secret: that the family is a network of spies, and they need her help, both because of her special gift, and because they believe Deveraux is a leader in a secret organisation trying to undermine the government. But help is at hand, in the form of Slade Osbourne, a Pinkerton agent working for the family rail business. Unfortunately, he’s also too attractive for his own good, and Deveraux is a jealous suitor …

I really enjoyed Circle of Spies. The one fault is I thought there was too much male point of view—we got scenes from the viewpoints of Deveraux, Slade and Walker. While each character and scene did add to the overall plot, it just felt a little male-dominated at times (although that was probably a fair representation of the times!).

This is the fifth book in the Culper Ring series, following two novels and two free novellas, all following the Lane family and the activities of the Culpers at different times in American history. All have been good, but this was excellent. The research is excellent (but doesn’t overpower the characters and the story), the story is well-plotted with plenty of twists and turns, the characters are strong yet fallible, and there is a solid Christian message without being preachy. Recommended.

Thanks to Harvest House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. You can find out more about Roseanna M White at her website.

April 2014 New Releases

The wonderful Ellie Whyte at Soul Inspirationz has her list of April New Releases up, and the monthly giveaway. This includes four books available worldwide, and a whopping 29 for US residents. Be quick - the giveaway is only open for a week.

Find the giveaway at Soul Inspirations - April New Releases.

Friday Fifteen: Susan Barnes

Friday Fifteen: Fifteen books which have influenced your life or your writing. Today, a warm welcome to Susan Barnes from New South Wales.

Fifteen authors who have influenced me

I have written elsewhere about non-fiction authors who have influenced me so in this list I have stuck to fiction authors, which was more difficult because I am rather picky. Nevertheless I've been enriched by the fiction I have read.

1. Enid Blyton

I loved the Folk of the Faraway Tree but I didn't read many of her other titles.

2. Madeleine L'Engle 

A Wrinkle in Time, which was surprising because I don't normally like sci-fi but I loved the message of this book.

3. Elinor Brent-Dyer 

The Chalet School series. I enjoyed lots of school based novels when I was at school. I like reading about contexts that I can relate to.

I loved boarding school stories as well. 

4. Julie Campbell 

Trixie Belden series, I quite like a little mystery.

5. Pamela Brown 

The Swish of the Curtain and a little creativity.

6. Lucy Montgomery 

I loved the Anne series and anything else she wrote.

7. L. P. Hartley 

The go-between. I had to read this in Year 12 and then later read it again as an adult. Always interesting to reread a book you remember well from earlier days and realize what you missed the first time around.

8. Neville Shute

When I left school I had trouble transitioning to adult fiction. My parents only read murder mysteries and thrillers which didn't interest me. I didn't like fantasy or sci-fi or straight romance. I liked stories about everyday situations and people that I could identify with. I remember going to the library and being overwhelmed with choice yet not being able to find anything I thought I like. I did however enjoy Neville Shute's books.

9. Hugh MacKay 

House Guest. I read my children's books from school including this year 12 novel of my daughter's which I enjoy much more than she did. I also enjoyed MacKay non-fiction titles.

10. Francine Rivers 

Redeeming Love. Loved this but couldn't get into her other books.

11. Lynn Austin 

Loved her historical fiction. I found this author when I typed Christian fiction into a library's database.

12. Paula Vince

I went to the Writing Conference on the Gold Coast in 2012 and found a whole bunch of Aussie Christian writers like Paula who wrote contemporary stories about real people in real situations. I couldn't believe what I'd been missing.

Susan enjoyed that 2012 writing conference so much that she's organising a conference for Christian writers to be held in Melbourne, in October 2014. You can find out more at the website. 

13. Rose Dee 

As above.

14. Andrea Grigg 

As above.

15. Penelope McCowan 

As above.

About Susan

Susan Barnes likes to write devotional thoughts on Bible passages, book reviews and inspirational articles. She loves to challenge people's thinking and regularly blogs at www.abooklook.blogspot.com.au. She is also a librarian and pastor's wife.

Would you like to contribute a Friday Fifteen? If so, email me via my contact page to set a date. Contributions are welcome from anyone—readers, reviewers and authors. It's an opportunity to share some of the authors (and books) which have influenced you, and to pick up some ideas for new authors to read.

Review: Scarlett Says by Julie L Cannon

Who do you follow?

Joan Marie Meeker owns a well-known blog, Scarlett Says, on which she publishes posts of admiration for her favourite fictional character, Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind. Joan credits Scarlett with saving her life as a teenager and considers her the feminine ideal, but Joan has just made a horrible discovery that changes her view of Scarlett, and forces her to reconsider aspects of her own life.

She is supported by Siggy, the old janitor at the PR firm where she works. He follows Joan’s blog, but is concerned that she’s living entirely in a virtual world, with little interaction with real people. He supports, encourages and advises her from his source of life and wisdom: the Bible (mostly the book of Proverbs).
Scarlett Says is written in the first person, present tense, as Joan addresses the big issue in her past which pre-empted her withdrawal into her own space, and as she listens to Siggy’s biblical words of wisdom. I liked Joan and her voice was engaging and easy to read, so it never felt like I was missing anything by not having another point of view.

The use of first person was good for showing how insular Joan was, and possibly her lack of judgement in choosing Scarlett O’Hara as her role model—which is kind of sad. I’ve always admired Scarlett’s boldness and determination to achieve whatever she set her mind to, but she was also manipulative and self-centred, two less positive characteristics.

There were a handful of things which suspended disbelief, including (I’m sorry to say) the abrupt ending, but that didn’t alter the central theme of Scarlett Says, or the impact of Joan’s emotional and spiritual journey as she faces her past and looks to building a different future.

In terms of genre, Scarlett Says is part chick-lit, part women’s fiction and part romance. Overall, Scarlett Says was well worth reading, and I'm sorry to find Julie L Cannon died in 2012. I’d have been interested in knowing what happens next for Joan. Recommended for fans of Angela Hunt, Katherine Ready, of anyone wanting a little more depth in their Christian fiction.

Thanks to Abingdon Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. You can find out more about Julie L Cannon at her website. Please note there is also an author named Julie Cannon, and you don’t want to get the two mixed up.

ARCBA Blog Tour and Review: Dave the Donkey by Andrew McDonough

31 March - 4 April  2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Dave the Donkey

by

Andrew McDonough

About the Book

Jerusalem. A lone rider approaches. The cheering crowd swarm to greet him. The King has come, mounted upon his mighty steed Dave the Donkey! Join Dave, his Grandpa and Jesus in this epic Easter tale of power, courage, death and resurrection. If you like Black Beauty you will love Dave the Donkey.

About the Author

Andrew McDonough is the creator of the popular Lost Sheep resources. He has written and illustrated 21 children's stories that are used in schools and churches around the world. Based in South Australia, Andrew belongs to the WestCare community, an inner city mission working amongst the homeless, supporting people struggling with addictions and advocating for refugees. He regularly visits schools & churches to tell stories, conduct workshops, preach and lead all-age worship services. He and the Lost Sheep team have a passion to provide high quality Biblical storytelling resources to children’s workers, pastors and parents. Andrew’s stories including Cecil the Lost Sheep, Jesus and the Children, Echidnas on Everest and his latest book, Tina the Tree

https://www.lostsheep.com.au/

My Review

This is an enjoyable retelling of the Easter story from the point of view of two donkeys, Dave and his grandpa, Cecil, with colourful pictures which will appeal to small children, and vocabulary that is simple enough for slightly older readers to read with some assistance.

There is also a note to parents at the back, offering a way of sharing the story and suggesting some questions to ask. I especially like this, as it’s a way of sharing the gospel message to the adult or older child reading the book, and shows how the story of Easter is one worth celebrating all year round.

Dave the Donkey is part of the Lost Sheep series of books.

Thanks to ARCBA and Andrew McDonough for providing a free book for review. You can find out more about Andrew McDonough and the Lost Sheep books at www.lostsheep.com.au.