LOVES PURE LIGHT - 4 XMAS NOVELLAS

Love's Pure Light - 4 Stories follow and Heirloom Nativity Set through 4 Generations

 Raney, McNear, Dietze, Rosche  Available Sept 1, 2020

***RECOMMENDED - CHRISTMAS EASY READING ***

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCH ARE KEEPING BY SUSAN DIETZE

Massachusetts, 1899

"...when one is facing hardship, it often helps to focus on helping somone else."

"Never had a friend, male or female, challenged or encouraged him in his relationship with God or his work the way she had.  He'd never met a woman who could make him feel this confused yet at the same time this peaceful- "

This was a decent story with plenty of moments of redemption. However, I never care for characters who profess their love after a mere 3 weeks. It takes away from the story.

((3 Stars=I like it.))

THE WISE GUY AND THE STAR BY SHANNON McNEAR

Charleston, SC to Kansas City, Mo, 1919

"Good noon, ladies! Might I start you off with a cup of coffee or tea?" "Tea please," Aunt Lila said.

"God feels very far away. Like I've seen too much, done too much, somehow. Ordinary church is fine for ordinary people but..." [Stella shifted from one to the other. "Lord, help me grasp just what it is he's trying to say - and give me words that might offer comfort and strength."]

I really enjoyed the writing style, rich with detail but not so much as to get in the way. Nat and Stella are very sweet in their interactions. Realizing that Seth and Jesse from the previous story are her parents was unexpected and nice.

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It)

ON ANGEL WINGS BY JANICE ROSCHE

Kansas City, MO, 1945

"since Elodie Wise was a little girl, she'd been told she carried a light inside her soul that even the darkest night could not snuff out. The only problem? When she wanted - or rather needed - to hide, she never could. That didn't stop her from trying of course."

Decent story.  I liked Elodie and Benjamin's lifelong friendship.

((3 Stars=I liked it))

MAKING ROOM AT THE INN BY DEBORAH RANEY

Cape Girardeau, MO, Present Day

"An old hutch leaned agains the brick. Painted her favorite robin's-egg blue, the hutch held an exquisite mismatch of old dishes. No doubt the same cups and saucers she and Mimi had taken tea from that long ago Christmas. Oh how she wished they'd taken a photo..."

Very good story.  Although I generally do not enjoy modern tales, this one held my interest. The easy banter between Benjie and Trevor, yet moments of trepidations as they grew in affection for one another worked really well for me.

I love how the nativity found its way into the story and even grew with more pieces. It sure would be fun to see it!

((4 Stars=I Really Liked It))

I received a complimentary eBook from the NetGalley & the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

Barbour Publishing, 448 Pages, (c) Sept 1, 2020

((STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

Until next time - hugs and a cup of tea!

THE REBEL BRIDE

Amazon Link

Link to Pinhurst Pottery
During the Civil War, the confederate
soldiers had to melt down their tin
cups in order to make bullets. The
potters of North Carolina made them
pottery “cups” they could use-
a style that was large enough to
double as a bowl for stew as well as
a coffee mug. Signed with God Bless You.
All Nichols Pottery is hand made and signed.

Lydia ushered her to the kitchen and made her sit, then pressed a cup of something warm into her hands. “Drink this,” she whispered.

Hands shaking, Pearl could hardly lift the cup. She tasted mint and- was that whiskey?...

“I’ve never seen you so upset…” “I just shot a man,” she snapped. “Two, actually.”

After another gulp of her tea, she folded an arm on the tabletop, lay her head upon it, and let the tears come.

The Rebel Bride – Book #10 Daughters of the Mayflower Series by Shannon McNear

•°o•:*:•.Rich, Close-up View of Civil War Era Characters.•:*:• o°•

I found this 1863 historical, faith-filled romance interesting, but for me the topic is a bit heavy.  War is hard. These people did their best to get through it and deal with the matters at hand.  The Civil War was especially hard on our country as family members choose sides or multiple sons did not return.  The lack of medical training and supplies that left men broken – so much to think about here. But, Pearl does her best to do as she is told and house wounded Yankee soldiers in her Rebel home.  With the help of her father, she learns to see the men as humans and not just the enemy.  Likewise, I appreciated how Josh was able to learn the same lesson as Pearl showed him and the others hospitality in nursing, feeding, and caring for them even though they were prisoners forced on her by the military (as were many in the surrounding farm homes). I think my view of the cause of the war has changed.  I thought it was primarily about slavery, but this book gave me a better understanding that it was about the Northern States wanting to be united (Unionists), believing that’s what the forefathers intended and what was best for our country, while the Southern States wanted Secession (Secessionists) – governing themselves freely and that slavery was only a small part of the issue. I learned several tidbits from the beginning and the back of the book.  For example, I always assumed Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was black, not white. The Fifteenth Wisconsin was mostly comprised of Norwegian immigrants, plus some Swedish, Danish and Dutch who were full of pride to fight for their new homeland. The character Berndt Thorsson is a tribute to those men. Both sides used flags and torches to signal each other across battle lines, which was a system created by Albert J. Myer – an assistant surgeon who later became the first Chief Signal Officer.

Quote I enjoyed: “If we have not the comfort of knowing our Savior, Pearl, and doing our best each day to serve and follow Him, what do we have? Are not all equally lost, whether North or South, white or black, without knowledge of Him? We must seek to know God, and Him only. ‘I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.’”

I believe the author has treated the topic with respect and passion.  I would recommend this book as a solid read for those enjoying historical, Christian fiction with a touch of romance.  The Civil War details are not the forefront of the story, but rather the backdrop as we get to know the characters and the challenges they are dealing with.

I received an eCopy from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review with no further compensation or expectation.

So far in this series, twelve books have been written by varied authors so they loosely reference each other’s characters in the family tree, and therefore need not be read together or in order. You can read about them at DaughtersOfTheMayflowerDotCom.

Barbour Publishing 12/2019

4 stars

Until next time, hugs and a "cups" of tea!

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