Jewel of the Nile (By: Tessa Afshar)

Jewel of the Nile
By: Tessa Afshar

Story Line: 5 Stars
Depth: 4 Stars
Faith: 5 Stars
Love Story: 4 Stars
Overall: 4.5 Stars

Tessa Afshar is one of our favorite authors, and we were thrilled to see another publication from her! Jewel of the Nile was an engaging story that swept us away right from the first page. 

Chariline knows almost nothing of her deceased parents' story. Never having quite felt at home being raised by her aunt, she is shocked and excited to discover her father is in fact, still alive. She knows almost nothing of him - not his name or where he may be located. After finding a clue to her father's whereabouts and identity, Chariline determines to travel to Rome at any cost - even putting her life in danger by stowing away on a ship to get there. 

This Rome-bound vessel belongs to none other than Theo, whom we know from one of Tessa's previous books, Thief of Corinth. What follows is a story of suspense and adventure, life-changing faith, memorable characters and a sweet love story. 

As per usual, Tessa's historical writing is so extraordinary, her readers are transported back into the Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Cush. We highly recommend picking up this novel for a good escape where your faith might also grow as a result!

Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review.  

Thief of Corinth (By: Tessa Afshar)

Thief of Corinth
By: Tessa Afshar

Story Line: 4 Stars
Depth: 4 Stars
Faith: 5 Stars
Love Story: 3 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

Tessa Afshar has a way of bringing Biblical history to life unlike anyone else and has done it again in this story set in first-century Corinth! Ariadne has mourned the day her parents divorced, when she was moved away to live with her mother and grandfather. Longing to return to Corinth, and back to the father she loves dearly, Ariadne daringly escapes and runs away, hoping her father will be waiting with open arms. 

Galenos, Ariadne's father, is delighted that his daughter has returned. His home will once again be filled with love and purpose! However, Ariadne is unaware of the reasons that drove her mom away, and soon uncovers the truth - her father is the notorious thief who has been robbing corrupt, wealthy men in Corinth. To his surprise however, she does not walk out on him, but decides to become his apprentice in an effort to keep him safe. Because she has been blessed with incredible athletic ability she catches on very quickly. But how long can they live like this without getting caught? And who will be hurt in the process? 

When Galenos and Ariadne are introduced to an apostle named Paul, who offers a different way of life and talks of a man named Jesus, they both realize their desperate need for a Savior. The tangled web they have created will not be an easy one to unravel. The journey the characters travel throughout the story is one you will not want to miss! 

A final note on this book... Tessa Afshar reveals that she wrote this story largely due to having been asked countless times for a book readers could share with friends who are not practicing Christians. Us two chicks loved having this insight into the story and we think you will too!

Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review.  

2016 Year in Review - Our Favorite Reads

Celebrating 2016 Top Ten Favorites

Wow, we cannot believe it's the end of the year already and time for our annual countdown! You may have noticed our blog was a little quiet this year as we dealt with some unusual circumstances like moving and health issues. But we still found time to read some delightful books and here's hoping we can read even more next year.

So without further delay, here are our top ten favorite books of 2016! 

#10 - Like Never Like Before by Melissa Tagg
#9 - Forever Safe by Jody Hedlund
#8 - So Rare a Gift by Amber Lynn Perry
#7 - Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna M. White

#6 - The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter
#5 - Her One and Only by Becky Wade
#4 - The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (re-released this year)
#3 - Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren
#2 - You're the One that I Want by Susan May Warren
#1 - The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck
  

Let us know, were these your favorites as well? Do you have a different #1?

Here's to more happy reading in 2017!!!!

A Lady Unrivaled (By: Roseanna M. White)

A Lady Unrivaled

By: Roseanna M. White

Storyline 

A Lady Unrivaled is the third and final installment in the Ladies of the Manor trilogy. It dives into a new adventure, this time with Lady Ella Myserston wrapped up in her own story surrounding the infamous "Fire Eyes" red diamonds. Lady Ella, Lord Nottingham's younger sister, is a happy soul with always a smile on her face, and has often been viewed as young and naive. However, she knows much more than anyone gives her credit for and therefore takes it upon herself to protect her brother and new sister-in-law from the dangers of the Fire Eyes. When she takes off to visit her friends Justin and Brooke, she takes the diamonds with her. But where they go, danger is sure to follow!

Lord Cayton, whom we have been introduced to in previous books with a reputation as a heart-breaker, is determined to live a better life after the loss of his wife and the prospect of raising his daughter alone. His cousin Justin offers to help, but matters complicate when he learns the ever cheerful and beautiful Ella will also be present. He vows to stay clear of her for her own good, but soon find they must work together to keep their loved ones safe when danger once again follows the Fire Eyes.

Depth

Cayton constantly wrestles with himself and his past choices. How does one start over after making such poor choices? How can he become trustworthy and escape his old reputation?

We thoroughly enjoyed the journey the author takes Cayton on. We also appreciated the depth of some side characters, mainly Kira, a lady's maid in disguise, who is being threatened to gain information on the Fire Eyes. The author allowed us to dive into the lives of many characters we have come to know but also gave us a glimpse into the lives the servants lead as well.

Additionally, some of the main characters either have a broken past to deal with or currently have great pain to contend with. Broken families, past mistakes, and unfulfilled dreams are addressed.

Faith

The faith many of the characters have is real and evident. Justin has not given up on his cousin, and meets with him every morning to go through the Bible. This has a profound impact on Cayton. Will he be able to accept forgiveness and allow himself to be who God has called him to be? Ella too has some growing to do and she learns to start trusting in her own instincts in what the Lord is leading her to do. She chooses to trust in the Lord's guidance even when it does not make sense to others. There is also darkness in this book and shows those who have chosen to let greed and bitterness run their lives. Not everyone turns to our Savior for redemption but we are thankful to see that many do!

Love Story

Lady Ella is intrigued by Lord Cayton but knows she shouldn't be; her friend Brook would never approve. But there is just something about him! Cayton can't help but feel something stir in his heart for Ella but he won't do it, he cannot let himself fall for her. He does not feel worthy to be loved again. His insecurities make him push her away and often comes off moody when around her in an effort to protect her. But Ella can see right through it and consistently flirts and banters with him. It is often quite comical. It may take awhile but these two start to grow on each other and the love they share is very sweet.

Overall

This book ties up all the loose ends from the trilogy. We enjoyed this series and the many characters we came to know so well. However, we must add that this book does seem to drag on a little more than the other two as the author tries to bring the story to a close.

Find it on Amazon: A Lady Unrivaled

Note: We were given this book free in return for our honest review

The Wedding Shop (By: Rachel Hauck)

The Wedding Shop

By: Rachel Hauck

Storyline

Decades apart, two women want to help others achieve their dreams through The Wedding Shop, even if each may never see her own come true.

In 1930's Tennessee, Cora has inherited the shop from her aunt and delights in helping blushing brides choose the perfect wedding gown and accessories. She hopes that one day her man will finally be able to marry her and then she too can be the one walking down the aisle. But as the Depression hits, life changes forever for both her family and all the families around her. Will her waiting for Happily Ever After never end?

Today, Haley Morgan moves back home to Heart's Bend, Tennessee after her childhood best friend, Tammy, dies. She is drawn to the old, abandoned wedding shop where they used to play, promising to one day reopen the magical store. When Haley finds out the shop is scheduled to be torn down and turned into a parking lot, she takes a leap of faith and decides to renovate and reopen the shop - even with opposition from every side. Can she overcome the odds to fulfill God's plans for her future? Especially with a past like hers?

There is no one better than author Rachel Hauck at seamlessly interweaving the past and present, creating a fascinating plot with vivid detail and heartfelt characters. She tells little bits of the story at a time, leaving us hungry for more and satisfying us with answers at just the right times.

Depth

Many deep issues are touched on in The Wedding Shop. The Depression Era is often taught in history as a financial problem. Everyone knows that money was tight, and hard times were had by many all over the country. But this book explores the emotional side of the Depression as well. What must families have gone through when the dads were out of work? How did the husbands and fathers feel at being unable to provide for their families? How did the women feel when their men were depressed and when some even left their families out of shame? The raw pain of this era is boldly brought to life.


Additionally, some of the main characters either have a broken past to deal with or currently have great pain to contend with. Broken families, past mistakes, and unfulfilled dreams are addressed.

Faith

Light shines brightest in the darkest places. Author Rachel isn't afraid to show the depths of sin the human heart can plunge into, but that makes the redemption all the sweeter. And what better way to parallel what Jesus did for us on the cross, than with the white of a wedding dress and the purity of the bride wearing it? She shows through these stories that God is a God of second chances and complete forgiveness. No matter what our past holds, Jesus cleans our souls whiter than snow.

Love Story

The romances in The Wedding Shop are fulfilling pictures of true love! They are genuine, deep and contrasted against a backdrop of what true love is NOT. Past relationships and romances are shown for what they are - shallow imitations. The heartaches and joys are so well written, we felt what the characters felt and loved journeying with them.

Overall

This book was like a breath of fresh air to these 2 Chicks who have been in a drought of good reads lately. Believe it or not, this is only the second book this year to make it to our Golden List! But The Wedding Shop's placement there is well deserved. The characters are flawed, lovable and realistic. This book is raw, not shying away from the harsh realities of mistakes and life's circumstances. All loose ends were tied up and when we had turned the last page, we were completely satisfied.

Find it on Amazon: The Wedding Shop

Note: We were given this book free in return for our honest review

The Silent Order (By: Melanie Dobson)

The Silent Order

By: Melanie Dobson

Storyline

It's 1928 in Cleveland and Detective Rollin Wells has one goal in life: to bring down the powerful Cardano mob family and put a stop to their decades of illegal activities and shady business. When he is nearly gunned down by the family's henchmen, Rollin takes refuge in an unlikely place: an Amish community. There, he is aided by a simple young woman, who reminds him so very much of the girl he once loved. 

Katie Lehman wants nothing to do with the world outside her community but taking care of Rollin forces her to face the secrets from her past. She must decide whether to pledge her life to the church or return to her roots outside of the Amish town. 

This book had us turning pages late into the night! It hummed along at the perfect pace as characters were developed beautifully and plot twists kept us hooked. Certain mysteries and secrets kept us guessing until the very end, where all the loose ends were tied up and answered skillfully. 

Depth

The reader is treated to a peek inside two vastly different worlds. The Cardano family's underground operations are dark and murderous, and author Melanie doesn't shy away from the grim reality of what life must have been like for those under their control. On the other hand, we explore the life of an Amish community that thrives on peace, forgiveness and simplicity. It's a sad and intriguing contrast all at the same time.

Faith

Rollin has spent the last decade cursing God and vowing revenge for the tragic loss he suffered at the hands of the Cardano family. But once immersed in the Amish community, he is confronted with issues of God's justice and blessing the Lord in any circumstance. The faith of his new friends is strong and lived out well, and it really rubs off on him.

Love Story

Rollin and Katie have an immediate connection that slowly builds into a deep, genuine love for each other. While their romance didn't necessarily get our hearts racing, it certainly made our hearts sigh with satisfaction as these two share tender and sweet moments!

Overall

This was the first novel we read by Melanie Dobson and you can be sure it won't be our last! She is a masterful storyteller, weaving plots together with action-packed excitement, realistic struggles and deep, touching interactions between characters. Excuse us, while we go choose another of hers to read!

Find it on Amazon: The Silent Order

Land of Silence (By: Tessa Afshar)

Land of Silence

By: Tessa Afshar

Tessa Afshar is one of the best at Biblical, historical fiction! She's at it again, this time telling the story of the woman who bled for 12 years. Little is known about her, except she was considered "unclean," and therefore an outcast, from this bleeding disease. Her faith is rewarded by Jesus and she is healed simply by touching the hem of his garment, as told in three of the four gospels in the Bible. Jesus actually thought it significant enough to stop what he was doing to pay attention to her extraordinary faith.

Storyline

Tessa Afshar tells this woman's (fictional) story in Land of Silence, and as usual, does an amazing job weaving real people, fiction and history together. Her writing flows and engages the reader right from the beginning, with well-developed characters and deep, realistic storylines. 

The woman's name is Elianna: a young Jewish maiden in a happy family and betrothed to a man she has loved all her life. But in an instant, her family's lives are devastated, and thus begins a season of (seemingly) never ending loss and heartache. When her life is finally stripped down to almost nothing, it is only then that she begins to experience who God really is. Can she trust God to be all he says he is? And what about this new prophet, Jesus, everyone is talking about? Rumors are he heals the sick and the lame. Could he actually be the long awaited Messiah? What's more... could he really be the answer she has needed all along?

Depth

As in all Tessa's books, she never shies away from exploring the deep, soul wrenching realities of life. Issues of guilt, bitterness, grief, sorrow and betrayal are all shaken to the core. This story dives pretty low into despair and heartache, but surfaces with satisfaction into redemption, forgiveness and hope.

Faith

It's a rare thing for these two chicks to give a five star rating for the faith category! In this book, God is most definitely a main character. The Jews follow the old law to the best of their abilities, and Tessa takes great care to respect it and show the need for a Savior all at the same time. A wise Pharisee (who in real life secretly became a follower of Jesus) says that we do not understand who God really is in our times of happiness, but rather in our times of suffering and sickness. He prays for Elianna, but advises her that even if she is not healed physically, her heart can begin mending and her soul can begin preparing for the plans God has yet to unfold in her life. 

Tessa's vast knowledge and understanding of Jewish and Christian history blows us away with each of her books we open!

Squeal Factor

Elianna has loved Ethan her whole life and assumes she probably always will. They share a few tender scenes, but mostly we are just witness to their traditional - albeit, unpredictable - betrothal.

Overall

If you are looking for a deep, faith-filled read, this book is for you! Tessa's excellence as a historical fiction writer, based on true accounts, is supreme. We would have loved to give this read a five star, but we felt the first half of the book was a little too drawn out. However, like usual, Tessa ties everything together beautifully at the end and makes this a solid, wonderful read.

Find it on Amazon: Land of Silence

Note: We were given this book in exchange for our honest review