Defy the Night, A Novel by Heather Munn & Lydia Munn

Book Description:  In the midst of war, one teenager is determined to make a difference

If no one will do anything, she'll have to do it herself.

In 1941 France is still "free." But fifteen-year-old Magali is frustrated by the cruel irony of pretending life is normal when food is rationed, new clothes are a rarity, and most of her friends are refugees. And now the government is actually helping the Nazis. Someone has got to do something, but it seems like no one has the guts—until Paquerette arrives.

Smuggling refugee children is Paquerette's job. And she asks Magali to help.

Working with Paquerette is scary and exhausting, but Magali never doubts that it is the right thing to do. Until her brash actions put those she loves in danger.

My Thoughts:  Having read How Huge the Night by this wonderful mother/daughter writing team I knew that I wanted to read Defy the Night also.

Defy the Night is written in the first person.  In the "voice" of Magali the main character.  

Hate! Torture! Hunger! Love! Faith! wow! this book brings "it" all to the table.  So many feelings . . . and these feelings are "given" to the reader.

To be honest I had to set this book down at times because I became so heartbroken.  

I cheered Magali on.  She is a teenager who just wants to help bring children to safety.  But her parents don't quite understand her need to help when danger is involved.

There are so many great characters in this book...Rosa whose story comes out in spurts, Lucy, Paquerette who works untiringly to bring the children out of the prison camps and to safety, Julien who wants to be brave but misses his parents.  So many lives, not all Jews, who are displaced or hurt because of this monster Hitler and his hit men the Nazis.

I could go on and on. But instead, why don't you grab a copy of this wonderful read and read the story for yourself just make sure that you have a box of Kleenexes by your side.

This is definitely a grand read of defying the enemy during this terrible time in history!

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Heather Munn was born in Northern Ireland of American parents and grew up in the south of France. She decided to be a writer at the age of five when her mother read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books aloud, but worried that she couldn’t write about her childhood since she didn’t remember it. When she was young, her favorite time of day was after supper when the family would gather and her father would read a chapter from a novel. Heather went to French school until her teens, and grew up hearing the story of Le Chambonsur-Lignon, only an hour’s drive away. She now lives in rural Illinois with her husband, Paul, where they offer free spiritual retreats to people coming out of homelessness and addiction. She enjoys wandering in the woods, gardening, writing, and splitting wood. 

Lydia Munn was homeschooled for five years because there was no school where her family served as missionaries in the savannahs of northern Brazil. There was no public library either, but Lydia read every book she could get her hands on. This led naturally to her choice of an English major at Wheaton College. Her original plan to teach high school English gradually transitioned into a lifelong love of teaching the Bible to both adults and young people as a missionary in France. She and her husband, Jim, have two children: their son, Robin, and their daughter, Heather. 

• 
  
• 
  
• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825443210
• ISBN-13: 978-0825443213

Cards of Kindness for Courageous Girls: Shareable Devotions and Inspiration by Complied by the Barbour Staff

Book Description:  Flip each page to discover a positive life message that will both uplift and inspire your heart—and the hearts of other courageous girls just like you. Once you’ve read through the devotion and pondered the message of loving-kindness, tear out the card and pass it on to another girl . . who will then be encouraged to keep the "Courageous Girls Are Kind" movement going. . .by passing the card along to yet another courageous girl!

My Thoughts:  These are beautiful 5x8 cards made of sturdy paper.  Each card has perforated edge so that it can be gently torn out and shared.

Each card has a short devotional on the front with a title.  The back is decorated and has a positive saying to encourage a young lady.  The age listed for these cards is 6-9 years old.

We loved the cards as they are just right for handing out and giving to a friend or, as we did, gave to an older lady who needed encouragement.  We have found that older ladies enjoyed the encouragement as much as the younger ladies did.

Our only disappointment in these cards is that they aren't mailable....one can place them in an envelope and mail it. But for some reason we thought they would be more like a post card and have place for an address.  Other than that we love these small shareable devotional and inspirational cards.

My niece gave each girl that came to her birthday party a book as a party favor and it was the hit of the party.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing 

and was under no obligation to post a review*

• Grade Level: 1 - 2
• Series: Courageous Girls
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Kidz (May 1, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1643521640
• ISBN-13: 978-1643521640

WOW {WarmOven Wednesday}

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley

Book Description: When Laura Gantt returns to Georgia to handle her late mother's estate, she hears a startling rumor---that her father staged his drowning years ago and has recently been spotted roaming the mountains. 

With the help of her former high school sweetheart, Laura searches for the truth. But will what they find destroy their rekindled feelings?

My Thoughts: The Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley is quite a mystery!

We meet Laura Gantt who must return to Georgia to oversee her late mother's estate.  However, there is some reminiscing from Laura about her childhood. (I think this is necessary for the reader to gain a background of Laura and what transpired before she grew up).  But when Laura arrives home she begins to hear the small town rumors that her "dead" Vietnam Veteran father who suffers from PTSD is still alive and roams throughout the mountains.

Ahh!  The stress!  Trying to take care of her mother's estate and then to learn that the dad she thought had drowned twelve years earlier is now alive!

Thankfully, her best friend Carrie is there for her and then Sean, her ex-boyfriend, comes back into her life.  Sean is a wonderful friend and begins to help Laura try to unravel the mystery of the roaming vet.

This is an interesting read. 

Sean and Laura seem to have a relationship that comes and goes but mostly goes.  Poor Sean!

This is an interesting read with twists and turns that makes the reader keep reading just find out "what in the world is going on!"  Quite an ending!  

Meg Moseley never writes and ordinary tale...she pens stories that have quirky characters, relationships that seem real.to.life and endings that the reader may never guess!

Death by the Book (A Drew Farthering Mystery) by Julianna Deering

Book Description:  WHEN THE VILLAGE OF FARTHERING ST. JOHN IS Stunned BY A SERIES OF MURDERS, DREW FARTHERING IS DRAWN again INTO THE SLEUTHING GAME.

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

My Thoughts: Oh, I loved the first Drew Fathering Mystery, Rules of Murder!  And was so excited when I received this book, Death by the Book!  Honestly, some of these great authors just can't pen a mystery/suspense book fast enough for me!  I inhale a good book like some people inhale a wonderful latte!

In Death by the Book,  it's the summer of 1932 in the small village of Fathering St. John.  Yes, you guessed it!  Drew Fathering is the lord of the manor!  Drew Fathering is also bored most of the time...too much time on his hands so he "finds" murder mysteries to solve.

Death by the Book has a quote in a note...hmmm! can Drew get it in time?!?! This is the mystery of it all!

A well thought out plot with Downtown Abbey and Agatha Christie like characters, all of whom bring something interesting to the table or should I say the book.

I'm not sure about Madeleine, drew's girlfriend . . . Drew is a solid christian who seems to dote on her and love her and she isn't sure if she should marry Drew!  Oh!pish!posh!  Grab the guy, you dolt!  (okay, maybe the book is a little too realistic for me, that's a good sign of great writing, right?)

This is a GREAT series. And, no, one doesn't need to read the first book to "get" the second book but one will want to read them all!  Can't wait for the third, Murder at the Mikado!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

• Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764210963
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210969

{Revell Blog Tour} The Refuge by Ann H. Gabhart

Book Description:  When Darcie and Walter Goodwin hear of a new cholera epidemic sweeping the area, they join the Shakers whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be a temporary stay, but Walter is killed in a riverboat accident. With no family and no money, Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely--position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness . . . and family?

My Thoughts:  I've read very little about the Shaker community so I found this book thoroughly enjoyable.  

Darcie and Walter Goodwin are tying to escape the cholera epidemic so they go to a Shaker community.  Not intending to stay with the Shakers indefinitely this is meant to be a short stay but, unfortunately, Walter is killed.  So with no where else to go Darcie decides to stay with the Shakers.

Now that Darcie is with the Shakers she finds out that she is pregnant.  And the baby was conceived before she and her husband came to be with the Shakers.

But the Shakers see martial relationships as sinful...so poor Darcie is all alone.  The Shakers want Darcie to be her baby's sister but Darcie wants to be a mother.  She tries to be brave but with a baby coming she does have a few worries.  

And then a widower, Flynn Keller and his daughter show up at the Shaker community.

As much as I enjoyed this read I couldn't quite grasp why the Shakers didn't want people to be married and have kids.  Ann Gabhart does an excellent job of portraying the Shakers.

A well written story of faith and hope even when all seems lost.

*This book was provided for review by Revell Reads*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}