While I liked this read, I did come away slightly disappointed because the entire book was setting up a more suspenseful mystery and the suspense was While I liked this read, I did come away slightly disappointed because the entire book was setting up a more suspenseful mystery and the suspense was diffused instead of heightened. The fault is entirely in my expectations though. If you like a mystery that you know will end happily ever after without any heartwrenching conclusions, then you may like this (there was one aspect about the imposter that did surprise me and I felt it well done).
I didn’t feel the romance for most of the book because I was suspecting everyone and wanting to suspect them. ;)
There were quite a few verses quoted and a character who admitted to being a skeptic (I would have liked to see more of that character arc than just “I prayed” and that somehow being that they were all right spiritually).
I did enjoy it—the style and storyline were interesting. Like I said, I just expected more than it was....more
This book has all the things I love: gentle romance, lost family, murder mystery, WWII, faith, and great characters.
I love Sarah Sundin’s older books This book has all the things I love: gentle romance, lost family, murder mystery, WWII, faith, and great characters.
I love Sarah Sundin’s older books more than her last three (they are good, just not the same to me). This one is on par with the vibes of the older books. I immensely enjoyed it!...more
This was so fascinating and complex! The more time I spent in the series, the easier it was to keep up with all the names and enjoy it. The world builThis was so fascinating and complex! The more time I spent in the series, the easier it was to keep up with all the names and enjoy it. The world building is phenomenal! And now I want to read more of Thrawn’s story so will be hunting down other series....more
This was well-written and easy to read. As with most health focuses, he tends to put all problems under one cause. Some of the material is contradictoThis was well-written and easy to read. As with most health focuses, he tends to put all problems under one cause. Some of the material is contradictory to what I personally think based on my own chronic illness and healing journey. So I don’t necessarily adhere to everything he presents, but there are still a lot of good takeaways....more
Definitely hooked! There is so much going on in this book! A lot of it is still laying the foundation for book 3 (which I can’t wait to read!). In somDefinitely hooked! There is so much going on in this book! A lot of it is still laying the foundation for book 3 (which I can’t wait to read!). In some ways, I think I know some of what’s going on, but I’m also ready to be surprised.
I’m glad I stuck it out with book 1. Whereas that one took me a few months to read, I blazed through Book 2 in 2 days.
I really like the characters, the world-building, and I also like that Thrawn isn’t completely perfect. He’s super smart, but only strategically, not politically. It’s more a book around Thrawn than on Thrawn, but I like the style....more
This was my first real foray into sci-fi. Having looked Thrawn from the Rebels show, I was curious about him. I really like him as the hero of the stoThis was my first real foray into sci-fi. Having looked Thrawn from the Rebels show, I was curious about him. I really like him as the hero of the story. His interactions with Che’ri and Thalias were particularly my favorite.
It did take me about half of the book to really get into it. Both, my reading mood, but also learning a whole culture and the world system. So, I enjoyed the last half of the book way, better than the first half of the book. Now, I am really looking forward to the other two. ...more
I felt like this was a very grace-filled book. She deals with subjects like singleness, saving sex, homosexuality, trouble in marriage, accepting forgI felt like this was a very grace-filled book. She deals with subjects like singleness, saving sex, homosexuality, trouble in marriage, accepting forgiveness for sin, and so much more. I appreciated that she didn’t waver from sharing “this is what the Bible teaches” in definite terms. She equally has empathy towards struggles while standing on truth, which I appreciate....more
I wish I had read this ten years ago. Of all the books and resources I have read, none have been as in-depth about combining spirituality and sexualitI wish I had read this ten years ago. Of all the books and resources I have read, none have been as in-depth about combining spirituality and sexuality.
It saddens me that purity culture has harmed our viewpoint on sex and this book is good to hand to girls 18+ (though in some cases, even younger could be appropriate because I’d rather satisfy a teen’s curiosity with a Biblical perspective than Google search).
I feel like I’m on a journey to repattern my thoughts on sexuality after being infused in purity culture, and this God-centered book was very helpful.
I read the newly updated version (2023 I believe)....more
This was a light read. I’m not usually into Amish fiction, but this one seemed less cult-ish. I didn’t agree with how Scripture was always interpretedThis was a light read. I’m not usually into Amish fiction, but this one seemed less cult-ish. I didn’t agree with how Scripture was always interpreted, but it wasn’t anything doctrinally wrong.
The storyline intrigued me and I thought it was a very creative Beauty and the Beast retelling. The way Belle handled things annoyed me a little, but I did appreciate the story and will probably read the others when I’m in the mood for more light reading....more
This was recommended to me by three different people. I do think it is best read after engagement, and it is a very good angle for those coming from aThis was recommended to me by three different people. I do think it is best read after engagement, and it is a very good angle for those coming from a more conservative background or who may not have the healthiest perception of good sex.
I don’t agree with all the author has to say about health choices (and side note, but I also don’t care for the author’s attitude on social media and in one of her newer books that I read, but this book is well balanced in tone and helpful). But it was a helpful read and I can imagine for someone’s first research into a good perspective of healthy sex, it will be good to read.
I think when I first read this, I may have gotten the vibe of “there can be hard difficulties.” But that may have been combined with some things I was seeing on social media. So I don’t know if it’s just my perspective in reading it a second time where I’m not feeling it (I also read Intended for Pleasure between my first and second read-through of Good Girl’s Guide, and the first half of that was very educational with techniques to overcome difficulties in a way Sheila didn’t go through as I depth here)....more
This was definitely a one-of-a-kind series. I’ve never quite read anything like it.
The first book had the most gothic feel, and was probably my favoriThis was definitely a one-of-a-kind series. I’ve never quite read anything like it.
The first book had the most gothic feel, and was probably my favorite until the ending of book 3. While a good part of the series was wrapped around Macie’s character, there was another large part where Julia was a pawn and victim of her circumstances and just living her life.
As for this particular book, I wasn’t very interested in it until the 2/3 point. Personally, I don’t like Edward very much and wasn’t especially interested in their hardships as newlyweds (not to mention the fact Julia was still potentially married to two men, which is mildly perturbing).
The ending was amazing. While I anticipated one of the events happening, it was unexpected in exactly how it played out, and really was so perfect.
Isaac by far was my favorite character of the entire series. While Edward was a vicar, it was Isaac who really acted like a Christian. Next to him, I really liked a large portion of the servants. My least favorite characters were ironically some of the main characters. I even liked Macie above Julia and Edward, because he was complex.
The spiritual message is not as easily seen in the character’s exact lives and representation. It was only after talking with a friend I could see the author’s brilliance in portraying a story of redemption through the overarching story as a whole, with each character representing a different character in Christian life. Isaac would be a Christ-type, Julia a sinner, Macie as Satan, and Edward the flesh. It really is more of a literary portrayal than specific.
There were some heated scenes, accusations of unfaithfulness, the whole plot of one character potentially being married to two men at once (though they never accepted the first as legal or consummated, it was technically under God), and a few evil plots that ultra conservative readers may wish to avoid.
All in all, I did enjoy the series as a different style of book than I usually read....more
Quite a few feelings finishing this one. I am very much looking forward to how it finishes in Book 3!
For some reason, I’m not a fan of Edward. I realQuite a few feelings finishing this one. I am very much looking forward to how it finishes in Book 3!
For some reason, I’m not a fan of Edward. I really liked Isaac. So portions of the story annoyed me in that regard. I think mainly because Edward is acting in a way that doesn’t seem very Christian sometimes.
Writing style-wise, this series is hard to put down. Yes, Julia is a pawn and doesn’t actually move the story forward by her choices, but I find the circumstances intriguing.
Still feel like I can’t give a solid review as the series is written as a whole and there are parts I’m suspending judgment on until I read it as a whole....more
What a unique and intriguing book! I feel incapable of writing a full review as there are so many loose ends still waiting to be resolved! The mysteryWhat a unique and intriguing book! I feel incapable of writing a full review as there are so many loose ends still waiting to be resolved! The mystery of this book is fascinating and the era feels solid and real.
I’m interested to know where the Christian themes will end up, as there is only the start of development there.
There are a lot of detailed kissing scenes, which are a bit much for me. A friend recommended this, so I knew nothing would go too far, otherwise it would have made me very uncomfortable and I might not have finished.
Julia seems to be an impressionable, naive, and gullible girl. The story is told as if she has no agency, which in part makes it interesting because it feels true to era.
I still don’t know what I think about half the characters.
I anticipate how book 2 will continue to unravel the tangle of mystery!...more
I picked this up at random, having never read the author. The title and plot intrigued me.
It gave a very good taste of WWII England and there were so I picked this up at random, having never read the author. The title and plot intrigued me.
It gave a very good taste of WWII England and there were so many historical nuggets thrown in. I loved learning about Monopoly escape kits.
I am used to reading books with more active suspense. In ways, this often read like a non-fiction. The storyline was interesting enough to keep me reading, but the storytelling wasn’t my particular style, being more passive.
Still, I’m not disappointed to have read it. It was very clean, a good historical dose, and had a strong Christian message....more
I was eagerly awaiting this book on espionage! It isn’t perhaps as action-packed as some espionage books I’ve read in the past (think Roseanna White),I was eagerly awaiting this book on espionage! It isn’t perhaps as action-packed as some espionage books I’ve read in the past (think Roseanna White), but it didn’t disappoint. The characters were complex and interesting.
I really appreciate the historical depth and realistic characters. Like the other books in the series, sensitive readers may find the elements of men taking advantage of women (or the allusion to it) a bit much.
As a Southerner and Civil War researcher, I find the Northern views of the war to be a bit exaggerated (historically, not so many people were actually fighting slavery). But, I could still appreciate the book for what it was....more
There were so many good characters in this book. I really appreciate the historical depth and realistic characters. Like the other books in the seriesThere were so many good characters in this book. I really appreciate the historical depth and realistic characters. Like the other books in the series, sensitive readers may find the elements of men taking advantage of women (or the allusion to it) a bit much. As a Southerner and Civil War researcher, I find the Northern views of the war to be a bit exaggerated (historically, not so many people were actually fighting slavery). But, I could still appreciate the book for what it was....more
This was an entertaining, light read. It was humorous to follow Ellie’s hair-brained ideas and know the likelihood of them flopping. It also had a nicThis was an entertaining, light read. It was humorous to follow Ellie’s hair-brained ideas and know the likelihood of them flopping. It also had a nice spiritual subplot mixed in the humor. The romance was a pretty strong focus of the book toward the end....more
This was different from Jinger’s book in that Jinger more focused on teachings she was disentangling from (to which I identified strongly).
This is morThis was different from Jinger’s book in that Jinger more focused on teachings she was disentangling from (to which I identified strongly).
This is more focused on Jill’s life story and though she weaves in a lot of extreme teachings, the focus was more the TV show and behind the scenes drama.
It was very sad. But very well done. Jill clearly loves her family and is on the path to reconciliation even though she’s also not hiding behind “keep everything in the family” anymore (a huge IBLP teaching) and trying to heal from past trauma—which involves talking about it publicly since it all happened to her under the public eye.
I was not shocked by anything she said, because I was in IBLP for two years and had dozens of friends more deeply in it than I was. But the fact that Christians can put such an emphasis on “following God” and “doing this for God” and yet live in ways that are hypocritical and unbiblical is always sad. I’ve seen it so many times, so in a way, Jill’s story wasn’t new.
I thought Jill presented her story very well as someone who is learning and growing and trying to figure out what it truly means to follow God from extreme teachings....more
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