"The Cantaloupe Thief" by Deb Richardson-Moore

Title: The Cantaloupe Thief: A Branigan Powers Mystery
Author: Deb Richardson-Moore
Published: June 27, 2016
Genre: Christian Fiction, Mystery

Hello one and all! Thanks for taking a break from enjoying the warm July weather to check out my review of The Cantaloupe Thief, a debut mystery novel from author Deb Richardson-Moore. This book came my way courtesy of Kregel Publications. Please click the link and check out their website!

Ten years after the brutal stabbing of the wealthy Mrs. Alberta Resnick, matriarch of one of Grambling, GA's most influential families, reporter Branigan Powers takes on the investigation that has stumped local police since its occurrence.

Branigan turns to her friend Liam Delaney for help. Liam is the unconventional pastor at Grambling's local homeless mission. He and Branigan both know that the homeless and transient community may possess some untapped information.

But as Branigan starts to dig, secrets get uncovered, and the people she reaches out to end up dead. A killer is out to cover his tracks, putting Branigan and her allies in grave danger. But little does the killer know that someone else is watching him....

I love a good mystery. I'm definitely a gold-level member of the Agatha Christie Fan Club (if there is such a thing)! Needless to say, I set some pretty high standards for The Cantaloupe Thief, and for the most part, they were met.

I liked the character of Branigan Powers. She's smart and plucky enough to do her job and do it well, but she has just enough personal drama and fall backs to keep her from becoming a super hero. She could be a real woman who you could run into on the street, and I like that.

Speaking of Branigan's personal drama, the novel has several arcs that delve a little deeper into her life. When these arcs were introduced at the beginning of the novel, I thought that they were getting in the way of the mystery at hand. Without giving too much away, however, I found that they tie into Branigan's investigation in a delightfully intriguing way.

The novel is told from the perspective of several of the characters both in the present time and a decade ago at the time of Mrs. Resnick's murder. It was a clever way to slowly reveal all of the clues to the reader. Whether or not you can piece the clues together is a whole different story. I thought for sure that I had correctly guessed the murderer only to be completely blindsided by the right answer. Between you and me, I love when that happens! This book kept me guessing!

The main theme of the novel was how sometimes homeless people feel overlooked or invisible. So I want to take the time, my dear readers, to remind you all to be kind to one another, especially those who have fallen on hard time. Don't be so quick to judge others by their circumstances, but instead remember the example of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

"Love you neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27

Kaylee says:

"Out of the Easy" by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Published: February 12, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Anyone who asks me for great YA or Historical Fiction reads, I will drop the name Ruta Sepetys immediately! I reviewed her novel Between Shades of Gray last summer! It's still one of my favorites (The movie adaptation called Ashes in the Snow is currently being filmed)!  Ok. Fangirl moment over. Her second novel, Out of the Easy, didn't disappoint.

For Josie Moraine, life in The Big Easy during the 1950s isn't exactly...easy. Known by the locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, she wants more out of life than what the French Quarter can offer. She works tirelessly in her best friend's bookshop and cleans for Willie, the infamous brothel madame, all while thwarting her neglectful, thieving mother and her mother's new beau who brings trouble with him wherever he goes.

As she get older, Josie dreams of attending a prestigious university on the East Coast. However, she can't seem to shake the whispers and the stares that follow her everywhere. When a mysterious murder occurs in the Quarter, Josie finds herself wrapped up in an investigation that will challenge her to rise above her station or succumb to the expectations that the Quarter residents have already laid out for her.

Josie Moraine is a great female protagonist. She's strong, sassy, and resilient. She knows how to make the best out of a bad situation, and I think young ladies will love rooting for her. The rest of the characters are as seedy as they are sympathetic. It seems like everyone in the French Quarter is up to something, but Sepetys will make readers love them anyway.

I'm not an expert on 1950s New Orleans, but the notes of racial tension, classism, and the presence of mobsters fits the time period. I also know that the author conducts extensive research before she writes, so I'm going to leave the rest to Ruta and trust that it's all accurate.

I really enjoyed this book, however, it's not one that I would consider using in my classroom library. The details surrounding the brothel and the prostitutes are something that I consider inappropriate to read within a school building. But older kids and adults, if you're looking for your next historical fiction read, then this is one that you should get your hands on!

Kaylee says:

I'm on Pinterest!

I'm on Pinterest! Follow me to see all the cool bookish things I love!

Interview with "The Whisper Theory" Author Amber Swenson

Over the course of the last semester, I had the opportunity to participate in a Bible Study with a number of other women on my campus. We read The Whisper Theory by author Amber Albee Swenson, who is a member at one of our WELS churches in Rochester, MN. We would read sections of the book and then meet periodically over lunch or dinner to discuss it. We also had an ongoing online discussion that we could contribute to at any time. After we finished reading, we all had the opportunity to sit down with Amber and pick her brain about the book. She provided us with a lot of great insight to the inspiration behind The Whisper Theory and the process she went through to write it! We decided to share this interview with you! Enjoy!

Q1: Which came first? The story or the Bible Study?

AS: The story. It sickened the people in my Creative Writing class in college because it kept on coming back again and again. I learned that you need some space. And the antagonists were just vile! My creative writing teacher told me that no one would read my story if the villain wasn’t somewhat lovable.

Q2: How much of this book is autobiographical?

AS: The plot is partially autobiographical. It was inside of me for 19 years, and it took me another 7 to write. In college, I met the wrong guy, and I thought I could save him. After that experience I totally understand addiction. I didn't back when I was your age. He had justifications for everything, and I took them hook line and sinker. The character of Jeff is nothing like that boyfriend. People ask me all the time “Are you Meghan?" She is a beautiful conglomeration of everyone I know. The self-righteous part of Meghan was something that I definitely had to deal with going to a public university. I didn't realize that it was a sin until after speaking with an older member of my congregation. 

Q3: Describe your process for writing the bible study included in the book.

AS: The "Whisper Theory" itself comes from the account of Elijah as he's outside Mt. Horeb at what was the lowest point in his life. God sent a great wind and a great earthquake, but He himself came in a whisper. The theory is that God comes to us in little ways just when we need him the most. It might be in a card or in a sermon we hear, but we see God's message shining through it. I didn't want to just write the book and put it out there for anyone to interpret, because I didn't want to give them the wrong idea that they needed to be looking for these big signs from God, so I wrote the bible study to guide them through the book.

Q4: Are you Meghan in that she apologizes for using words that people don’t understand?

AS: I still am! I usually put two words together, and then no one understands what I'm talking about! I truly do use the words in the wrong situations. It’s one of my quirky traits that my friends know about that I like to add in when I write.

Q5: Who was your intended audience?

AS: Young, college-age women. I wish someone had given me this book when I was that age.

Q6: Did you have just WELS girls in mind?

AS: Not necessarily WELS girls but definitely Christian. What I have learned to do with my work, speaking or writing, is pray that it glorifies God. Then I send it off and pray again that God lets it do what it will and not lead people astray.

Q7: Tell us about the upcoming sequel!

AS: The sequel is called The Bread of Angels and it's all about secrets. Everybody has them. Megan is 4 years into her marriage, and she finds out that her husband is keeping a terrible secret, and she no longer thinks she can stay married to him.

Q8: One of the big themes in your book is marriage. Do you have any marriage advice that you would like to share with young women who might be looking to date or get married in the future?

AS: Dating is more than just spending time and having fun together. It’s intentional. I think one of the most intimate things that you can do with another person is read God’s Word together. Be very intentional about it. Be discerning. You need to discern if this person is the type of person that you want to marry. Then take the steps to put up the proper boundaries. Start praying together and building that relationship together. Even in a marriage you have to work together to fall in love with each other again and again and again. I don’t care who you’re married too, but you will have times when your husband hurts you. He’ll do something stupid and you’ll question everything. And vice versa. Marriage is two very flawed people trying to live together. In a Christian marriage you pray together and work it out.

Thanks again to Amber for letting us sit down with her and bombard her with questions! For information about Amber and her books The Whisper Theory and its sequel The Bread of Angels, visit her website at www.biblemoms.com. 

"The Whisper Theory" by Amber Albee Swenson

Title: The Whisper Theory
Author: Amber Albee Swenson
Published: December 28, 2011
Genre: Christian Fiction

During first semester this past school year, one of my professors approached me with an idea. He had received several copies of The Whisper Theory from the author and wanted to put a group of ladies together to review it and participate in the accompanying Bible Study. Of course I said yes, and as the resident blogger of the group, I volunteered to post the review and an interview with the author Amber Swenson on my page!

The Whisper Theory follows a young lady named Meghan as she navigates her way through her first year of college. A devout Christian, Meghan has had no trouble standing firm in her faith. Then she moves in with her new roommates Carol and Jeff, who are not believers. It doesn't take Meghan long, under their influence, to start trying things she's never tried before, and soon she's breaking more rules than she's keeping. What's more, she begins to fall for Jeff. When a murder occurs in their apartment building, Meghan has to decide where she stands and what voice she's going to follow. After each chapter, there is a set of Bible study questions that pertain to the topics referenced in the chapter.

I think I speak for the entire group when I say that we thoroughly enjoyed participating in this Bible study. We had lots of meaningful discussions both on our online forum and in person. The topics we covered were all mentioned at some time in the book: underage drinking, sex, dating, and relationships with family and friends (especially with those of opposite faiths). This is definitely a book for Christian, college-aged ladies, and I think they would enjoy the discussions as much as we did.

The novel itself was realistic for the most part. The challenges that Meghan faces are similar to what I think a devout Christian college student would face. Things got a bit muddy when the murder in the apartment building comes in. That particular plot arc just seemed to distract from the rest of the book. That detail aside, we'd recommend this to anyone looking for a Bible study for a teen or college-age group.

Kaylee says:

"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

Title: When You Reach Me
Author: Rebecca Stead
Published: July 14, 2009
Awards: Newbery Medal (2010)
Genre: Children's Literature

Sticking with finding quality children's and young adult literature for the classroom, I'm reviewing another Newbery Medal winner from author Rebecca Stead.

Since 12-year-old Miranda can remember, it's always been Miranda and Sal. Sal and Miranda. The two best friends help each other navigate the streets of 1970's New York City. They know who to trust, like Belle the grocery store cashier, and who to avoid, like the "laughing man" who lives on their corner. Then one day things change. Sal gets punched for seemingly no reason, and subsequently shuts Miranda out of his life. As if that wasn't strange enough, soon Miranda begins to receive mysterious notes from a stranger who claims to know about a deadly accident that will occur sometime in the future: an accident he can prevent, but only with Miranda's help.

The novel is wonderfully realistic with it's themes of friendship, first crushes, and quirky families. Making the novel even more believable is the rich historical detail from the 1970's. For example, Dick Clark hosting the game show that Miranda's mom is entering and the lingering distrust of African Americans. At the center of it all is a dangerous mystery of fantastic proportions that Miranda needs to solve! Fans of A Wrinkle in Time will love this book (but I won't tell you why)!

When You Reach Me is a great addition to any classroom library. My copy even had 10 pages of discussion suggestions and activities for teachers! But readers young and old will get swept up in the mystery and will root for Miranda as she learns more about her world and herself.

Kaylee says:

"Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Title: Moon Over Manifest
Author: Clare Vanderpool
Published: October 12, 2010
Awards: Newbery Medal (2011)
Genre: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction

As I get closer to completing my degree, I'm starting to seek out excellent trade books to include in my classroom library. You really can't go wrong with including the Newbery Medal winners and honorees on your shelves, so when Moon Over Manifest came my way, I had a feeling it was going to be good. I was not disappointed!

Abilene Tucker grew up on her father's stories about living in the little town of Manifest, Kansas. So when he ships her there on a train to live with an old friend while he takes a railroad job, she's disappointed to discover that it's just a dried-up old mining town. Things take a turn for the exciting, however, when Abilene finds an old cigar box filled with mementos and letters. The letters send her and her two new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on a real-life spy hunt despite being warned to "Leave Well Enough Alone." Working off a debt to the local diviner Miss Sadie, Abilene hears more stories from Manifest's past, which is one filled with unique characters and lingering secrets. The secrets unravel one by one as Abilene knits together the town's history and her father's role in it. Eventually, she begins to see her own story being woven into the seams.

Moon Over Manifest was a great read! I was hooked from page one! Abilene is wonderfully tomboyish and full of practical "survival" wisdom garnered from years of living on the road with her father. My personal favorite is, "Anyone worth his salt knows, it's best to get a look at a place before it gets a look at you," which she utters right before jumping off of a train.

The historical detail included in this book was rich and beautiful. Taking place during the Depression in 1936, author Clare Vanderpool paints the town in a way that makes you really feel as if you were living during that time.

I was fascinated with trying to piece together Manifest's history along with Abilene. The story is presented in four ways: Abilene's narration, Miss Sadie's stories from the past, Hattie Mae's News Auxiliary, and the letters from the mystery box. Each piece reveals more and more of the secrets hidden within the town, and it will keep you guessing.

The novel was a heartwarming and (sometimes) heart wrenching story of love and loss told in the voice of a young girl who just wants to know where she fits in. It is truly deserving of the Newbery Medal that graces its front cover. I would highly recommend it to readers young and old. Teachers, this is one for your classroom library!

Kaylee says:

Book Haul!!! Brown County Historical Society Annual Book Sale! 4/15/16

Hello one and all!

I've been away for a while because of school, which made me really sad. But now I'm back at it, and will  be sharing brand new posts about all things book and bean soon!

Today was the Brown County Historical Society's Annual Book Sale! So, of course, I took some time in between my classes to run downtown to check out what they had. I was not disappointed! Quick shout out to my lovely shopping buds, Emily and Amy, who helped me pick out these great titles!

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (How did I not have a copy of this till now....)
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Dandicat
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
None to Accompany Me by Nadine Gordimer
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus (Again fueling my love of Historical Fiction)
Paradise by Toni Morrison
Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan 
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan (Can you tell that I’m an Amy Tan fan?)
The Book of Salt by Monique Truong
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Ordinary White Boy by Brock Clarke
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson

Comment below and tell me what novel I should pick up first!

"A Thousand Shall Fall: A Civil War Novel" by Andrea Boeshaar

Title: A Thousand Shall Fall
Author: Andrea Boeshaar
Published: November 27, 2015
Genre: Christian Fiction, Romance

This week's review comes courtesy of Kregel Publications. I'll be reviewing A Thousand Shall Fall, the first novel in the upcoming Shenandoah Valley Saga by Wisconsin author Andrea Boeshaar.

The story follows strong-willed and ambitious Carrie Ann Bell, an aspiring journalist in the midst of the American Civil War. Carrie Ann receives a letter from her younger sister, who has run away with a traveling sales man. Knowing that she can't return home without her sister, Carrie Ann makes plans to go after her. Dressed as a Union officer, she leaves  town and attempts to sneak past the barricade. Just when she thinks she's made it, she falls (literally) into the arms of the handsome Colonel Peyton Collier, who quickly arrests her for impersonating an officer.

Under Colonel Collier's watchful eye, Carrie Ann adjusts to life in the Union Army camp, helping the doctor and nurses in the hospital tent. Soon she discovers that she has feelings for the colonel despite the rumors of his checkered past. However, Peyton isn't the only one with a secret. Carrie is keeping a dark secret of her own - one that might even threaten the life of the man she loves.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I love historical fiction, but I'm iffy about romances. They're usually too mushy for me. This novel, in my opinion, blended the history and the romance quite well. Carrie Ann had all of the qualities that I love in a female character. She's ambitious, a little bit stubborn, and unfazed at the prospect at becoming a journalist at a time in history when it was a job done only by men. I ended up enjoying playing witness to the blossoming love between Carrie Ann and Peyton. There was just the right amount of mush!

If you're looking for a historically accurate Civil War tale with a dash of romance, a pinch of intrigue, and a big helping of action,  A Thousand Shall Fall is the book for you! I'm giving this read 3/5 coffee beans!

Kaylee says: