"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:

"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:

"The Midnight Visitors" by Juliet David

Title: The Midnight Visitors
Author: Juliet David, Illustrated by Jo Parry
Published: September 2, 2015
Genre: Children's Literature

Confession time: I am a Christmas fanatic! I love preparing for this special season by decorating my dorm room, shopping for presents for my loved ones, and setting my sights on the coming Christ Child with my daily Advent devotions and midweek church services. 

I'm kicking off the the holiday season here at Bookmarks and Coffee Mugs with a review of Juliet David's new children's book The Midnight Visitors. 

The story follows Miriam the cow as she settles into her her cozy barn for the night. However, she is unable to fall asleep because visitors keep knocking at the door, asking to be let in. First comes a happy family of rabbits and then a lone fox named Freddy. Once they've drifted off to sleep, they are wakened once more by the innkeeper as he escorts a young couple to the barn. Miriam notices right away that the lady is going to have a baby! Once more, the animals fall asleep, and when they wake up again, there's a beautiful baby boy lying in Miriam's manger! Soon shepherds arrive at the stable after hearing about a special child from an angel and kneel before the baby. Miriam knows that this baby is special and she says that she'll never forget that special night before drifting off to sleep for good.

On the surface one assumes that this is going to be a cute retelling of the nativity story from Luke 2. And it is. Still, there are some serious issues about this particular children's book that I can't seem to get over. First, while the illustrations are lovely, the cover image is misleading. I though that the fox was going to be the main character. He's not. Instead it's Miriam the cow who doesn't appear anywhere on the cover. Second, in the scene where Freddy arrives at the stable, Miriam agrees to only let him in if there is absolutely no hunting in the barn. Remember, at this time the rabbit family is already inside. I'm all for kids understanding the predator/prey relationships that exist in the animal kingdom, but I don't want to find it in a children's book about the birth of Jesus. Third, there are places within the text where the vocabulary is beyond what a child of 4, 5, or 6 can understand. For example, the word "bedraggled" is used to describe the donkey on which Mary and Joseph arrive. Miriam also says "What a cheek" in response to a comment made by the innkeeper. No child is going to get that.

The book does have a few redeeming qualities in the charming illustrations and the fact that the second half focuses more on the arrival of baby Jesus and the visiting shepherds rather then the animals who just want to get some shut-eye. But with the three points mentioned above in mind, I have to give this one 2/5 coffee beans.

Kaylee says:

I want to know what your favorite Holiday children's book is! Share it with me in the comments below! One of mine is The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg!

"A Cup of Dust" by Susie Finkbeiner

Title: A Cup of Dust
Author: Susie Finkbeiner
Published: October 27, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now know that I absolutely adore Historical Fiction! So I was excited to have the opportunity to review A Cup of Dust by Susie Finkbeiner. I was unfamiliar with both the title and the author, but the summary on the back cover piqued my curiosity right away.

Here's a quick breakdown. It's 1934 in Red River, Oklahoma, and 10-year-old Pearl Spence and her family can barely brush themselves off before another "duster" comes around and buries them. Pearl's father, Tom Spence, is the beloved sheriff of Red River, who is known for bringing down the notorious criminal Jimmy DuPre. Her mother, Mary, spends her time taking care of the sick and preparing food for the less fortunate. She is assisted by Pearl's grandmother, who is affectionately known as "Meemaw." Rounding out the family is Pearl's older sister Violet Jean "Beanie" Spence. Beanie's brain doesn't work the way that other people's do, and as a result, she doesn't always understand what is happening around her. As just about the only ray of light left in a county blackened by dust clouds, the Spence family does their best to care for their neighbors and provide a little hope to a town that could desperately use some. 

Life carries on as usual until a mysterious visitor named Eddie gets off the train and immediately knows everything about Pearl. As he forces his way into her life, playing the hero to win the trust of those around him, Pearl is the only person who seems to see the cold hatred behind his cornflower blue eyes. And the secret he claims to know about Pearl's family is enough to send her spinning like the very storm that threatens her hometown.

I certainly don't claim to be a expert on all things Dust Bowl, so what I love about this novel is that it has the endorsement of actual survivors who sign off on its historical accuracy. One such man, Virgil Dwain McNeil, has this to say: "The author does a great job of giving the reader a feel for those dark days in our nation's history." I couldn't agree more. Through Pearl's eyes, I really felt like I was experiencing what went on during that troubling time in our nation's history, and it was a tragic yet beautiful journey to take.

The characters in this novel were so believable. In the moments where the family is together, it was easy to picture their dynamic: the warmth during the good times and the tension during the bad. One character that I really want to focus on here is Eddie. He's the strange hobo who jumps off the train and steamrolls his way into Pearl's life, almost crushing it completely. It's been a long time since I've read a novel in which the villain actually made me feel fear. Eddie did that for me. He creeps in and out of Pearl's day-to-day existence in a crazy-stalkerish way, showing up at all the worst times. Maybe I can blame the feeling on my unhealthy obsession with Law and Order: SVU, but either way, Eddie made my skin crawl, and it was wonderful.

Going back to the Spence family for just a minute, I couldn't help but draw up some conclusions between them and Job from the Bible. Job was a man who had everything, and even when it was all taken away from him, he still trusted in the Lord. The same can be said about the Spence family. They're living in the most desolate county of Oklahoma in the midst of the Dust Bowl, yet they never completely lose the hope that God will protect and provide for them. If you ask me, that's an attitude that we can all work a little harder to adopt.

Kaylee says:

"The Hardest Thing to Do" (The Hawk & The Dove #4) by Penelope Wilcock

Title: The Hardest Thing to Do (The Hawk and The Dove Series #4)

Author: Penelope Wilcock

Published: September 27, 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

One year after book 3 ends, the monks at St. Alcuin's are waiting for their new Abbott, Father John, to arrive. While they wait, they busily work to prepare for the upcoming Easter season, which will bring hundreds of guests to the monastery.

John's arrival starts a period of adjustment for everyone within the walls of St. Alcuin's, especially for John himself. Formerly the infirmary man of the monastery, he finds himself struggling with the transition from healer to his new position of authority.

Just as things are beginning to settle down, an old enemy from the priory's past, Prior William of St. Dunstan's, knocks at the door in need of help. The wounds from his feud with their former leader, Father Peregrine, still sting. Can the monks inside set aside their feelings of hatred and help a fellow brother in need?

I was not at all familiar with The Hawk and The Dove Series before I opened this novel, so I didn't have much to form an initial opinion on. Based on the description on the back cover, I assumed that this was going to be another medieval story featuring monks, knights, and pretty women in distress. I was surprised to find that was not the case in The Hardest Thing to Do. The novel chronicles the daily lives of the monks who live within the wall of St. Alcuin's Monastery. While this aspect was charming, it was also one of the novel's downfalls for me. First, there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Thankfully, Ms. Wilcock includes a guide with the names of all the characters throughout the series. I did, however, find myself checking in the front of the book to remember which character does what. Second, the daily actions of the various brothers sometimes distracted from the main plot. The central plot itself was great, but I found myself getting bored in places, because the story kept sidetracking. I will concede, that these subplots were probably necessary, because in each case the monks share what they find to be the hardest thing to do in life, adding to the overall theme.

My favorite part of the novel was the message of forgiveness and love. Unfortunately,our sinful natures make this very hard for us to do. However, the Bible is very clear on the matter. Jesus says in Matthew 18:21-22, "Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" This means that there should be no limit to the amount of times that we forgive someone for wronging us. The Bible is also clear on the matter of showing love to those around us. Matthew 22:39 says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I think this passage is pretty clear. Show love to others. Be kind and compassionate. It was nice to be reminded of these important points alongside the monks of St. Alcuin's. Forgiveness and showing love aren't always on the forefront of my thinking, but reading this novel brought them back into focus for me, and I hope it will for you who choose to read it too.

Kaylee says: