Author: Iola Goulton

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #330 | For a Lifetime (Timeless #3) by Gabrielle Meyer

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m reading an advance copy of For a Lifetime, the next book in Gabrielle Meyer’s fabulous Timeless series, which doesn’t release until May. I have no self-control when it comes to these books! Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

It was a strange reality to be on the precipice of tragedy and not be able to stop it.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About For a Lifetime

Cover image - For a LifetimeGrace and Hope are identical twin sisters born with the ability to time-cross together between 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, and 1912 New York City. As their twenty-fifth birthday approaches, they will have to choose one life to keep and one to leave behind forever–no matter the cost.

In 1692, they live and work in their father’s tavern, where they must watch helplessly as the witch trials unfold in their village, threatening everyone. With the help of a handsome childhood friend, they search for the truth behind their mother’s mysterious death, risking everything to expose a secret that could save their lives–or be their undoing.

In 1912, Hope dreams of becoming one of the first female pilots in America, and Grace works as an investigative journalist, uncovering corruption and injustice. After their parents’ orphanage is threatened by an adversary, they enter a contest to complete a perilous cross-country flight under the guidance of a daring French aviator.

The sisters have already decided which timeline they will choose, but an unthinkable tragedy complicates the future they planned for themselves. As their birthday looms, how will they determine the lives–and loves–that are best for both of them?

Find For a Lifetime online at:

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Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

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Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

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What is your favourite book in the Bible?

Bookish Question #322 | What’s your favourite book in the Bible?

There are 66 books in the Protestant Bible, and a few more in the Roman Catholic Bible. My 2023 Bible in a Year challenge was a podcast with daily readings from the Catholic Bible, and I have to say none of those extra chapters or books will make it anywhere close to my list of favourite books. That could be because I was listening, not reading. Or it could be because I was unfamiliar with them.

Either way, it reminded me that our favourite book is likely to be one that is familiar, and it will only become familiar through repeated reading.

There are certain books in the Bible that no amount of reading can persuade me to love (like Job and Revelation). I’m also not a big fan of reading the genealogies, although they do remind me God’s plan is outworked through His people … His many people.

Overall, I think my favourite books is Romans because it has so much solid teaching.

What about you? What’s your favourite book in the Bible?

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #329 | Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Love In Tandem by Becca Kinzer, which is partly inspired by her own tandem bicycle ride with her then-boyfriend (now husband) in 2010.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

It’s a terrible thing when a teacher survives an entire school year only to die the first minute of summer vacation.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Love in Tandem

Cover image - Love in Tandem by Becca KinzerShe’s perfectly content leading a quiet life in her small hometown. He’s an adventurer with unquenchable wanderlust. The two couldn’t be any more opposite if they tried. But a tandem bicycle and a 500-mile road trip just might change all that.

After a failed engagement and her mother’s battle with cancer, Charlotte Carter’s life is finally turning around now that she’s landed a dream job teaching music. What she didn’t see coming was the imminent closure of the school’s music program. She’s determined to save it, even if it means getting creative. There’s no way she’s chalking this up as just another failure in her book of recent embarrassments.

Zach Bryant is back in town just long enough to see his brother Ben get married and then he’s off traveling the world again. He never imagined he’d run into Charlotte Carter, his brother’s ex-fiancé, or that everyone would believe he and Charlotte are an item. He certainly didn’t dream he’d end up riding a tandem bicycle hundreds of miles with her in an attempt to raise funds for a defunct music program, but how can he say no when the prize money would help him out of his financial predicament too?

Charlotte is sure she can set aside her differences with Zach long enough to cross the finish line and win the giant cash prize . . . can’t she? A few hundred miles in, she’s questioning her deeply held assumptions about Zach and wondering if maybe tandem biking is only the start of their biggest adventure yet.

Find Love in Tandem online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

What's the best Christian nonfiction book you have ever read?

Bookish Question #321 | What is the best Christian nonfiction book you have ever read?

I don’t read a lot of nonfiction (Christian or otherwise). In theory, that should make this an easier question than my favourite novel because I don’t have as many books to choose from. In practice, it’s harder … because I don’t have as many books to choose from.

The obvious answer is the Bible, but I suspect that isn’t the meaning of the question.

If I try to recall the Christian nonfiction books I’ve read, the two that come to mind are both autobiographies. You’ve probably heard of (and perhaps read) them both.

The first is Joni by Joni Eareckson, which made a huge impression on me as a child and teenager, about how she was able to live and thrive despite her circumstances, and how she came back to God.

The second is the Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, sharing her story of living the Netherlands during World War II, helping and hiding Jews, and her time in a concentration camp, and how God used her then and afterwards.

Both are encouraging true stories of regular Christian women faced with huge challenges, and the way they were able to cling to God despite their troubles.

Neither were “superwomen” or super Christians.
And that’s the beauty of their stories.

What about you? What is the best Christian nonfiction book you have ever read?

This is God’s proof to me that He is the only Father whose approval I must seek.

Book Review | Uncharted Peace (Uncharted #13) by Keely Brooke Keith

I didn’t enjoy Uncharted Peace as much as I’ve enjoyed previous novels in the Land Uncharted series. I think there are two reasons for that. One was because the romance was largely completed via letters before the story started. The second was because the “secret” hinted at in the book description is something the dedicated series reader already knows, because it was revealed in the previous book in the series, Uncharted Grace.

Rather than being a story of Lena and Phillip’s romance, it was a story about how an obscure law almost prevented their marriage … a plot device that felt a little contrived, given it hasn’t been mentioned in the twelve previous romances in this series. We read romance to watch the couple fall in love. Sure, we know there are going to be a few problems along the way, but Uncharted Peace seemed to be mostly problems with not enough of the falling-in-love phase of romance.

I’m also not a big fan of marriages where there is a big age gap between the hero and heroine. It wasn’t immediately obvious, but Philip Roberts is much older, and he does sometimes seem almost patronising in his attitude towards Lena. I didn’t find that attractive, which made it harder to want their relationship to move forward.

The best part about Uncharted Hope is the Christian element.

Despite being older and a preacher, Philip Roberts still had a few things to learn about God and life, and it was good to see him learning those lessons.

Overall, Uncharted Peace wasn’t my favourite in the series, but I’m still looking forward to the next book.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Keely Brooke Keith

Keely Keely Brooke KeithBrooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a slight Sci-Fi twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist). Keely also creates resources for writers such as The Writer’s Book Launch Guide and The Writer’s Character Journal.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely grew up in a family that frequently relocated. By graduation, she lived in 8 states and attended 14 schools.  When she isn’t writing, Keely enjoys playing bass guitar, preparing homeschool lessons, and collecting antique textbooks. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

Find Keely Brooke Keith online at:

Website | Facebook

About Uncharted Peace

Lena’s stay at The Inn at Falls Creek leaves her torn between loyalty to her family and marrying Philip for love.

Lena Vestal enjoys spending her days cooking for her siblings and her nights curled up with a good book… or a letter from Philip Roberts, the overseer of Falls Creek and only man ever to capture her heart. It’s safe to dream of a future with him while she is still sheltered by the older brother and sister who raised her. When Philip’s final letter announces his forthcoming arrival to take her to Falls Creek, Lena must leave all that is familiar to make her dream a reality.

Philip Roberts takes his duties as the overseer of Falls Creek seriously, not only to please God but also to prove his competence. Having been in the pastoral position for two years, Philip’s dissertation is anticipated by all the overseers of the Land, particularly his father. Producing a work of great merit would prove his worth, as would setting an excellent example of holy matrimony in his church.

Lena’s yearning for the security of Philip’s love compels her to spend a month without her siblings at the isolated Inn at Falls Creek. To prepare for their nuptials, Philip informs her the Land’s tradition requires they compare family lineage. When she receives hers from her sister, a shocking secret about her true origins means she must choose between protecting her family and marrying the man of her dreams.

And when Philip’s published book is distributed before he can check it, both feel their hopes dissolve.

But at the Inn at Falls Creek, no one is alone and everyone is worthy.

Find Uncharted Peace online at:

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What's the best Christian novel you have ever read?

Bookish Question #320 | What is the best Christian novel you have ever read?

I have read more Christian novels than I can count.

According to Goodreads, I’ve read over 1,500 in the last ten years (and that’s just a drop in the bucket of all the novels published in the last ten years).

Most of the novels I read are good. Many are excellent. Few last in my memory beyond me writing my book review. The ones I remember longer tend to be the ones that make it to my end-of-year “Best of …” list.

Despite the fact I write contemporary Christian romance, the novels I remember tend to be historical Christian fiction from authors like Elizabeth Camden, Gabrielle Meyer, Roseanna M White, and Francine Rivers.

On that basis, it’s perhaps no surprise for me to decide my favourite Christian novel is Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers

Echo in the Darkness is the second book in her Mark of the Lion trilogy. In many trilogies, the middle book is the weakest (the “saggy middle” writers dread).

But it’s my favourite because it focusses on my two favourite characters in the series, Marcus and Hadassah, and their protracted romance. Marcus is a Roman and not a Christian, but journeys to Israel to discover more about Hadassah after he believes she has been killed in the arena. There he learns to forgive his sister (who he blames for Hadassah’s death) and find God’s forgiveness for himself. I love strong salvation stories, and Marcus’s journey to faith was compelling reading.

Equally compelling was Hadassah’s story back in Rome (and perhaps Ephesus. It’s been a while since I read it, so some of the details are hazy). She works with a healer and finds herself back in Marcus’s family home, caring for his mother.

Echo in the Darkness is, first and foremost, a Christian novel. It’s set in a fascinating period in history–the Roman empire shortly after the fall of Jerusalem–and it incorporates the history and customs of the day into a wonderful Christian romance with a good deal of light suspense.

The writing style might be a little dated, but there is a reason Echo in the Darkness (and many more of Francine Rivers’s books) have remained on bestseller lists for decades.

What about you? What is the best Christian novel you have ever read?

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #328 | Rescuing the Rock Star by Liwen Y Ho

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from the latest release from Liwen Y Ho, which ticks all my favourite trope boxes … secret baby, rock star, and mistaken identity.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

There were few things that Leah Parker was sure of but one thing was clear - she was not cut out for romance.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Rescuing the Rock Star

It’s time for this rock star to settle down …

Fame, fortune, and fans—Jace Kendall has it all. Yet, he still feels like something is missing from his life. After the thrill of success starts to wane, he runs into his first love who left him without a word a decade ago. To his surprise, she mistakes him for his twin brother, an assumption he doesn’t correct for fear that she might disappear again.

If Leah Parker wasn’t so desperate, she wouldn’t have befriended the brother of the man she once had a summer fling with. She’d never wanted to hinder Jace’s future, which is why she stopped contacting him when his career took off. But her daughter’s life-threatening illness forces her to ask the Kendall family for help and reveals the secret she’s been keeping for years.

When the media catches wind of their past, Jace and Leah not only have to deal with the fallout but also with their undeniable chemistry. Can they learn to trust each other enough to plan a future together?

Find Rescuing the Rock Star online at:

Amazon | BookBub| Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Words were wily things—but they were miraculous too. They created, they shaped, they breathed life.

Book Review | A Noble Scheme (Imposters #2) by Roseanna M White

This is the second book in Roseanna M White’s The Imposters series, following A Beautiful Disguise. I do suggest reading that first, because it is the better book (well, I preferred A Beautiful Disguise), and because it introduces The Imposters, Inc so well.

A Noble Scheme has The Imposters undertaking a pro bono case to rescue a boy kidnapped in a case of mistaken identity.

The story focusses on Gemma, a gossip columnist, and Graham, an architect. A Beautiful Disguise made it apparent that there was a history between the two, and hints at a romance gone wrong. A Noble Scheme explores the origins of their enmity.

Gemma kept thinking back to the event a year earlier where Graham broke her trust and her heart. It was obvious she knew what had happened, but her recollections were frustratingly vague, and the reader doesn’t find out what actually happened until close to the halfway point. I could understand her not wanting to think about what had happened … but she was thinking about it, and she was making that clear in her viewpoint scenes, so it felt unnatural for her to not reveal the secret of the event. Keeping the secret was probably intended to increase the tension, but it just increased my frustration.

Graham is also suffering. He lost Gemma, and he lost his faith. He still believes in God, but he doubts God’s love and doubts God’s ability or perhaps His willingness to care for us. I was initially impressed, because I’m always keen to read Christian fiction that tackles life’s hard questions.

And “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” is a hard question.

But my curiosity about how Gemma and Graham would discover the answer to the hard question was overshadowed by the fact I didn’t know what had happened to cause them to feel this way. When the secret was finally revealed, it did make sense in the context of the story, and it was a sufficiently important event that I could see it causing the rift between them. However, it also fundamentally changed the tone of the story.

It also makes this review hard to write.

Reviews shouldn’t contain spoilers, yet the big secret twists the second-chance romance plot into a related trope that not all readers like (marriage reconciliation), and it also introduces an event that some readers may feel needs a trigger warning (no, it’s not sexual assault or similar act of violence). But because the big reveal didn’t happen until around the halfway point and isn’t even hinted at in the book description, would sharing that information be considered a spoiler? I think so … but I also think readers should know what they are getting. If you want to know, highlight the white text below so you can read it:

*Spoiler Alert”

A Noble Scheme is a marriage reconciliation story that also deals with the death of a small child, Gemma and Graham’s son.

*End Spoiler Alert*

Aside from that, A Noble Scheme was excellent. I enjoyed seeing more of Lady Meredith and her brother (although I would have liked some scenes set in their ancestral home, and I would have liked to see Sir Merritt a little more). The plot was excellent, and I loved the way Gemma was able to use the example of God and Jesus to bring Graham back to God.

Overall, A Noble Scheme is a solid story, but I did prefer A Beautiful Disguise.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Roseanna M White

Roseanna M WhiteRoseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna has a slew of historical novels available, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia.

Find Roseanna M White online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | YouTube 

About A Noble Scheme

Gemma Parks is known throughout high society as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talent to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the elite firm’s members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren’t for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart.

Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his soul in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma not only to restore the missing boy, but also to win back the only woman he’s ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham must devise a noble scheme to save the boy’s life and heal their hearts.

Find A Noble Scheme online at:

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First Line Friday

First Line Friday #327 | Drive You Crazy by Jessica Kate

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Drive You Crazy, the new release from Australian Christian rom-com author Jessica Kate, and the first book in her new Amity Creek series.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Small town romances have it all wrong. And I’m betting my inheritance on it.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Drive You Crazy

Cover image - Driver You Crazy by Jessica Kate

Bubbly newspaper editor Ashley Anderson is ecstatic to finally call this small town in Washington State ‘home’—until she accidentally angers her newspaper’s biggest advertisers, and they boycott. Her neighbor Justin has the family connections to get the town back on her side—but asking for help from the man she’s nicknamed ‘Dracula’ is a last resort.

Living next door, rebel-with-a-cause teacher Justin Hastings can’t escape Amity Creek fast enough. But when a good deed goes awry, it’s his fault that Ashley’s car is out of action, and they’re forced to carpool until he can make things right.

Thrust into one another’s daily lives, Ashley and Justin learn that little is black-and-white—not small town life, not family, and not each other. But there’s a fork in the road, and it seems God has these two destined for separate paths. Can the road less travelled ever lead them back to love?

Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in this must-read inspirational romance about the complexities—and the beauty—of true love in all its forms.

Find Driver You Crazy online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

What's the most unusual or unique setting you've read in a novel?

Book Chat #319 | What’s the most unusual or unique setting you’ve read in a novel?

Most Christian fiction I’ve read is set in the USA.

The UK probably takes second place in terms of common settings, at least in the Christian fiction I’ve read.

I’ve also read Christian fiction set in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Egypt, South Africa, as well as several countries in Europe (particularly Finland, France and Germany), Colombia, Russia, India, China, Japan, and even Pakistan.

There are many more countries I’ve never come across in a novel, including most African and Asian countries. These would certainly be unusual settings.

But my prize to the most unique setting I’ve read in a novel goes to Going Back Cold by Kelley Rose Waller.

Going Back Cold is set in Antarctica.

This location is unique not just because it’s a frozen continent at the bottom of the planet, but because it’s no even a country. That makes it an unique setting in my mind.

What about you? What’s the most unusual or unique setting you’ve read in a novel?