#Revell Books

[danielleurbansblog]

Review: The Christmas Tree Farm

Synopsis: When Madison McDowell returns from several years teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie’s unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, her former high…

[doodlesink]

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson -- A Book Review

Happy Wednesday!  The Christmas Tree Farm is a holiday novella by Melody Carlson.  Pop by to see what I thought about this merry tale.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-christmas-tree-farm-by-melody.html

[elfosterreviews]

Until Our Time Comes by Nicole M. Miller

Blurb: American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn.

Major Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as their faith in God, humankind, and each other.

Drawn from true events of World War II, this epic story of escape, capture, resistance, and love from debut novelist Nicole M. Miller will thunder into your heart like a herd of beautiful horses across a raging river.

Review: Until Our Time Comes is a beautiful look at just how far the Nazi forces affected every aspect of life in the lands they occupied during WWII. There are plenty of novels that explore the human aspect of Nazi occupation, but very few that look at how they impacted things like animals, wildlife, landscape, and other facets of the environment. The way Nazi occupation affect these areas of European life is no less shocking and impactful that the effects they had on humans, but they often fall to the wayside considering just how tragic the aftermath of their treatment of humans was. We focus on the Holocaust because that was a level of destruction humans had never seen before. But it wasn’t the only destruction the Nazis wrought. 

Until Our Time Comes takes a look at one tiny part of what the Nazis did to animals during their occupation of Eastern Europe. And Miller did an incredible job of showing just how heartwrenching these events were. When we think of WWII we don’t often, if at all, think of horses. Hitler’s goals were for an “Aryan Race.” Which most often is associated with humans (hence the Holocaust and the culling of those who did not fit that mold). But those goals extended beyond just people. And while millions of people were trying to flee from the SS, the Nazis were extending their goals to animals as well. 

Janów Podlaski is, and was, a world-renowned horse stable. They are responsible for some of the finest Arabian horses on this earth. The Great War (WWI) greatly impacted their breeding program. And they were still recovering when WWII broke out. There was a desperate effort to keep the horses at Janów Podlaski out of Nazi hands. The stables hand were not able to evacuate all of the horses, but they put their best effort into it. And after the war ended, some of those horses made their way back to the stable. 

Until Our Time Comes tells this story, but Miller does this with a cast of (human) characters that allows readers to explore the human impact of the Nazi invasion as well. Aida is a compassionate, loving, protective, and strong woman who refuses to run when the animals (and people) she cares about are in danger. While she works to save the horses she loves, we see her also loving and caring for Bret and Ewan as well. We see Bret falling for Aida even before the invasion begins and then doing everything she can to keep her safe, even when she won’t leave the horses behind. Aida, Bret, and Ewan become a family in the midst of the hell that was the Nazi invasion but found ways to keep themselves, each other, the people, and the horses they cared about as safe as possible. 

This is not a simple feel-good read. There are points where you will cry, points where you will laugh, and points where you will feel your heart breaking only to feel it mend. The romance makes this book human. It gives you relationships to explore. But this book centers on the horses, Aida’s love for them, and the massive undertaking it was to keep them safe. 

Miller has delivered a fantastic look at how the Nazis impacted animals right alongside the horrors of the Holocaust. For most readers, this will open the door to a whole other side of Hitler's atrocities (we don’t often hear about how animals were treated during the war). This is a masterful story of love: for lovers, for family, and for the animals in our lives. I am blown away by this novel and I cannot wait to see what Miller comes up with next. 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via the Revell Reads Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are HONEST. All opinions are my own. 

[tomcriuse]

Crazy to think that there were 15 seasons of Supernatural and Jesus wasn’t like a Thing. Never mentioned. They decanonized Jesus Christ

[sictransitgloriamvndi]

[kanga-moroo]

desperately hope Arthur runs a prophet scheme while in the 13th century. Let people think John is the Holy Spirit whispering in his ear

[cosmicportal]

[artthatgivesmefeelings]

Hans Memling (German-Flemish, 1430-1494) Triptych with Saint John of Patmos, 1479 Memlingmuseum, Museum St John’s Hospital, Bruges The Book of Revelation or Book of the Apocalypse is the final book of the New Testament. Written in Koine Greek, its title is derived from the first word of the text: apokalypsis, meaning 'unveiling' or 'revelation'. The Book of Revelation is the only apocalyptic book in the New Testament canon.

[tomato-bird-art]

Doing Line Art Commissions in this style for $150+ for the summer! Good for tattoos, OC interpretations, or illustrating your dreams and visions.

Email me at tomatobird.art@gmail.com if you're interested

[the-muppet-joker]

hello mr kermit, I just notice that you post on here almost every hour of the day. Do you not sleep? Or do you schedule those posts?

No time for sleeping when writing the new Bible for the world

[tamatarkha]

apocalyptical beasts from the book of revelation

[danielleurbansblog]

Review: One Last Shot

Synopsis: When country music star Oaken Fox joins survivalist Mike Grizz’s new adventure show in the Alaskan wilderness, he just wants to boost his fan base. But when tragedy strikes and Air One Rescue must save them, Oaken wants to quit. Too bad his producer has other plans–signing him on with Air One Rescue as a recruit and making a reality show. EMT Boo Kingston did not join Air One Rescue…

[doodlesink]

Hidden in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard -- A Book Review

Happy Thursday!  Hidden in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard is a suspenseful story.  Take a moment to learn more about the 3rd book in the Missing in Alaska series.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2024/06/hidden-in-night-by-elizabeth-goddard.html

[elfosterreviews]

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

Goodreads blurb: As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love--and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne's son, Andrew, who has returned to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker's failed setup. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man--and for herself!

Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to appease his daughter. But when he arrives, it's not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker--who clearly has eyes for someone else.

Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?

Review: This was my first book by Deibel, and I have to say I enjoyed it. Catriona was relatable and likable, Donal was sweet and easy to love, and Sara was a doll. I always love single-parent stories, so seeing Catriona step into Sara’s life was lovely, and seeing how Sara and Donal interact was just a treat. Donal is just a wonderful father, and it was really lovely to see how much he loves his daughter. It was also cute to see the parallel between Donal and Sara and Catriona and her own father. Past that, this book is fairly simple, you get exactly what you’re expecting (and that’s just fine). Catriona spends the first part of this book following the wrong man. Personally, I found Andrew to be an awful human being and reading those chapters where Catriona was set on him hurt me. I just knew it was going to go sideways and I didn’t want her hurt. When she finally turned towards Donal I was so happy. Past that, there are no big twists or turns. There are, of course, events NOT mentioned in the blurb above, but there was no major plot test that truly changed what the book was about. Overall, I was happy to see Donal and Catroina end up happy together, and for Sara to have a mother figure back in her life. It was a super cute book, a great read, and I’m thrilled to have read it. 5/5 stars

It should be said, this is Christian fiction. I always approach these with a grain of salt, as I’m not religious in any way. This isn’t OVERLY preachy, but it is certainly discussed. There is a fair bit of romance. There is kissing and romantic touch (which sometimes is hard to come by). This book balances being Christian fiction with also being a romance quite well, and I appreciate that it’s well done. 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via the Revell Reads Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are HONEST. All opinions are my own. 

[shinynewmemories]

All the final lines of each part of every Hunger Games book

THG: 

Part I:

“Because . . . because . . . she came here with me.”

Part II:

Before I can stop myself, I call out Peeta’s name.

Part III:

I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the cameras, and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go.

CF:

Part I:

It’s my mockingjay.

Part II:

This is no place for a girl on fire.

Part III:

“Katniss, there is no District Twelve.”

MJ:

Part I:

And his blood as it splatters the tiles.

Part II:

That I’m of more use to her dead than alive.

Part III:

I tell him, “Real.”

[sictransitgloriamvndi]