R.I.P. X Reading Challenge hosted by The Estella Society

I have participated in this reading challenge for years. R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril  is what the title stands for. It officially runs from September 1 through October 31. It is perfect for ushering in the Fall season. I sign up for Peril the Third which is a one book commitment. There are several options to pick from. I have not picked my title yet. The only requirements are that the book fit into one of the following genres. I really enjoy mystery and suspense.

Mystery
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.

For more information and to sign up please go to this website:
http://www.estellasociety.com/?p=1484

'Til We Meet Again by Ray and Betty Whipps (Review)

Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (August 18, 2015)

ISBN-13: 978-1496405487

Ray and Betty Whipps both served in Europe during WWII: Ray as an infantryman under General Patton in the trenches of Normandy, Paris, and Belgium, and Betty as a field nurse in Cherbourg, France. The two met when Betty tended to Ray after he was injured in a mortar blast. Both strong Christians, the two bonded over their shared faith, and as Betty nursed Ray back to health, they fell in love and vowed to marry after the war. However, soon after Ray returned to his unit, he was captured by German forces and held captive in Stalag VII, Germany’s largest prisoner of war camp. It was there that Ray’s faith was put to the ultimate test as he endured the most horrific weeks of his life―weeks marked by brutality, malnutrition, back-breaking labor, and near-constant death. The only thing that kept him alive was the dream of someday reuniting with Betty.

Told in first person from Ray’s perspective, with personal wartime letters from Betty interspersed throughout, ’Til We Meet Again is a sweeping love story set amid the backdrop of WWII. The perfect combination of “in the trenches” battlefield accounts and classic 1940s romance, this memoir reads almost like a novel. It is an epic story of faith, hope, and love, and a nostalgic look back at one of the most memorable periods in American history.

My Review:

This was a good Memoir set during WWII. Ray and Betty Whipps served in the US military. Betty was a nurse and Ray was in the army infantry. The majority of the book focuses on Ray's war experiences. Part of the love story came from the copies of Betty's letters home. The book is mainly told from Ray's perspective. The book was well written and easy to read. The story held my attention from beginning to end. My favorite part of the book is witnessing the Christian faith of Ray and Betty in action. I do wish the love story was a bigger part of the book. Overall this was an interesting memoir that I enjoyed reading. Recommended.




Review copy provided by Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review.

"Anne of Green Gables," My Daughter, and Me: What My Favorite Book Taught Me about Grace, Belonging, and the Orphan in Us All by Lorilee Craker (Review)

Paperback: 256 pages

Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (August 20, 2015)

ISBN-13: 978-1496403438

A charming and heartwarming true story for anyone who has ever longed for a place to belong.

“Anne of Green Gables,” My Daughter, and Me is a witty romp through the classic novel; a visit to the magical shores of Prince Edward Island; and a poignant personal tale of love, faith, and loss.

And it all started with a simple question: “What’s an orphan?” The words from her adopted daughter, Phoebe, during a bedtime reading of Anne of Green Gables stopped Lorilee Craker in her tracks. How could Lorilee, who grew up not knowing her own birth parents, answer Phoebe’s question when she had wrestled all her life with feeling orphaned―and learned too well that not every story has a happy ending?

So Lorilee set off on a quest to find answers in the pages of the very book that started it all, determined to discover―and teach her daughter―what home, family, and belonging really mean. If you loved the poignancy of Orphan Train and the humor of Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, you will be captivated by “Anne of Green Gables,” My Daughter, and Me. It’s a beautiful memoir that deftly braids three lost girls’ stories together, speaks straight to the heart of the orphan in us all, and shows us the way home at last.

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this book especially because Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite series ever. The author has a good writing style and the story flowed well. The only part I did not like is where she speculates on what the different birth parents were thinking at different times. The main theme of the book revolves around her adoption, Anne's adoption, and her daughter's adoption. The book is a memoir and she tells her life story along with the others seamlessly. Her humor is refreshing. The book held my attention from beginning to end. I loved the parts of Anne of Green Gables she works into the book. I am convinced I need to re read it now. I have a different perspective having read this book. God is our heavenly father which makes us not truly orphans is one the things I am taking from this book. Recommended.





Lorilee Craker speaks for MOPS groups and at other events for mothers. She writes on entertainment for a major daily newspaper and is the author of several books including Loving Life with Your Preschooler. She lives in Michigan with her husband, Doyle, and their two sons.

Review copy provided by Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review.

Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin (Review)

Series: Waves of Freedom (Book 1)

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Revell (August 4, 2015)

ISBN-13: 978-0800723422

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.

Sarah Sundin takes readers to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true love, in this hopeful and romantic story.

My Review:

Through Waters Deep starts a new series called Waves of Freedom. It is a Christian historical fiction book set right before World War Two in the US. The main characters in this book are Jim Avery and Mary Stirling. This is one of my favorite authors because she puts enough historical detail without weighing the book down. I enjoyed reading this book. It had romance, suspense, and mystery. The characters and plot were well developed and interesting. The book held my attention from the beginning to end. I felt like I was a part of the book. Mary and Jim were an unlikely team. Mary comes off as timid, quiet, and shy. Jim is a good looking navy officer. They went to high school together but Jim was enraptured with Mary's best friend. Then they meet up again unexpectedly in Boston and become friends. They have chemistry but Mary is convinced he would never want her. He does not speak up when he starts to like her and almost loses the chance forever. I liked how the characters matured over the course of the book. Great start to a new series. I have read and enjoyed all of this author's books. Recommended.





Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, In Perfect Time, and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, On Distant Shores was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.