Rebel Book Reviews

Surrender to Peace by Rose Allen McCauley (Olivia Kimbrell Press 2015)   ~~"I had to come to the point of total surrender, giving up what I wanted, and being willing to accept whatever He wanted..."~~ (Ramona p.58) The book brought this line to life. An easy read that wasn't about conflicts. It wasn't about a whirlwind romance. It wasn't about fighting against God's will. It was a love story--a sweet and simple love story about surrendering your heart. As I read Joy's and Benigno's story, I came to realize that another love story was unfolding--God's love story. As the words breezed into my mind, as I pictured myself on the beaches and streets of Puerto Rico, peace settled over me.  And the title says it all " Surrender to Peace ". Only then can love shine and the voice of God be heard. If you want a sweet, timeless love story written in the vein of Henry van Dyke, then Rose Allen McCauley brought one...

Mail Order Surprise by Lucy Thompson (Forget Me Not Romances 2016) Western romances seem to be the rage in historical romances lately. There are so many and most seem to be cookie cutters of each other, but not so with Lucy Thompson's Mail Order Surprise . She exceeds a Mary Connealy book or a Colleen Coble novel with her wit and humor. To me it was a fresh take on the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers theme . The surprises that cropped up in the story were unexpected and pleasant.  At times I wondered why Lydia did the things she did, and it made sense once the ending was reached. "Ah, yeah, that makes sense now. I don't blame her one bit" was my reaction.  Reading this novel was almost like watching not just the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , but also a John Wayne flick like McClintock and others. The brothers interacted with each other in such a natural way. Lydia and the children seemed to be a natural extension of that family. T...

The Madonna of Pisano by MaryAnn Diorio (TopNotch Press 2015)   MaryAnn Diorio uncovers a deeply moving story of how sin can fester and unravel lives. Though the sin that was brought upon Maria was not her own, she harbored for seven long years vengeance against the one who destroyed her life and dreams. As a teen, my favorite novel from school was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This novel by Diorio is a new, fresh retelling of the age-old tale. Don Franco learns that sin, no matter how hard you deny it or try to keep it quiet, will rear its ugly head to wreak havoc upon a soul and body. Whereas Luca realizes that sin can disguise itself in the least suspecting of souls. And Maria learns that freedom comes with true forgiveness through the Grace of God. The Madonna of Pisano brought to life not only the world of religious corruption, but also an inside look at Catholicism--even priests are human--, but also the hypocrisy of a small village....

Wake the Dead by Victoria Buck   (Pelican Book Group 2014)   You read the title and wonder, "What will this book be about?". The title, Wake the Dead , has a dual meaning. One: wake as in resuscitate a person, who either died or fainted, and two: wake a person who is dead in Christ. In the not so impossible future, transhumanism becomes a concept. The constitution is gone. Government controls all: people, economy, entertainment, etc. But as with all control and absolute power, there are those who rebel and who will fight back. Chase believed in his illusion of the life he led, until it was taken away from his perceived control. Then it became a battle of will, of his mind and body, and of his soul. Throughout the book I ran into symbolism and truth. Truth about what can happen and what probably would happen in our future based on our society now. This book is a wake up call in fiction form.  And fine form it is. It held me captive; with ...

Summer's Flame by Wendy Davy ( White Rose Books/Pelican Book Group 2015) It is not often that I find a sweet romance where the romance is the central theme. Yes there were a couple of conflicts that vamped the tension and added a nice contrast to the steady pace. The title held multiple meanings which makes a nice bonus. I could relate to Summer's reluctance to love a firefighter. I empathized with Riley and Zack. The heartache they felt was genuinely written. Aiden's strong determination was endearing and swoon worthy. This isn't a deep novel. It's a sweet story of how two people had to trust in God and in each other.  It didn't end abruptly. It ended in a way that would make the reader set the book down, stare out the window, and sigh, contemplating the words she just read. Another thing that drew me to this book was that the proceeds go to a charity called Food For The Poor. I've been on both sides of spectrum and it thrills...

A Memory Worth Dying For by  Joanie Bruce (2014 Ambassador International) Hashtag: that was a good book. I enjoyed the character's quirky saying of "Hashtag" in front of her phrases.  The story somewhat held my interest to the end, and I did enjoy the book. Returning characters from the previous Joanie Bruce book added a cute dimension. Some of the idioms used were lost on me, and I had to google them to find out what they meant. I remembered my grandmother saying it at times, though. I understood the main character's determination to stay in Texas, and that she would not allow anyone to veer her off course. Kudos to her. Toward the middle I figured out what must have happened in the beginning and was pleasantly pleased to know that I was right. If you like clean books, if you like suspense books, then A Memory Worth Dying For is perfect. Yes, it did seem a little preachy at times, but the characters were like that and the faith was an...

Her Small-Town Romance by Jill Kemerer (Love Inspired 2016)   It's not often that a Love Inspired novel can pull me in so thoroughly and with such ease. Jill Kemerer did a great job at showing a budding romance and how God leads us through every step in our lives. The ease with which Jade and Bryan connected was extremely well thought out and well developed. Jade's fears were realistic. Bryan's self doubt was handled superbly. What I loved most was how easy it was to picture the small town, the camaraderie between the siblings, and seeing the interactions between the two characters, as well as their internal thoughts. Her Small-Town Romance made it possible to believe again in happiness. It showed that love is there for the taking if one is only willing to look to God for the answers.  This is a Christian inspirational romance. Prayer is a given in the characters' lives. They are outspoken about their faith and beliefs. These elements were...