A Girl of the Limberlost

A Girl of the Limberlost

by: Gene Stratton-Porter

Genre: Historical Fiction/Inspirational/Romance/Young Adult

Rating: Y

Content: Clean

Summary:  (from goodreads)

Set amid Indiana's vast Limberlost Swamp, this treasured children's classic mixes astute observations on nature with the struggles of growing up in the early 20th century. Harassed by her mother and scorned by her peers, Elnora Comstock finds solace in natural beauty — along with friendship, independence, and romance.

Personal Review:

Someone gave this book to my sister while I was in high school, that was the first time I read it. It became one of my favorites and has remained so ever since. I would borrow it from my sister for years at a time until recently when I discovered that the ebook was free on the Kindle. Cool Fact: this book was published in 1909, something I didn't realize till recently. I always thought it was just a historical fiction but turns out it was contemporary during its time. Why do I love this book so much? Let’s see, it is well written, the characters are well developed, the setting really comes to life, you get to watch a girl turn into a remarkable young women, and spoiler alert she end ups with an amazing man.

-Felicity

If you like this you may also like:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter

Vienna Prelude

Review by heyes

Vienna Prelude (Zion Covenant #1)

by Bodie and Brock Thoene

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: Y

Content: War, Some intense scenes; mentions past indiscretions

Summary:

In 1936 Nazi darkness descends upon Europe. Every person is only one step away from being swept into the nightmarish tide of evil. Blond Elisa Lindheim, and violinist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, adopts an Aryan stage name for protection. But her closest friend, Leah, a talented Jewish cellist, is in perilous position.

There are those who choose to fight Hitler's madness. Elisa's father Theo. A courageous American reporter, John Murphy. Winston Churchill, the British statesman. A farm family in the Tyrolean Alps. The Jewish Underground. But will all their efforts be enough to stop the coming Holocaust?

And now Elisa must decide. If she becomes part of the Underground, she will risk everything... and puts everyone she loves in danger (Goodreads)

Personal Review: 

This book was so fun to read because it is about WW2 which is both fascinating and disturbing to me. I like to understand how it was to be in the middle of what probably seemed like the end of the world even if it was through the eyes of a fictional character. The truth is that there could have been 100 Elizas who struggled with the same things. There is just enough romance in this book to keep romance addicts reading, and while it talks of past transgressions, the characters are moral and the book teaches good principles. Past mistakes are looked at as mistakes. As a hopeless romantic myself and a proud American, I was rooting for Murphy but I love the hopeless unrequited love anyday. Great book, great series. By the way this is not a religious book.

-heyes

If you liked this you may also enjoy:

-Prague Counterpoint by Bodie and Brock Thoene

-A Countess Below Stairs by Iva Ibbotson

-The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Head in the Clouds

Review by Felicity

Head in the Clouds

by: Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Christian/Historical Romance

Rating: Y

Content: clean

Summary:  (from goodreads)

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

Personal Review:

The best way to describe this book is simply that it is a Cowboy style Jane Eyre. Confession: I never liked ‘Jane Eyre’ so luckily for me this book isn’t really the same story but it has that feel.  Karen Witemeyer has a wonderful way of using the lawless west (namely Texas) as a wonderful backdrop to romances filled with christian values.

- Felicity

If you like this you may also like:

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Gods and Kings

Review by heyes

Gods and Kings

by Lynn Austin

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Literature, Historical Romance

Rating: Y

Content: I am calling this book clean. However there is Idol worship, and violence, and religious stuff.

Summary:

Gods and Kings is the story of King Hezekiah, heir to the throne of King David. When his evil father plots to sacrifice him, Hezekiah's mother, Abijah, searches frantically for a way to save him. But only two men can help her, and neither of them seems trustworthy. In a time and place engulfed by violence, treachery, and infidelity to Yahweh, Abijah and her son must discover the one true Source of strength if they are to save themselves and their country. Book 1 of Chronicles of the Kings. (Goodreads)

Personal Review:

So I loved this book. Being Christian myself, this book especially brought the Old testament to life for me. But you don’t have to be Christian to enjoy this book. It is only considered Christian literature because it is based off of scriptures in the Old Testament, when really what is the Old Testament but a history book written from various peoples’ points of view? (an inspired history book, but history none the less.) I thought that this book was written very well. Lynn Austin has many books in different genres and this series is my first of hers but I am excited to read more. There is idolatry in it, even sacrificing children to Molech(fire), the King has concubines, and Assyria is gross. I still give this a clean rating because none of it is glorified, it is true to the time period, and you learn about it in history before you can reach this level of reading and its history.

-heyes

If you liked this you may also enjoy

-The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
-The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Review by Curry

The Scarlet Pimpernel

by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adult, Young Adult

Rating: Y

Content: Some mild violence (non-descriptive)

Summary:

Armed with only his wits and his cunning, one man recklessly defies the French revolutionaries and rescues scores of innocent men, women, and children from the deadly guillotine. His friends and foes know him only as the Scarlet Pimpernel. But the ruthless French agent Chauvelin is sworn to discover his identity and to hunt him down.

Personal Review:

This is a good classic read. I love the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel. I had seen both the movie and the play before I had read the book. When I read the book I was a little surprised to find that it was mostly written from the view of Marguerite and that Percy is not in it very much, Whereas in the movies and the play Percy is the lead character. I still really enjoyed the book. The story has some suspense as well as romance, and it is all set in a real life time of terror in our world’s history. It’s a great story. (P.s. see the play if you get a chance!)

- Curry

If you liked this you might also like:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Friends and Foes by Sarah Eden

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

The Bronze Bow

Review by Curry

The Bronze Bow

by: Elizabeth George Speare

Rating: Y

Genre: Historical Fiction, Inspirational, Young Readers, Young Adult

Content: Mild Violence

Summary: (from goodreads)

This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his land of Israel. Daniel’s palpable hatred for Romans wanes only when he starts to hear the gentle lessons of the traveling carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. A fast-paced, suspenseful, vividly wrought tale of friendship, loyalty, the idea of home, community . . . and ultimately, as Jesus says to Daniel on page 224: “Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love.” A powerful, relevant read in turbulent times.

Personal Review:

This book won the Newbery award in 1962 and rightfully so. This is a great book for all ages. Elizabeth George Speare is great at writing realistic historical fiction books. I loved this book because it is both exciting and touching. This is also a great book for boys (cause we all know that it can difficult to find books for boys.)  Read it!

-Curry

If you liked this you might also like:

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis