Whistlestop Book Review: "More Than Words" by Judith Miller

Gretchen Kohler likes to write in her journal. She never imagines her words will travel further than her home in the Amana Colonies, at least not until a traveling salesman takes an interest in her writing. With a jealous childhood sweetheart, a wandering grandmother, a younger brother drawn to visiting gypsies, and a father changed for the worse since her mother's death, Gretchen has her hands full. She finds it difficult to bear  the weight of a guilty conscience, too. Should she confess her secrets and risk losing her job, her reputation and the respect of the man she loves?

More Than Words by Judith Miller, book two in the Daughters of Amana series, delivers a sweet and entertaining love story for those who enjoy reading about life in communal colonies.

©2011 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

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*My thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this title, given for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "The Girl in the Gatehouse" by Julie Klassen

September 1813. Take one abandoned gatehouse on an English estate adjacent to the village poorhouse. Insert one banished woman. Season with appealing secondary characters, a shipwreck and a manservant with a hook instead of a hand. Sprinkle in some 18th-century home-produced plays and a strange man with a spyglass walking a rooftop. Sear with the heady longings of the hero and heroine along with an unexpectedly sweet courtship between two mature characters. Add echoes of Jane Austen. Simmer in exhaustive research about a hierarchical culture with liberal spoonfuls of social commentary, intrigue, and unlikely love. Toss in some unpredictable plot twists at the very end. Result? A delicious, noteworthy historical romance novel well worth your time.

Chapter 18 of The Girl in the Gatehouse begins with an Austen quote, “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything else than of a book!”

It is a happy thing to write a book review of a Jane Austen devotee on this, the 235th anniversary of Miss Austen’s birth. Unlike Miss Austen, who received little notoriety or respect for her writing during her lifetime, Julie Klassen is a RITA and Christy Award finalist. Ms. Klassen returns a third time to write expertly about the Regency period in English history. I have great respect for her work. In her author’s note, she states that The Girl in the Gatehouse is peppered with Austen-like characters. Her love of writing and authors pervade The Girl in the Gatehouse. Women who aren’t supposed to write publish anonymously. Journals are kept. Letters are written, read and re-read. Closeted writers abound, male and female alike producing stories, “theatricals” and novels. Ms. Klassen pens an engrossing read.

Well-paced and styled, The Girl in the Gatehouse introduces us to characters we care about even when our everyday tasks force us to lay the book aside for a time. Main character Mariah Aubrey has a safely-guarded secret and a predilection for helping others despite being tossed out on her ear by her father. We read only hints of her indiscretion until she bravely writes her own experience into her third novel. Mariah, however, seems a bit bland and placid through most of the book and then suddenly overwrought at the end. How curious that she waited so long to open her aunt’s chest.

Helpful discussion questions are included in the back of the book. Beautiful motifs embellish new chapter pages as well as quotes from various 18th and 19th century poets and authors, particularly women. Literature is revered in this inspirational historical romance, bookended ironically, with the phrases “the end” and “the beginning.”

Highly recommended to historical fiction and literature lovers or those simply looking for an enticing read.


©2010 Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont

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*Thanks to the author, who provided a complimentary copy of The Girl in the Gatehouse for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Book Review: "Head in the Clouds" by Karen Witemeyer

Adelaide Proctor lands herself in a fix when she seeks a proposal from a reluctant beaux. Dislocated and unemployed, she accepts a job as a governess on a sheep ranch in the wilds of Texas. Her young charge, Isabella, soon captures her heart. When Isabella's father, Gideon Westcott, stirs her admiration, Addie reins in her romantic tendencies. She doesn't need another humiliation, and besides, Gideon seems to prefer it that way.

When life-threatening events loom, the two face a choice that will impact many lives.

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer gives a compassionate analysis of the question: Why does God let bad things happen to good people? I highly recommend it to women who enjoy historical fiction set in the West and especially for those grieving a loss.

©2010 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books.

Purchase through Bethany House

*Thank you, Bethany House, for providing a complimentary copy of this title for purposes of review.

**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon affiliate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central. 

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Somewhere to Belong" by Judith Miller

What does it mean to belong? Judith Miller explores this question in a story set in the Amana Colonies of 1877. Two very different girls find themselves thrown together. Level-headed Johanna takes rebellious newcomer Berta under her wing and teaches her to embrace life in Amana. This task proves difficult. Each girl grapples with family problems, potential betrayal and life-changing decisions. Will Johanna and Berta surrender their pains and dreams to God and find the courage to truly live? 

Compelling characters and believable situations coupled with skilled writing make SOMEWHERE TO BELONG an important book. I recommend it to women who enjoy stories about cloistered communities and for those who enjoy historical fiction. I also approve this book for teens because of its take on honesty, family bonding and social responsibility.  

© 2010 Janalyn Voigt

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher for purposes of review.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Hearts Awakening" by By Delia Parr

In a time when women are expected to be married and having children, Elvira Kilmer is single and alone. Living on the less-than-generous mercy of a cousin, she is sent out to clean house for a widower and his sons. Jackson Smith is angry and bitter about the way his life has turned out. Loving one woman and marrying another only to be betrayed, he no longer trusts women but understands his children need a mother. He decides that someone as unattractive as Elvira will do just fine.


The characters are not only believable; they make you feel for them. You care about how Jackson treats Ellie, and you wonder why he is so angry. The plot keeps you tuned in and makes this book hard to put down. The dialogue flowed naturally and helped develop plot and character traits. Both characters started with a basic knowledge of faith and God, with Ellie coming to a stronger faith before Jackson.

~ Reviewed by Robin Armijo

* A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher for purposes of review.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: THE SILENT GOVERNESS

Author Julie Klassen loves both Jane Austen and Jane Ayre -- and it shows. Her new release, THE SILENT GOVERNESS, creates a world redolent with mystery and drawing-room intrique that hearkens back to the gothic romances of yore. The story opens as young Olivia Keene flees through a forest which is anything but safe. Circumstances thrust her into life at Brightwell Court and into the hands of inegmatic Lord Bradley. The plot unfolds in layers, like an onion, each deeper and more complex than the last. Nothing is as it seems and yet, in the end, we discover each riddle has an obvious answer.

This book is well plotted and written in an engaging style. Although I did find several plot points and aspects of characterization less than believable, such a compelling story made it easy to overlook a few minor flaws.

I recommend THE SILENT GOVERNESS for women who enjoy historical romance.

Click here to learn more.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher for purposes of review.

© 2010 Janalyn Voigt

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Sense and Sensibility" (Insight Edition)

In this sensitive and romantic tale by Jane Austin, we follow two unlike sisters in their quest for love. Set against the backdrop of England in the early 1800's, this beloved classic brings to life a time of strict cultural mores and societal roles. Jane Austin's wit and keen insight into human nature enlivens her characters and endeared them to me.

Bethany House's "insight edition" of  Sense and Sensability includes annotations in the margins with historical and cultural details, illuminating facts from the author's life, notes from film versions, the book's spiritual themes, comments on points within the story, and editors' personal opinions. While all of this sounds good, I did not always enjoy having such a constant "companion" to my reading.

I found the location of the notes in the magins drew my eye and made it difficult to ignore them. I understand the intent was to make them easy to find and read, but they distracted me from the story, especially since nearly every page contained one or more notes. The notes sometimes annoyed me for just when I would pause to make my own observations, someone else's thoughts would inject into the equation, sometimes with small spoilers. For me, it was something like sitting through a movie with someone who talks all the way through. Perhaps if the notes had been placed in a footer and edited to decrease the quantity and remove personal opinion and spoilers, I might have enjoyed this edition more.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me for purposes of review.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: The Hidden Flame

I have never read books by Davis Bunn or Janette Oke, so I was not prepared for the brilliant writing in The Hidden Flame. We join Abigale at a wedding celebration after the massacre of her family. She is injured but joyful her brother is alive. Harrod's guards descend upon the wedding and send everyone fleeing. We are then introduced to prominent characters from the New Testament --  Peter, Pilate, Martha, Mary and James, among others. Their rolls play out true to the Bible's account of the days just after Jesus's ascension. Each of these historical characters was shown as any character in a book would be portrayed: with feelings, description and dialog.  At this point, I paused and considered how these people had existed in time, lived full lives and accomplished great works. It seemed they now, through this book, somehow entered my living room, becoming as real as my children sitting on the couch across from me. 

Biblical situations and settings were brought to life. Imagine being in the upper room, walking over to the window to look out, and watching what the people below were doing. While exploring the history and dangers of Rome, we follow Abigale's journey as two men offer to marry her, neither of whom she likes. 

I found the story a little character-heavy, especially if the reader was not familiar with the New Testament, and I would have liked to see more of the settings. The paramount settings were described well, but I wanted to see a little more of the ordinary everyday ones. The genius of this story far out weighs these minor points, however. With its lessons on healing, love and faith, this book is full of good messages. I recommend The Hidden Flame to readers of any age group, especially those who seek to understand the Bible in a more personal way. I will read this book a second time, only this time it will be aloud to my children. And now that I feel I have met many of the people within its pages, I will never be able to read the Bible in the same way again.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Though Waters Roar

Lynn Austin weaves a generational tale with deft skill in Though Waters Roar, which opens with young Harriot Sherwood in jail for a crime which would break her grandmother's heart. As the book discloses Harriot's secrets, it also uncovers the stories of Grandma Bebe and Lucy, Harriot's mother. But this book is not just about the lives of three women who share a blood bond. Rather, it embodies in its three protagonist's lives the struggles of all women in America as they fought for the right to vote and to abolish Demon Rum from the bars and speakeasies.

I enjoyed this book for its believable characters and sense of place and time, which transported me between the second half of the 19th-Century and the 1920's. Some of the decisions made by the book's characters seem a bit foreign in light of today's sensibilities, but they were true to the times. A thread of faith in God and the acceptance of life's hardships wended through the story like a bright stream. The transition between time periods sometimes came too fast for me, and one or two plot points could have flowed more naturally, but Though Waters Roar is worth reading. I recommend it for women who enjoy historical fiction, and for their teenage daughters.

(Note: A complimentary copy of this book was provided to Book Readers Central for purposes of review.)

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Levi's Will

Levi's Will tells a rich story of one man's journey through life. When we first meet Will, our main character, he is preparing for his father's funeral. The next chapter takes us back to when he first ran away from his fathers home, leaving behind the Amish lifestyle and a pregnant girlfriend.

The story jumps back and forth between different times in Will's life, which confused me at first. I had to go back and re-read the first couple of chapters. But, once I understood this, I began to see Will's life illustrated in a way not unlike my own process of memory.

W. Dale Cramer gives Levi's Will strong, solid, believable characters and puts into words many of the difficult struggles of life. Through the transformation of Will's character, the book underscores that a man can never really run away but through love can overcome the past. This book offers a clear perspective on faith. Because its central themes are love and forgiveness, I believe people of all faiths would enjoy this book. And I especially recommend this book for fathers.

Note: Bethany House provided a courtesy copy of Levi's Will to Book Readers Central for purposes of review.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Leaving Yesterday

Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman is a weighty story that deals with some of life's toughest situations. The main character, Alisa, a woman recently separated from her husband, has a son just back from drug re-hab who is committed to recovering. But Alisa finds something from her son's past that could end all of his progress and, if she keeps silent, might land her in jail as well. This book provides an amazingly descriptive depiction of her struggle to find truth and to trust in God no matter what the situation.

As a mother of young children myself, reading Leaving Yesterday made me thankful for every moment I have with my children now. Because the story is set in the background of our modern American lifestyle, I felt as if Alisa could be one of my nieghbors. Although I did find the supporting characters a bit cliched at first, they rounded out nicely as the story progressed. I recommend Leaving Yesterday to all mothers of any age.


Reviewed by Jessa Irene Deloesch

(Bethany House provided Book Readers Central with a complimentary copy of Leaving Yesterday for purposes of review.)

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Watch Over Me

Deputy Benjamin Patil finds a newborn baby who has been left to die in a plastic grocery bag in a field. He transports the infant girl to the hospital and returns daily to check on her. When the time comes to place the baby in foster care, Benjamin and his offbeat wife, Abbi, unable to have children of their own, offer to take her in. But can their crumbling marriage stand up under the strain?  And what will happen if Ben's search for the child's parents yields results?

Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish tells the story of two people faced with the choice of ending their marriage or giving it the effort and sacrifice loving requires. Each must choose to trust not only one another, but also a God who seems distant. Illustrated with true lines and colored in vivid hues, Watch Over Me paints an intimate portrait drawn from real-life realities.

Those who enjoy contemporary fiction will enjoy this book. I also recommend it for teens because of its honest portrayal of the issues teens face and its emphasis on practical morality.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for purposes of review.)

Whistlestop Wednesday: "Until We Reach Home"

Three orphaned farm girls abandon their native Sweden for the promise of new life in America. They leave behind everyone and everything familiar and step into the unknown carrying only a trunk filled with practical necessities and precious momentos.

Elin, the oldest, frets over her sisters' safety. Adventurous Kirsten rebels against Elin's restrictions. Sofia, the youngest, wails with annoying regularity that she wants to go back home. Elin, who bears the weight of a terrible secret, knows the safe, ordered existence Sofia led at the farm could not last. Kirsten, dogged by her own secrets, finds she can't escape the past.

Hardships arise in the sisters' travels but also transcendant moments. As Sofia observes: "To me, this whole adventure wasn't about reaching a destination and finding a home - it was about the journey."

Each girl, in the course of events, makes her own voyage of personal growth. Each encounters God's grace. Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin presents true-to-life characters and believable resolutions against an authentic late-1800's background. While this book appeals to an adult readership, I also recommend it for teen girls because of its honest, moral look at sexuality and love.

Whistlestop Wednesday: "Fields of Grace"

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Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer, tells the story of obedient Mennonite wife, Lillian Vogt, who submits to the wishes of her husband, Reinholdt, and travels from her home in the Russian steppes to a remote homestead in 1870's Kansas. Eli, Reinholdt's unmarried step-brother, accompanies them, playing the role of uncle to their three sons. The difficult ocean passage leads to mind-numbing tragedy. In its aftermath, Lillian works to leave the past behind and create a new life on the wide-open prairie. The struggles toward manhood of Henrick, Lillian's oldest son, threaten her tenuous peace of mind and bring a whiplash of pain. Confronted with her own shortcomings, Lillian must choose what she will bring her family - bitterness or grace.

Kim Vogel Sawyer gives her unique writing voice free rein, thus transcending the ordinary in this inspired tale. Rich sensory detail enlivens every scene and transports the reader. The vivid characters and conflicts resound with honesty. Drawn from its author's family history, Fields of Grace offers an intriguing glimpse of a past way of life.

*My thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book for purposes of review.

**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased through links from Book Readers Central.

Whistlestop Wednesday:Dawn's Prelude (Bethany House)

Tracie Peterson's new release, Dawn's Prelude, takes us from the Kansas City of 1870 to a remote settlement in Alaska as we follow beautiful and jaded Lydia Gray's efforts to create a new life for herself.

Lydia's father sold her into marriage at a young age. Her wealthy and abusive husband and the children of his first marriage create a living hell for Lydia until a carriage accident leaves her widowed and fatherless. Clutching her prized violin, Lydia goes to live with her Aunt Zerelda in Sitka, thinking she can leave her unhappy past behind, but the terms of her husband's will coupled with her step-sons' cruelty make that impossible.

Kjell Lindquist has no plans to marry. Days before a seasick Lydia faints in his arms, Kjell declares that if the Good Lord has a wife for him He'll have to drop her in his arms. But Lydia wants nothing to do with remarriage or Kjell's God, desiring only to live her life out in peace on her own terms. As the days go by Lydia opens up to Kjell, and to his God, and Kjell gains insight into the depth of pain the woman he's come to love has suffered.

Lydia teeters on the brink of love and salvation as her past threatens to annihilate her. With surprising plot twists, unforgettable characters and excruciating suspense, Dawn's Prelude teaches us to release the past and cherish now.

This might come from my own preferences, but I found the impending peril of the heroine so intense as to make me at times want to reject the book. Excellent characterizations and beautiful writing helped counter this. I also would have preferred more detail in descriptions of Alaska's landscape, especially when Lydia goes into nature to play her violin. Nonetheless, Dawn's Prelude is a well-plotted work that engages the reader and stands on its own merits. 


*My thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this book for purposes of review.

**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.