Still Waters by Patricia Johns – Lovely and Enjoyable Read

 

Author Patricia Johns, is relatively new to me.  I enjoy Amish fiction and was excited to read her current novel Still Waters, the second book in The Amish of Shepherd’s Hill series.

 

Beth Peachy came to help her aging paternal grandmother get ready to move in with her family.  Beth has visited her grandmother many times and has made friends over the years.  She is looking forward to seeing Danny Lapp again, it has been a while since they had seen each other and both are young adults now.  Beth has been struggling and is not sure if she wants to remain a part of the Amish community.  Her faith is strong, but she is not sure if she would be better able to pursue the thing she enjoys outside the community she was raised in. 

 

Beth is hopeful that she can find out more about her Dad who had recently died.  Questions that only her grandmother Mammi, who has dementia, can answer.  All families have secrets, but time is running out for Beth to get to her questions answered. 

 

Tabitha Schrock, first introduced in Green Pastures the first book in the series, has returned to her Amish roots.  She is still trying to be accepted by the community, but with patience and perseverance she is hopeful that she can rebuild her life among family and friends.  With her unique perspective Tabitha may be able to help Beth make the best choices for her life. 

 

Still Waters was a lovely read.  I enjoyed the characters and relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and the community.  It was interesting to see the dynamics of the relationships and how the past has impacted the present.  Even those secrets long ago hidden.

 

This story is made rich and full because of the characters and the relationships they have within the Amish community.  The mystery that is unraveled makes the story even more interesting.  The story draws you in and it was a very satisfying read.  Faith is a part of the character’s lives and story.  I appreciate that this is a clean novel.  I loved reading this book, I didn’t want it to end.  I highly recommend Still Waters by Patricia Johns.  I look forward to reading many more of her books.

 

I would like to thank Patricia Johns and Bethany House Publishers for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Still Waters.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

 

The War for Middle-earth by Joseph Loconte – Wonderful, Fascinating, Inspiring, and Insightful

As someone who loves reading about WWII history, I was excited to read Joseph Loconte’s new book The War for Middle-earth: J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Confront the Gathering Storm, 1933-1945.  This book shows impact of The Great War, on two men who fought in WWI, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis.  Great writers whose works have touched generations.  How the devastation they witnessed and experienced transformed how they viewed the world.

Their friendship with one another, and other like-minded men, helped anchor their Christian faith.  These men appreciated English literature and saw the value of myths and legends and how they impact cultures.  Together they were able to explore ideas, understand moral values rooted in truth, the knowledge of good and evil, and the importance of bravery in the face of impossible odds. 

While they were in Oxford England during WWII, their writings and lectures helped to battle the cultural moral decay that led to racism, anti-Semitism, eugenics, totalitarianism, and communism.

I loved reading The War for Middle-earth and learning about what impacted and influenced Tolkien and Lewis and how it resulted in their timeless writings that impacted their generation and beyond.  Eighty years later, people are still being touch and inspired by their novels. 

After reading The War for Middle-earth by Joseph Loconte, I am looking forward to going back and rereading Tolkien and Lewis’ books, including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia.  Reading the books will be even richer having learned what influenced these men and drove them write and create worlds from their imagination. 

The War for Middle-earth by Joseph Loconte is a wonderful, fascinating, insightful, and inspiring book about J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.  Well researched and well written. 

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The War for Middle-earth by Joseph Loconte.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.