Month: May 2025

Review of STEALING MAGNOLIAS by Leslie Kirby DeVooght

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review5 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781967524006 Publisher:Lanier Price Publishing Publication date:05/20/2025 Series:Magnolia Bluff #1 Pages:304

When Wren Frazier heads south to honor her grandmother’s final wish, she finds five unexpected challenges, one grumpy (but handsome) neighbor, and maybe-herself.

Although an artist, Wren packed away her brushes and paints and sought a practical career as an interior designer in Chicago. She’s always put herself last, happy to please everyone around her. But with a team of dedicated co-workers and a small town of quirky characters supporting her, she’s forced to give herself a little attention. As her artistic heart starts to awaken, Wren finds herself rediscovering the joy of creation and living authentically.

But while she’s exploring the enchanting Georgia Low Country, creating beautiful paintings, and taking a chance on love, she uncovers a secret that shakes the foundation of her newfound happiness. With the revelation threatening to ruin the delicate balance Wren has only begun to realize, will she give up her fairytale and return to her reality?

My Thoughts

I love reading books from debut authors who write a book that touches all of my feelings and my soul, too. The story of Wren, a young woman who has lost her grandmother and is floundering with choices about her future, is inspiring and thought-provoking as well as realistic and compelling. The setting of Haslemere was perfect for the story as this small town and all of its people filled the book with authenticity about the south and its friendliness and talent for making newcomers feel at home. I especially loved that this book offered a kind of story within a story. There is Wren’s story of self-discovery and there is also Nathaniel’s story of learning to trust as well as how to truly love. There is a sub-plot too with Wren’s assistant Zoe and the contractor Brad that led to more than a few chuckles from me, especially the text messages between Wren and Zoe. This is a wonderfully written romance with a southern flair and a foundation of faith that was charming and an integral part of the story. I loved the entire book and look forward to future books from this talented storyteller who puts heart and hope into her work.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction, Rated G

About the Author

Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.

Q & A with the Author

1. What kind of research did you do for this book? What was the most interesting things you found out in your research, if you completed any? 

• I did a lot of research on painting with watercolors. I’m not an artist at all. I had no idea there were so many different kinds of pencils and brushes involved in the medium.

• I also researched the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier. Years ago, I visited and rode on the famous ride, but I wanted to be sure I remembered the details. The VIP pod was a perfect romantic place for a scene in my story. I watched a whole youtube video of a person in the VIP pod, so I could really get the experience.

2.What was your favorite part of writing this book?

• I loved getting to write the descriptions of the places that are a part of my world and getting to share them with others.

3.Did anything in the story end up surprising you? 

• When I started the story, I never expected it to become a series, but I fell in love with the setting and the side characters. I wasn’t ready to leave Magnolia Bluff, so I wrote two novellas and a book with plans for one more novella and one more book.

4. When did you know that you wanted to be an author? 

• I’ve always loved writing and reading. In high school and college, I started more than one book but never finished. However, I did earn a minor in English in college, and an advanced writing certificate in law school. For many years, I wrote legal briefs as the appellate lawyer for Brunswick Judicial Circuit’s DA’s office. When I left that job to become a judge, I began writing fiction.

5. What is your writing process like? Do you know the ending when you start writing?

• I usually come with a premise and a couple of characters, and then I brainstorm with my writing group. After that I really delve into the main characters personalities and back stories. I also use this prep time to research important parts of the book. Accuracy is very important to me. Then I plan the pivotal scenes and get started writing. While I may know how I want the story to end, the ending isn’t always planned out.

6.  What would be your advice to new authors? 

• Never stop learning and practicing your craft.

7.  If you could have a luncheon with a group of authors, whom would you invite and why?

• Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Eugenia Price, and Catherine Marshall. They have all written books that have impacted my life and writing. I’d want to know what inspired them to write some of my favorite books.

8.  What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing or reading a book? 

• Spending time with my children and my husband. It really doesn’t matter what we’re doing. My daughter goes to college in Virginia, and when she calls, I go outside and walk around the yard while we talk. It doesn’t sound like much, but if I can’t be walking with her in person, it’s the next best thing. My husband and I have date nights at fantastic restaurants and travel to historic hotels, but it wouldn’t be my favorite thing to do if he weren’t with me.Honestly, I even love long drives with my family. My son and I have bonded over the hours we’ve spent driving to soccer.

10. This question is because I am a retired teacher. Did you have a favorite teacher in school? Can you share a memory about him/her? 

• I loved all of my teachers. I actually am friends with most of them on Facebook, and they are so supportive of my writing career. I do mention my sixth grade English teacher, Susan Lee, in the acknowledgments for Stealing Magnolias. She taught my how to write and to love doing it. She never accepts the credit when I thank her, but it is the truth. I would not be the writer I am today if hadn’t been for her.

Purchase Links

Barnes and Noble, Paperback

Barnes and Noble, ebook

Amazon

Books-a-Million

Kobo

Rejection

On By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony6 Comments

One of my devotionals today was all about rejection and how we can overcome it. It’s part of a series on mental health, and I can attest to the fact that rejection certainly affects your mental health because it affects how you feel about yourself.

When I was a child, my mother didn’t like me. I know you are shaking your head and saying I was probably rebellious and delusional. Seriously, though, she said things to me like, “I never wanted you. You are so ugly that no one will ever marry you. You need to go to college to support yourself because you will never find a husband.” Thus, convinced that I was unlovable and unattractive, I explored scholarships to college and graduated with honors. I even dated a little in college, but not a lot because my self-esteem was very low and I just didn’t feel as though I fit in.

My senior year of college, I met my future husband on a bus. (That’s another story for another time.) We chatted for hours, getting to know each other and ended up dating, engaged and then married within seven months. During our wedding, held in the backyard of my home at the request of my father, my mother walked around the yard in blue jeans and picked flowers. She did not come to the reception at all, but rather stayed in her bedroom in the house, refusing to acknowledge that I was married. Her silent rebuke of me continued until I gave birth to her first grandchild, of whom she greatly approved and actually showed love and affection.

During our twenty two plus years in the military, I tried to fit in and be accepted, but that old dragon “rejection” kept rearing its head. I missed a lot of dinners and dances that others attended because I just didn’t want to be in a crowd of people for whom I felt invisible. Feeling invisible is a continuing problem with me, so I pray a lot that God will allow me to feel seen.

Back to the devotional and the verses that spoke to my heart today.

Jesus, the Son of God, was rejected by the leaders of the church, by many people and ultimately, his own disciples ran away from Him rather than to be counted guilty along with Him. Nevertheless, God had a plan and carried it out, making Jesus the cornerstone, the very foundation and model for our lives as Christians.

Jesus’s rejection is important because it shows me that even after complete and total turning away from Him, He still fulfilled His mission. We all have a purpose, and if others don’t accept us and our purpose in life, then that does not negate our responsibility to fulfill God’s plan to the best of our ability. If the Son of God can face humiliation and rejection, then who am I to say that I am too wounded to appear in public?

God wants to use me, has never rejected me and has always loved me. So, regardless of my past and all of the mental abuse I suffered, I can still daily seek God’s purpose for me that day and work on carrying it out. Some days I complete the task, some days I barely start it, but I am always plugging away, seeking to please the One who made me and has no reservations about His love for me.

I have come to accept that I am exactly who God made me to be. I am not beautiful on the outside, but I am okay. I am not the smartest person (especially in math), but I am okay. The words that my mother spoke into my mind seeded themselves into my heart, and for many years, I am the one who watered those seeds and believed the fruits of them were true. It is only when I saw them for what they were, weeds strewn along my pathway that needed to be removed, that I could begin to pursue the pleasure of being accepted and being me. I am a child of the King, I am created to be His, and I am righteous before Him. Thus, I am accepted by the only One who matters. I hope that all of you have found that firm foundation in Christ that will show you the worth you have in Him. God doesn’t make ugly and He truly wants you in His family.

A Life of Thanksgiving

On By vickleaIn Admonition, praise, Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

A Life of Thanksgiving (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 5-19-25)

How thankful are you when you talk to God? The world around us generally doesn’t encourage thankfulness. We’re taught to look after ourselves in order to get what we think we deserve.

And yet—Christians ought to be the most thankful people on earth because we have been given everything by God. James 1:17 reminds us that every good gift comes from Him. This implies that God is always acting in kindness toward us.

Not only has God given us life and breath, but He has also offered us the free gift of eternal life. God made a way for us to have a relationship with Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus. That alone is more than enough for us to live a life of gratitude toward God.

Because of what He’s done for us, our hearts should be in a constant state of thanksgiving. And yet, we often find ourselves complaining because things don’t go the way we want. We grumble because we don’t have the things we think we deserve. And the more that we complain, the more our hearts grow critical and bitter.

Thankfully, Psalm 100 gives us the antidote for grumbling and complaining: thankfulness. Thanksgiving is a spiritual habit that we have to intentionally develop through continual practice. We can practice by taking time each day to talk with God, and to thank Him for all He has done. We can also practice thankfulness by telling others how grateful we are for them.

So the next time you find yourself complaining or grumbling, take a moment to think about the love and goodness of God in your life. Instead of complaining, express how thankful you are for who God is and what He has given you. Keep a list of things you’re grateful for and add to it throughout the week. Watch as your heart and mind begin to be transformed by the simple act of thanksgiving.

My Thoughts

I really needed this devotional today, so I am preaching to myself and not necessarily to you, my readers. I must confess that by the time our long journey to three graduations in nine days was ending, I was grumpy, with a capital G. Nothing my husband tried to do appeased me. I was determined to be miserable. My legs ached, my shoulders hurt, I was too old and too tired for this adventure, and on and on. Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I had been healed after a stroke and should be counting my blessings that I could attend these ceremonies of these very special grandchildren instead of whining about how inconvenient it was for me and my poor body. So, I did an about face and started looking for things to be thankful for, especially my health, even though I was feeling weak and unable to walk another step at times. Thus, I was able to walk more than the length of a football field to our car when the last ceremony concluded on Saturday.

This morning started as usual. I slept in a little later than what is normal for me because I didn’t get in bed until after 2 a.m. Anyway, everything was going well until I picked up my Ipad and sat in my recliner to do my morning devotions. The black screen of death greeted me! I was distraught, but I had my phone so I looked up what “fix” I could do. Well, I thanked God for technology and followed through with the instructions online. Did you know that you can “gently burp” your IPad? Well, I tried that and it didn’t seem to work, so I went to the hard reboot and prayed really hard. Thank the good Lord that it worked and now I am using that IPad to tell everyone how thankful I am that it did.

We have had some tough losses lately. The lady named Verna who led me to the Lord over fifty years ago passed away this weekend. The elderly lady from our former church who allowed us to live with her when a hurricane made it impossible for us to live in our home until electricity was restored passed away last week. Finally, a very dear friend from where I used to teach is on home care for cancer and not doing well, so her loss seems to be inevitable. All of this saddens me, but it also makes me reflect on how good God has been to me throughout these decades I have spent as His beloved child. Healings too numerous to fit on this page, blessings of children, grandchildren, family visits and new friends at new places and a new church.

I have so much to be thankful for that I don’t have time to complain. How about you? Are you in the mollygrubs and need a reality check from the Holy Spirit? Or are you a naturally cheerful and thankful person? That is what I am striving to be as old age has caught up with me, aches have become a constant part of my life, and I know without a doubt that I have already lived more than the majority of my life. That being said, in whatever time God blesses me to continue to live on the earth, I want to remember to be thankful every day, in every way, for everything He is and all He has shared with me.

A good verse to remember is Colossians 2:6-7:

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/col.2.6-7.NIV

Qualified and Sent

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

The Messengers of Good News (YouVersion Daily Refresh 5-18-25)

Pause for a moment and reflect on your role as a bearer of the good news. Are you actively sharing the love of Christ with those around you? Are you seeking to be a living testimony of His grace?

You might read Paul’s call to “preach” in Romans 10:14 and think this call is reserved for a pastor, priest, or teacher. But our homes, workplaces, and communities can serve as pulpits of influence when we live surrendered to Him. In these seemingly ordinary spaces, we can share the love of Christ through a listening ear that brings peace to a troubled mind, a helping hand that lifts burdens, or a word of encouragement that rekindles hope. 

As a follower of Christ, you are qualified to share this hope and encourage others! What God desires is obedience and willingness to be a vessel of His Word. In the simplicity of everyday interactions, we become vessels of His love and messengers of the gospel.

As believers, we have an integral role in sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit equips you. God chooses and empowers you. And the seeds you sow, even the tiniest ones, have the power to take root and spread the message of salvation.

My Thoughts

As most of my regular blog readers know, I just returned from attending the graduations of three grandchildren. All finished their degrees and are ready for whatever is next in their lives. They are qualified to work in various fields, including mechanical engineering, computer science, math and psychology. What made them “qualified”? First of all, it was the hours that they spend studying and completing courses, with a lot of tests and challenges along the way. More importantly, it was their interest in and dedication to the field in which they are qualified.

All of us who call ourselves Christians are also qualified. We didn’t participate in a big ceremony with a lot of fanfare and “pomp and circumstance.” Rather, most of us were quietly called on the battlefield of life and it happened as soon as we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God planted a seed in us that grew and He wants us to plant those same seeds in others. As the emboldened print says, one does not have to stand in the pulpit to share the good news. You can share it anywhere with anyone who seems discouraged or needy. We just have to be listening for God’s gentle prodding to share. We are already qualified; God equips those He calls and He has called every believer to share the good news, the only news that can set people free from sin and on the road to eternity with Him. Choose someone, anyone, this week whom God has laid on your heart and call them, text them, send them a card. Do whatever you can to be an encourager to the downtrodden. I know it will sound hokey, but most days when I am going out to appointments, I pray that God will put someone in my path who needs a kind word of encouragement and perhaps with whom I can share a tidbit of testimony. He has been faithful each time to do so. People in waiting rooms, those coming in out of the rain, the mom who is overwhelmed with her job and the childcare that she is trying simultaneously to master. God will show you who; you just need to step out and say what the Lord inspires you to say. After all, you are already fully qualified.

We Have Come a Long Way

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

The Spirit of Truth (YouVersion Daily Refresh 5-17-25)

One of the major promises in the Old Testament is that one day the Spirit of God would dwell within the people of God. Previously, the people of God interacted with the presence of God within the temple.

In fulfillment of Scripture, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort God’s people. This has big implications. It means that Christians have access to the presence of God by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. God’s Spirit is with us wherever we go.

Jesus mentions in John 16:13 that the Spirit of God will guide us into all truth. God desires to be part of our daily journey through life, helping us and guiding us towards what is right. 

When we have questions about what direction in life to take, the Holy Spirit is there to help us. When we’re not sure what is right or wrong, the Holy Spirit is with us to bring light to our decision.

Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will speak to us in accordance with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit will also reinforce and help us understand what we read in Scripture.

Throughout this week, make an effort to be mindful of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. Remind yourself that God is with you every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and illuminate your path in life, and spend time praying to be comforted and strengthened by God.

My Thoughts

I don’t know about you, but I have come a long way in my faith walk. I started by going to Sunday school with a neighbor to a local Presbyterian church. When I went to college, I sometimes went to my roommate’s Catholic Church, just to see what it was like. I couldn’t really understand much of the service since at the time, most of it was in Latin. Then, I graduated from college, moved into my own apartment, and a neighbor introduced me to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Shortly thereafter, a pastor introduced me to the Holy Spirit and the fact that He lives within me. That…that was the life change I needed to continue my faith walk and to get closer to God.

When I have difficulty making a choice and have to make one in a split second, I depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me. When I am lonely, frustrated, getting angry or depressed about life’s circumstances, if I can just get still for a few minutes and still my raging thoughts, the Holy Spirit will calm me.

One of the things I have purposed to do this year is memorize more Scripture. I confess that I am not very good at it, but I keep plugging along. One of the verses I memorized is John 14:26 which says: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Teaching and reminding are important parts of my life, especially as I grow older and forget things more often. Leaning into the Holy Spirit for help remembering God’s faithfulness when my faith is failing helps me to get through hard times. We all need to be reminded of where we started and where we are now, if only for the sake of learning to be appreciative. I am so glad that God promised the Holy Spirit, fulfilled His promise and now His Spirit lives within me, not in a hokey, woo-woo kind of way, but in a way that is as real and as close as my next breath. I try to be ever mindful of the Holy Spirit in my life and I desire to make choices that would be pleasing to God by following His leading. I hope each of you who reads this post today take time to reflect on the difference the Holy Spirit’s presence has made in your life and take time to thank God for this awesome promise. We have indeed all come a long way!

He’s A Big, Big God

On By vickleaIn praise, Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

Deep Confidence in a Big God (YouVersion, Daily Refresh, 5-16-25)

Before the telescope was invented, all that was known about the sky above was what could be seen with the naked eye.

Now, thanks to advances in modern technology, we are aware of far-off galaxies, stunning nebulas, and mysterious black holes. Now, we realize that our knowledge was (and still is) severely limited. 

There’s something about staring up at a blanket of stars that beckons wonder. There’s something about a watercolor sunset that invites curiosity. There’s something about standing on top of a giant rock—that’s suspended on nothing in the middle of a massively complex universe—that invites worship.

We are merely discovering what God has put here in the first place. And the more we uncover, the more we are filled with awe.

Yes, the heavens remind us of God’s majesty; the skies remind us of His splendor. But they also remind us of how big He is and how small we are. They remind us of His vastness and our limitations, and of His independence and our utter dependence on Him.

So whenever you see a star-filled sky, are stopped in your tracks by a brilliant sunrise, or read about some extraordinary discovery on the fringes of space, don’t forget to praise the One who has created and sustained it all along.

My Thoughts

If this trip of over 1000 miles this week has taught me anything, it has taught me to look around me at the wonderful world that God has given us to enjoy. I have looked at the mountains of PA, the rolling hills there and the beautiful sunset after a mostly rainy day. I have seen the green, mountainous landscape of West Virginia, the flat farmlands all along the way and the beautiful flowering trees and plants. God created and put us here to enjoy it. We see, we are grateful and more than that, God’s creation teaches us to trust. In times of change, like having three grandchildren whom I held as infants graduate from college, it is a good time to remember that God does not and will not change. He is always as close as our next prayer. I am deeply grateful for all that God has allowed me to see and experience. I know that He is a big, big God because of all He has done and continues to do for me.

Today, we head home (yes, that was a big sigh of relief), and tomorrow is the final college graduation of our oldest grandson. God continues to amaze me with the talents he has given these young adults and the way I am certain He will use them if they will let Him. There are a lot of miles on this body and so many steps over the last ten days that I am aching, but God is an awesome God who gave me the strength for each mile and each step, and I am confident He will be with me, showing me new things until He calls me home.

A Difficult Season of Life

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Walking Through Trials (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 5-14-25)

Let’s start by debunking a myth: Nowhere in Scripture does God promise us a perfect life, free from troubles. In fact, many times in the Bible, Christ-followers find themselves persecuted, under attack, or facing trouble of all kinds.

In a letter from James to first-century believers, James informs them about the various trials that they will experience in life:

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 NIV

When we see trials as a means of becoming more like Jesus, then we’ll be blessed by them.

Maybe you can think back to a difficult season of life. Looking back, you might be able to point out how God refined you coming out of it. God is often at work behind the scenes deepening our character and enlarging our capacity, even when we don’t see it.

Maybe you’re going through one of those difficult seasons right now. Take this passage to heart! You can stand firm and persevere—knowing there is a promised reward in heaven. While rewards on this side of heaven are not promised, looking towards our final destination with Jesus gives us hope to endure the trials in the present.

If you’re walking through a difficult season of life, spend some time meditating on the promises of God. He promises to never abandon you or leave you, but to walk alongside you through trials. And at the end of the trial, you’ll be more like Christ.

Take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness and love in your life.

My Thoughts

I will have to keep my thoughts brief today as we are getting ready to travel again, this time from PA to MD, on our way back to Virginia to attend the final college graduation of our oldest grandson. This has been a trial for me in that I don’t like traveling. But the reward has been in seeing the joy on the faces of our grandchildren as they receive that diploma that they have worked so hard for. So, there are some rewards on earth, just not the ultimate one that we are all looking forward to.

The part I put in bold from the devotional is what spoke to my heart today. Becoming more like Jesus should always be our goal. And enduring trials with that goal in mind makes them more palatable if not welcome. No one enjoys going through trials, but they are part of life here on earth and each trial can be considered a preparation for the greater things to come. I think of the things I have been through and realize that I am a different person because of them, a stronger person in my faith because each trial has taught me to lean more on God and less on myself. No matter what you are going through, remember God isn’t leaving you there; rather, He is walking beside you through it.

Condone or Condemn

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Quotation and Citations, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

In our world where sin is rampant and overtly practiced, it is hard for us not to condemn the sinner or condone the sin by saying nothing. Here is good advice from a recent devotional on the YouVersion App:

By saying nothing, our silence seems to condone the sin. By ranting and raving about the sin, we are condemning the sinner without offering them a different pathway. If we think about Jesus and His example, then we will get our actions and words right.

In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus forgave but He also gave instructions. He told her to “Go and sin no more.” When we speak to sinners, we have to tell them about better choices, not just condemn them for their sinful actions. The better choice is believing in Jesus who forgave all and died on the cross for the sins that they are choosing to commit.

I have been guilty of silence (condoning) as well as condemnation. I want to try to do better in my witness and strive to be more like Jesus who showed the sinners a better way, pulling them to a safe shore instead of leaving them floundering in their sea of sin. We can all probably do better, but we have to make a conscious choice to do so. I hope that you will make that choice with me.

Review of AFTER PARIS by Mary Ellen Taylor

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781662513442 Publisher:Amazon Publishing Publication date:05/13/2025 Pages:335

At twenty-five, Ruby Nevins has already endured more than most. But after two years of battling cancer, she’s warily determined to move forward. Researching a new project about a French actress, she soon uncovers an old diary that will change her life forever…

Cécile, the “it” girl of early 1940s French cinema, vanished from Nazi-occupied Paris in 1942. Sylvia Rousseau, Cécile’s dressmaker and confidante, left that same year. Working to piece together the truth behind Cécile’s disappearance and Sylvia’s extraordinary life, Ruby recognizes the women as kindred spirits. They risked their hearts and lives to aid the Resistance, and each day was a struggle to survive.

Ruby knows her cancer could come back, but she’s learning to embrace the future rather than fear it. If Cécile and Sylvia could live their lives in the shadow of death, so can Ruby. Because she knows there’s so much life—and love—to fight for.

My Thoughts

The story of Ruby, an author who is inspired to write the story of a missing actress and her dressmaker, is one that is poignant, realistic and soul-stirring. The women she is writing about lived during the Second World War in Nazi-occupied France. Facing danger daily was part of their way of life since both Cecile, the actress, and her dressmaker Sylvia, worked with the resistance by feeding them information via Cecile’s sister Emile. The story is a dual timeline story, showing the struggles of Cecile and Sylvia in 1940’s France and the challenge to grasp life that Ruby faces since she is a cancer survivor. The themes of strength, courage, fortitude and persistence are prevalent in this novel that had me crying and cheering, just pages apart. The characters were totally realistic, especially Ruby and her determined quest to find out the truth about Sylvia and Cecile. Using a journal written by Sylvia, Ruby researches and continues to dig out nuggets of Sylvia’s story of being a Jew in Paris when the Nazis were working hard to exterminate them. The book was well-paced and totally absorbing as I lost myself in the pages, wanting to know as much as Ruby did what had happened to Sylvia and Cecile. With multiple narrators and a well-woven story, the history of the women is given in a way that is a compelling look at self-sacrifice and family love. This book is without a doubt one of the best WWII historical fiction novels that I have read, told with the grit and authentic details that made me gasp with awe or disgust, depending on what was happening in the scene. The author brilliantly and seamlessly wove the stories of the women together, even as they were decades and a continent apart. I loved the story and the writing style that captivated my attention and securely held it from beginning to end.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Rated PG-15, intense scenes and closed door sexual encounters

About the Author

Amazon Charts bestselling author, Mary Ellen Taylor’s love of her home state Virginia is evident in her contemporary women’s fiction, including The Promise of Tomorrow, Winter Cottage, Spring House, and Honeysuckle Season. She brings her new home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina to life in her latest novel The Brighter The Light and When the Rain Ends.  

As do so many people, her protagonists search for their place in the world, exploring issues of family, home, love and belonging. Inevitably, Mary Ellen’s stories interweave setting, history and mysteries that span past and present. Website: maryellentaylor.com

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

Indiebound

Audible

Happy Mother’s Day

On By vickleaIn gratitude, Scripture2 Comments

I like that we celebrate mothers because I know that many work hard at the job of raising children. I am especially grateful for those mothers who raise their children to know the Lord and to have God as a priority in their lives. Some mothers gave birth to their children, some have adopted children and some are mothers of the heart. Whatever you are and wherever you are, may God bless you for your love and faithfulness.