A Sneak Peek at Roseanna's new book, Dreams of Savannah

Roseanna M. White has a new stand alone book coming out called Dreams of Savannah.  Here's a fun sneak peek of the cover and summary of the book.

 About the Book:

Cordelia Owens can weave a dream around anything and is well used to winning the hearts of everyone in Savannah with her whimsy. Even when she receives word that her sweetheart has been lost during a raid on a Yankee vessel, she clings to hope and comes up with many a romantic tale of his eventual homecoming to reassure his mother and sister.

But Phineas Dunn finds nothing redemptive in the first horrors of war. Struggling for months to make it home alive, he returns to Savannah injured and cynical, and all too sure that he is not the hero Cordelia seems determined to make him.

As the War Between the States rages ever nearer and Savannah's slaves start sneaking away to the islands off the coast to join the Yankees, both Phin and Cordelia get caught up in questions they never thought they'd have to ask--questions that threaten the very dreams of a future they'd cherished.

Look for this new book coming out January 5, 2021.

The Edge of Everywhen by A.S. Mackey

Now that I have a middler schooler, I'm finding that it is increasingly harder to find good, fun, Christian fiction books for her. It seems like there isn't much new current christian fiction being written for this group of kids. So, I was excited to see this new book, The Edge of Everywhen by A.S. Mackey that just released in May 2020 from B&H Publishing.

From the Back Cover:

"Hello, Reader. I am honored to know you."

Tragedy is sometimes followed by mystery. At least that's what faces 13-year-old Piper and her brother, Phoenix, who has autism. Mourning the loss of their parents, they must move a thousand miles away to live with their insufferable Aunt Beryl. But it is in their aunt's cavernous library that Piper and Phoenix hear a mysterious book calling to them. Its name is Novus Fabula, and its story will change their lives forever.

"What's that you say? Books cannot speak? On the contrary, dear Reader. Quite the contrary. Books are one of the few things on this earth that truly speak. Let me show you."

Join Piper and Phoenix in the Verboten Library as they begin an intriguing journey of grief, wonder, and the search for Truth. If you stand with them at the edge of everywhen, you just might discover the story you need to hear as well.

My Thoughts:

This is not your typical book, The story is told from the perspective of a book known as Novus Fabula. I thought this was definitely a unique way to tell a story. I appreciated that the author explored the idea of autism with the character of Phoenix. I think it's great to encourage readers to grow in their understanding of disorders, and how they can help others feel more included. One thing I didn't like about this book is that God is referred to as "the Big Man." This only happened once, but I find that this whole idea of "the Big Man upstairs" is disrespectful.  Other than that, I really enjoyed reading this book. The story shouted the idea that everyone has a story and "everyone's story matters." It encourages kids to look beyond the exterior and see what may be troubling another person's heart. Overall, a great read for kids that adds a little magic.

My Rating: ★★★★

About the Author:

Allison Mackey’s debut book was a Steno pad full of poems, given to her parents as a gift when she was eight. She wrote her first sci-fi novel at age fifteen (it was horrid), but she still went on to solidify her love for creative writing with a degree in English literature from the University of Georgia. A member of the Shoals Writers Guild and the mother of three adult children, Allison lives in Florence, Alabama, where she and her husband are church planters and worship leaders.

***I received this complimentary book from B&H Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

If I Were You by Lynn Austin

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else?  Lynn Austin's newest novel, If I Were You, takes readers on a journey back in time to the 1940's when life was interrupted for a second time by a great world war and where two young girls each secretly wished they had the other's life.

From the Back Cover:
"Audrey sat in her own bedroom, sickened, and discovered that she still envied Eve Dawson--as she had all her life... She would gladly trade everything she owned to be her."

1950--In the wake of the war, Audrey Clarkson leaves her manor house in England for a fresh start in America with her young son. As a widowed war bride, Audrey needs the support of her American in-laws, whom she has never met. But she arrives to find that her longtime friend Eve Dawson has been impersonating her for the past four years. Unraveling this deception will force Audrey and Eve's secrets--and the complicated history of their friendship--to the surface.

1940--Eve and Audrey have been as different as two friends can be since the day they met at Wellingford Hall, where Eve's mother served as a lady's maid for Audrey's mother. As young women, those differences force them apart until the threat of Nazi invasion and war bring them back together. An American stationed in England brings a chance at love for Audrey, and the collapse of the class system gives Eve hope for a future with Audrey's brother. But in the wake of devastating loss, both women must make life-altering decisions that will set in motion a web of lies and push them both to the breaking point.

Book Trailer:

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed all the history woven into this story. Lynn always does such a great job including quality research for her novels, and the title for this book is perfect. You have two girls who were so different (one rich and one poor), and both of them envied each other's lives. It's easy to see why Eve would be envious of Audrey, but i think it was good to see that Audrey envied Eve too. Money doesn't solve all of your problems. This story compels the reader to imagine what life is like for someone else. It really is true you have no idea what another person's life is like unless you walk a mile in their shoes. Lynn Austin's story takes into account several different subjects--love, adultery, fornication, pride, and greed to name a few.  But the biggest theme throughout this story is forgiveness. Over and over, Audrey and Eve find that in order to have a good relationship, forgiveness must be present not only for each other, but also for themselves.

My Rating: ★★★★

About the Author

Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction and was one of the first inductees into the Christy Award Hall of Fame. One of her novels, Hidden Places, was made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Lynn and her husband have three grown children and make their home in western Michigan. Click here to visit Lynn's website.




 ***I received this complimentary book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.