2025 Book Reviews
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten, Memoir, 2024
Ina Garten, food entrepreneur, rose to public notice when she took over the Barefoot Contessa, a specialty food store in Southhampton Beach, New York. Ina shares her life story shares how a young woman with little self-worth grew a successful business in the food world. Her marriage of 60 years is an astonishing accomplishment, given they often worked in high-demand jobs in different parts of the country (and sometimes the world!) I highly recommend the audiobook, which Ina narrates. It’s like sitting across from Ina at a Parisian café and listening to tell her story. I may have to hear it for that reason alone!
The Great Divide by Cristina Henriqez, Historical Fiction, 2024
Henriquez tells the story of the building of the Panama Canal by bringing together individual stories. There is the Panamanian fisherman who did not want his son, Omar, to leave the family business for the Canal. There is also a scientist determined to eliminate malaria who intersects with young, newly arrived Ada who is trying to raise money for her sister’s surgery. And there are others who loved or hated this monumental undertaking whose stories remind us that while the Canal brought people together, it also separated them.
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks, Fiction, 2023
The story alternates between a single mother, Beverly, and a single farmer, Colby. Beverly has relocated, running away from an abusive husband. When 10-year-old Tommy thinks he heard someone on the roof during the night, Beverly’s focus dramatically changes to do everything to protect Tommy. Colby is running a farm for his aunt and uncle because his parents have died. He also is an occasional songwriter and guitar-strumming singer. When he takes a gig in Florida, he meets Morgan, also a singer and songwriter. In the way only Nicholas Sparks can do, he brings all the stories together in an unexpected twist. Worth the read just to find out how he does it.
The Trackers by Charles Frazier, Fiction, 2023
Charles Frazier builds a gripping story in the Depression and the New Deal era. When Val takes a New Deal job painting a mural for a post office in Dawes, Wisconsin, he meets John and Eve Long. With John’s political aspirations and Eve’s background in riding the rails and singing in a swing band, Val’s life is swept up in their dysfunction. When Eve leaves her husband and disappears, her husband sends Val to “track” her. It is a journey of mystery, danger, and secret love. Frazier proves his storytelling prowess in this almost unbelievable story.
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Christian Classic, 1939
In 1935 Dietrich Bonhoeffer accepted a position as head of an underground Seminary dedicated to training pastors in Nazi-permeated Germany. In this community, called the Confessing Church, he wrote and taught the basics of Christian community, what it means to live together with prayer, service, and confession, all centered around Christ. Educating a group to defy Nazism was only one of the reasons he was executed in 1945. His words read like Paul’s epistles, unswervingly dedicated to Christ’s call to be Light in any darkness through community.
The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff, Historical Fiction, 2017
Noe is sixteen when she gives birth to a baby by a German soldier. When her baby is taken away from her and her family disowns her, Noe works cleaning railway cars. One day, she finds a car full of Jewish babies. She takes one and runs away, finding a new home in a traveling German circus. (Little known fact: Many circuses hid Jews among their performers.) There, Astrid trains her as a trapeze performer. The two women’s stories intertwine to tell a story of friendship, loss, and salvation in unexpected ways.
Being Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn, 2023, Biography
After Elisabeth Elliot’s husband, Jim, was killed by Amazonian tribesmen along with three other missionaries, Elisabeth made headlines when she returned to Ecuador to work among the same people who made her a widow. This book chronicles the details of Elizabeth’s early life, return to the U.S., two subsequent marriages, one returning her to widowhood. Vaughn skillfully, without sugar coating, shares this revealing, inspiring, but sometimes sad story of a woman’s spiritual and intellectual journey to understand and obey God’s will at any cost.
The Henna Artist by Alki Joshi, Fiction, 2020.
When fifteen-year-old Lakshmi runs away from a brutal marriage, she begins a new life in post-British Jaipur in the 1950s. She rebuilds her life as a henna artist, painting henna pictures on a woman's hands, torsos, or feet as part of a celebratory tradition. Using her henna skills and knowledge of herbs and roots, she carves an independent life among women of wealth and social standing. When a teenage sister she did not know about enters her life, the carefully constructed life Lakshmi has built is threatened. However, it helps her discover that family is her missing connection. A rich and sometimes harsh story opened a world I knew nothing about. Note: This book is first in a trilogy.
Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff, Historical Fiction, 2025
The story opens with the young love of Helaine and Gabriel, who marry despite her Jewish parent's objections because Gabriel is not Jewish. Cellist Gabriel travels to play for German troops but tells Helaine he’s traveling with the community orchestra. When letters no longer come, Helaine reports him missing to German police and is arrested because she is a Jew. A parallel story involves Louise, a Red Cross worker in Germany, traveling with Franny, an entertainer, who is found dead. Then, the story becomes a mystery to solve. The story allows the little known fact that a department store, Levitan, was used to collect and re-sell confiscated Jewish possessions while serving as a Nazi prison. The story reminds us that people aren’t always who we think they are, and sharing the truth connects more than silence. A story like this always asks, “What would I have done?”
Sisters in Science by Olivia Campbell, Nonfiction, 2024
Campbell relates the stories of four Jewish female scientists from Germany as Hitler begins his “cleansing” of Germany. Each woman had significant contributions to make to science, but only if they lived. It took a herculean effort to find a country and employment for each before the deadline for deportation to Poland. One went to Sweden and made groundbreaking discoveries in nuclear physics. The others taught in the U.S. and continued their research in advanced physics. This is a story I am glad I know about.
Eat This Book: A Conversation on the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene Peterson, Spiritual Formation, 2009
Eugene Peterson, who translated the Bible into a very readable version, The Message, writes from his heart about the importance of reading the Bible for spiritual transformation. The title comes from Ezekiel 3:3 where God instructs Ezekiel to “eat this book.” (Message)
Peterson takes us on a journey, reminding us of the importance of not simply " studying” the Bible but devouring it. His understanding of language, spiritual reading, and the history of translation only adds to my admiration and gratitude for his work.
Miriam’s Song by Jill Eileen Smith, 2021, Biblical Fiction
Jill Eileen Smith has written many fictional stories of Bible characters. To tell Miriam’s story, she used the fact that she is called a prophetess and built a story around her spiritual sensitivity. Smith had to make many choices to fill in the blanks, but her story holds true and gives us a new appreciation for Moses’ sister.
The Black Tulip by Alexander Dumas, originally published in 1850, Historical Fiction
I listened to this audio recording while in the Netherlands at the end of the tulip season. This Dumas story shares the desperate plight of Cornelius von Baerle, who was falsely accused of murder and caught in the political maneuvering that resulted. His life pursuit of developing the black tulip is lost unless Rosa, the jailor’s daughter, can continue his quest. This story is about love, obsession, jealousy, and surprising twists. In its telling, you learn about the intriguing hold a flower can have over people when money and prestige are involved.
Churchill’s Secret Messenger by Alan Hlad, Historical Fiction, 2021
Rose Teasedale is a typist working in Churchill’s underground cabinet rooms. When she loses her whole family in the war, she has nothing else to live for except the extra hours and double shifts. When Churchill discovers her fluency in French, he recommends her for espionage training. With the codename Dragofly, she enters a new world of danger and intrigue and finds the possibility of love. While Rose is a fictional character, the events she participates in are not. An unforgettable and fast-moving story told with detail that places you in the middle of the fray, I’ll read another Alan Hlad book!
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood, Fiction, 2024
Young adult Violet is serving a prison sentence for a car accident that killed a woman. There, she meets Harriet, who leads a Book Club for women. How their lives intertwine after her release and how it involves research parrots is the spin of the rest of the story. Monica’s prose is mesmerizing. Her short descriptions are crisp, emotive, and memorable. I would read another book just for the writing! Her story is more about reading (or misreading) people more than reading books. What an excellent find for my early summer reading!
Mrs. Lincoln’s Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini. Historical Fiction, 2020
Mary Todd Lincoln had four sisters: Elizabeth who was the mother figure, Frances who tried to be the peacemaker, Ann who always thought she got the short draw on life, and youngest Emilie whom everyone liked. This novel reads more like a nonfiction account of their interaction when the Civil War separated them and after the President’s death, when Mary exhibited extreme paranoia that made life difficult for everyone, especially Mary’s only surviving son, Robert. The novel alternates between two time periods: Mary Todd’s early years of courtship, marriage to Abraham and eventual role as first lady against the difficult and psychotic years after Lincoln assassination. Chiaverini’s masterful retelling is captivating, tragic, unsettling, but so very interesting. I recommend it as a window to a time and a political family it is easy to stereotype.
Abraham: One Nomad’s Amazing Journey of Faith by Charles Swindoll, 2015, Biblical Biography
With Swindoll’s meticulous research and ability to connect life lessons along the way, we take a journey alongside Abraham from his first encounter with God through all the ups and downs of his life, culminating in his death and burial. Filled with stories, background information, and Swindoll’s insights, this book brings Abraham to life as someone we can relate to and learn from.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman, 2025, Fiction
Hearing Bachman speak made this book come alive. The main character in the story is a painting of three friends sitting on the pier in a seaside town and how Louisa, a hopeful artist becomes its owner. She begins a journey with the friend of the painting’s creator, who has just died. On the long train ride, she hears the stories of the threesome and their unloved pasts, their rebellion, and their fierce friendship. Backman is brilliant in his telling of this story of art and a friendship that saves lives.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green, Nonfiction, 2025
I don’t usually read nonfiction books about medical science and disease history. Still, this one caught my attention because it showed up on so many recommendations, so I added it to my list. The story it told was shocking, sensitive, well-researched, and even captivating. From the horrors of the sanitoriums to the push for a cure, Green kept my attention. Rather than make the story about cells and science, he continually humanized it, especially when he started tracking the story of Henry Reider. Sobering read.
Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen, Fiction, 2018
This book is an intriguing mix of fairy tale, fantasy, and romance. When Harry, a government Forest Service employee, buys a lottery ticket at the same time his wife is killed in a freak accident, it sends him to a self-imposed prison. Then, he meets Amanda and her daughter, Oriana, also on a grief journey after their husband and father died. A tree house, bags of gold, and a mysterious give-away prompted by a fairy tale weave these shattered lives together in a way that brings healing and hope back. Imaginative and heart-tugging, this is a story that stays with you.
Tunnel 29 by The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall, by Helena Merriman, Nonfiction, 2021
Joachim Rudolph had already experienced loss from the cruelty of war when he was only 5 and Germany was divided between the East and West. So when the the Berlin Wall went up overnight, he was ready to do whatever to escape. This is the true story of how he and a group of students hand-dug, shoveled, drained, and fortified a tunnel that provided a way of escape for 29 people. It is a gripping story of what desperate people will do for freedom. Gives one pause to recognize the cost of freedom.
I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen
and other lies I think will make me happy.by Kate Strickler, Non-fiction, 2025
I heard an interview with the author of this book, and it piqued my interest to know more. Not that I want a bigger kitchen, but I have believed useless lies that would make something better. Kate is a breath of fresh air to those who can always find something they don't have that keeps them from the life they want. Kate discovered the perspective that more than “things,” change your life. I highly recommend this book to young women who hold some of these myths too close. But it’s not too late for some of us with a few more candles on our birthday cakes to learn something, too.
Westering Women by Sandra Dallas, Historical Fiction, 2020
Sandra Dallas creates a fictional story of women who made the arduous trek across the Overland Trail. Using real stories from several accounts, she tells the story of single and singled women who had no good options if they stayed in Chicago in 1852. Forty-seven joined an all-female wagon train headed to gold-rich but female-poor Goosetown, California. Using authentic accounts, Dallas builds a believable and sometimes heartbreaking story of the courage, sacrifice, and secrets as the women hope to find new life. A captivating read, as Dallas’ books usually are.
Home Front by Kristin Austin, Historical Fiction, 2012
In unmistakable Kristin Hannah style, we are immersed in a family torn apart by war, yet who find their way back to each other. When Jolene is deployed as a helicopter pilot, she leaves her two daughters in the care of her lawyer husband, with whom she is separated. But war changes everything. She returns physically and emotionally broken. What happens gives us a peek into so many real-life stories.
immerses us in the emotional trauma so that we can celebrate the ways each family member finds a way back to home and family.
Son of Laughter by Frederick Buechner, Novel, 1994
I didn’t know Frederick Buechner had written a novel until a friend loaned me her copy of this book. This is more than just a retelling of the biblical story of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, whose name means “laughter.” This book is infused with historical, archaeological, and theological details that push this story into the epic retelling it deserves. Jacob carries his years in his white hair and diminished eyesight. He revisits the stories of his family, including his sister wives Leah and Rachel, the animosity with his brother Esau, his wrestling with God, and his special love for Joseph and Benjamin, which created jealousy among his sons. What a brilliant and immersive story!
The Story She Left Behind by Patty Callahan Henry, 2025
A sequel to The Secret Book of Flora Lee, and loosely based on a true story, this book takes you on an absorbing journey. Clara is the adult daughter of Bronwyn who mysteriously disappeared in South Carolina after a house fire. When Clara receives an unexpected phone call from a man in England about an enigmatic dictionary which would unlock her mother’s book written her an invented language, her world takes a seismic turn. Impeccably written, this book pulls you into a mystery, a love story, and the unrelenting importance of finding home.
Embracing Exile by Scott Daniels, Christian Nonfiction, 2017
I don’t know when a book in this category has convicted me so completely. The premise is that we try to ignore the fact that we are “exiles” in our culture. The customs, expectations, and practices of our culture don’t help us live the life we are called to live as Christians. With a fresh voice dedicated to an old message, this small book has made me review my expectations, desires, and underlying presuppositions to reconnect more passionately to God’s desire that we be His best advertisement for the life that offers hope and joy found nowhere else.
The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu, Christian Nonfiction, 2014
This is a powerful book on forgiveness. Desmond Tutu and his daughter wrote as they dealt with South African people who had been victims of various atrocities. With all the warmth of compassion, they share reasonable ways to find the healing necessary to reject the torment and enslavement of unforgiveness. They use real illustrations, meditations, object lessons and prayer based on their four-fold process: Telling the story, Naming the hurt, granting forgiveness, renewing or releasing the relationship. Whether you are the one who has been betrayed or you are the friend of one who is, this book gives you tools, language, and exercises to help you find or give forgiveness.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christi Lefteri, Historical Fiction, 2020
This is an exquisitely written story of the arduous journey of Nuri, a beekeeper in Aleppo, and his wife, Afra, trying to escape the savagery of Aleppo. While it is an invented story, it represents the composite stories that author, Christi Lefteri, heard as a relief worker in Athens. Though It is a sad story of so much loss and too many obstacles, it is told as a quiet hope that that peace and safety exists but sometimes you have to leave everything you have known to find it.
Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien, first published 1976, U. K.
With the publication of Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, Tolkien established himself as a creative storyteller. He used his storytelling to send a handwritten and very personal letter from Father Christmas to his children every year for about 25 year’s. The letters told of the enormous task Father Christmas was up against and some of the complications he faced. They were warm, newsy letters with added comments from an elf or Polar Bear. They always promised an arrival and encouraged the children to good behavior. I’ve been meaning to read it. This seemed to be a good year to check it off my list.
The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms by Time Keller with Kathy Keller, Devotional, 2015.
This is the second time my husband and I have read through this book after breakfast every day. His meaningful insights always connect to some human struggle or question and ends with a rich affirmation about the character and unfailing love of God through Jesus. A simple prayer at the end targets a key heart issue that God sees and we often fail to recognize. Titled the Songs of Jesus because Jesus knew the Psalms, quoted from them, and fulfilled their prophecies.
Roswell United Methodist Church, 2025, History, 1836-2025
I read with great interest the story of how Roswell United Methodist Church was one of the three oldest churches in Roswell. It is a story of initiative, ingenuity, perseverance, and compassion. The church continues to be a vital contributor to Roswell's life and history today. The list of local and foreign mission work is amazing! It is a story of how a church put down roots so profoundly that the history of Roswell and the growth and ministry of the RUMC is inseparable.
First Advent in Palestine by Kelley Nikondeha, 2022, Nonfiction
Kelley Nikondeha writes with passion to place the birth of Christ in the middle of the political chaos and oppression that existed under Roman rule. I have a new appreciation for the way God does not wait for “good times” to do His best work. Her detailed research, eyewitness accounts, and interaction with present-day Palestinians give a more complete picture of the “First Advent in Palestine,” one that bears similarities to our world today. This book offers hope amid our world’s chaos and makes me look more for God’s work than for human tyranny.