Julie Klassen: The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill

By Kelly Bridgewater

The lifeblood of the Wiltshire village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. But when the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant owner. Jane has no notion of how to run a business. However, with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must find a way to bring new life to the inn.
 
Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to find her place in the world. As she and Jane work together, they form a measure of trust, and Thora's wounded heart begins to heal. When she encounters two men from her past, she sees them--and her future--in a different light.
With pressure mounting from the bank, Jane employs innovative methods to turn the inn around, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place. Will her efforts be enough to save The Bell? And will Thora embrace the possibility of a second chance at love?

From Amazon

My Review:

Regency Romance is not my go-to genre of choice, but Julie Klassen has written some great books like The Secret of Pembrooke Hall, so I give her a chance every time a new book comes out. I prefer a story with non-stop action and a lot of movement. Characters that move in and out of the story but don't take over the whole story. I like "plot-driven" stories. A Regency Romance is pretty much a "character-driven" novel where the entire story centers around the lives of the different characters. With Julie Klassen introduction to her first series, The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill, Klassen focuses on the lives of three different women and the historical period at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Klassen is a master at bringing the world of the Regency era to come to life. With her descriptive words, I feel like I am sitting in the Bell Inn in Ivy Hill, England. I see the stables, the Inn, and the characters that roam around the property. Klassen does a good job with her writing. It is concise and moves around between each character's perspective.

Speaking of characters, Klassen has created the story with three different point of views: Jane Bell, Thora Bell, and Rachel. Jane is the Innkeeper at Ivy Hill, which she inherits with the passing of her late husband, John. When Jane married John, her job was to look pretty and be a woman of society. But unfortunately, after he died, she had to step up and take care of the Inn. It takes over a year for Jane to fulfill the role that has fallen onto her. At first, I really didn't like Jane because she was being walked on, but then she stepped up and saw her Inn as something to save. I began to like Jane. Next, Thora, the matriarch of the Bell family appears with the idea of taking control of the Inn, but instead, she watches as he daughter-in-law grows into a leader. Finally, Rachel learns the hard truth of what Jane had gone through by going through the same path of losing her family home and being humbled into a normal working woman. I really don't understand what Rachel had to do with the story.

The plot was slow-moving. I know this is what the genre asks for. A character-driven story with little to no interaction that puts Jane or Thora's life at stake. It is a story that centers on the daily life of the characters. Fans of Klassen, Jane Austen, or Sarah Ladd's work will enjoy this novel and probably eat it up. But for me, it was pretty long and not enough action to satisfy me. Whereas the plot moved slower than I enjoy, Klassen's research into the postal system and how to run an inn intertwine well with the story. I really liked learning some part of history when I read a story, and Klassen does a great job at doing just that.

The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill is not an original story with a predictable ending. The spiritual elements are not mentioned that often. I honestly can't remember where God is mentioned in the text. Maybe it got lost in all the stories of Jane and Thora's life.

In conclusion, The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen features three different heroines who work to overcome the conventions of woman in the early nineteenth century. While the story is lengthy, I had a hard time staying focused. I couldn't wait for the novel to be done. BUT . . . this novel is exactly a perfect fit for the Regency genre where the characters rule the action.

I received a complimentary copy of The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill from Bethany House Publishers and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Creating the Impossible

By Kelly Bridgewater

There is a story that everyone is familiar with, especially around this time of year. A story of a young teenage girl who was betrothed to marry a man she barely knew. Being a good, responsible young lady, she agreed to her father’s wishes, even though she didn’t even know the young man who would become her husband. But she trusted her father and nodded in agreement. Not long after the agreement was completed, she was visited by an angel of God who informed her that she would be having a child.

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This young woman, who you probably guessed by now is named Mary, was confused. She had never been with a man. How could this be? The Angel of the Lord comforted her by saying that, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The Most High will overshadow you. That’s why this holy child will be known-as not just your son but also as the Son of God. It sounds impossible but listen-you know your relative Elizabeth has been unable to bear children and is now far too old to be a mother. Yet, she has become pregnant, as God willed it. Yes, in three months, she will have a son. So the impossible is possible with God.” Luke 1: 35-37. Mary believed and went off to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Of course, the rest of the story is very familiar to the majority of us. She gave birth to baby Jesus in a manager with a star guiding the shepherds and the wise men while King Herod slaughters babies all over his kingdom.

But the comforting Christmas story isn’t what I have been urged to write, I want to draw attention to how God allows us, writers, to take images, either of characters or plot points and turn them into a story on the page that influences our readers. If God can create a child inside a teenage woman who never had been with a man, then why can’t he take our ideas and make a heart wrenching story?

I have been struggling with my chosen career path for the past four years. I keep writing, but I haven't gotten published yet. I don’t have a writing mentor who is willing to come along side me and coach me into better writing. I start every day with worship songs and reading God’s word, begging for his touch as I write, but I still don’t have it. When I enter contests, I receive three’s on my score sheets. How do I make this writing better? I read writing instruction books. I read and review books for a number of publishing companies. But I can’t get any better when I sit down to write. I know a million rules to writing. The inciting incident. The characters. Know their lies. Keep pushing your characters till they feel so trapped, they beg you to stop torturing them. But when I write, my hands don’t type a well-written story. It is a plot line, but my words and Deep Point of View don’t whistle off the page, like published writers.

“So the impossible is possible with God.” Luke 1:37. Being able to craft a compelling story, which will get published seems like the impossible dream for me. When you read published writers thank you in the back of the book, they thank their critique partners. Usually one of their critique partners is someone who is already published. I don’t have someone like that who is willing to hold my hand and help mentor me to publication. Being a stay-at-home mother, we doesn’t have a lot of spare money, but my husband and I have chosen to allow me to stay at home and create while raising our boys. We sacrificed having a lot of money, so I could pursue my dreams, but I keep thinking, it would be better to give up on this writing dream and return to work. At least, we would have more money.

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I keep waiting for God to “create the impossible” story in me that will be published, even if it doesn’t happen when I’m alive. I pray for the faith of Mary who accepted God’s word with comfort and allowed the impossible to grow inside of her. I will keep praying for encouragement for God to create the impossible and make my dreams of becoming a published writer a possibility.

Are you struggling with God who tries to create the impossible in you? Are you struggling with putting the words on the page to paint a story that the readers will devour? Any words of advice to help this struggling writer not feel so depressed and ready to call it quits, please share them.

This blog entry originally appeared on December 23, 2014, but I liked it so much I decided to use it again this Christmas. ENJOY!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!! Jesus is Born!!!!

Ronie Kendig: Conspiracy of Silence

By Kelly Bridgewater

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his career and his team, Cole "Tox" Russell is persona non grata to the United States. And that's fine--he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed, Tox is lured back into action.

Partnered with FBI agent Kasey Cortes, Tox has to pull together a team to begin a globe-spanning search for answers--and a cure. As their quest leads them from continent to continent, it slowly becomes clear they're not just fighting a plague--but battling against an ancient secret society whose true goals remain hidden.

With time running out and opposition growing on every side, the key to everything may rest in an antique codex, the Crown of Jerusalem--but will Tox and his team be able to trust each other enough to break this century-spanning conspiracy of silence?

From Amazon

My Review:

I have read majority of Ronie Kendig's books, so I had a pretty good idea what I was in for when I picked up Conspiracy of Silence. I expected a strong hero who has a job or background in the military, strong heroine's, a setting that takes place in other countries, and a plot that moves at all times. With Conspiracy of Silence, I read all of these things and was pleasantly surprised with how much I really enjoyed this book.

First, the writing is strong and concise. Kendig does a great job at inviting me into the setting in a foreign country and allows me to experience a different culture than I have ever visited. I really enjoyed how she stays in one character's perspective at one time. She doesn't confuse me at all. I feel like I am invited into their internal struggles and allowed to empathize with each individual characters.

As for the characters, I really enjoyed getting to know and understand Tox. He is a strong hero who has military skills that make him shine on the page. He gripped me from the first moment I met him. Tox cares about family and would do anything to protect his niece. Even though he can kill a person with his physical skills, he is still a deeply caring person. First, with the hint of romance with Tzivia, than with a blast from the past romance with Haven. Don't worry! The romance is not the overarching story or takes away from the fast pace novel. It is a side note that deepens the characters.

The plot reminds me a lot of the Indiana Jones movies. It features a hunt for a Biblical artifact that has gone missing that could release a deadly plague on the world. It is fast pace, and Kendig does allow the characters and the readers alike to take breathers once in a while. Kendig's ability to incorporate her research about the Aleppo Code into the story without boring me was an amazing feet.

While the story is original, it isn't completely predictable, and I really can't wait to see what the next book in the series holds. There really isn't anything that I would shy away from. I believe teenagers would enjoy this book as much as any adult who loves adventures in their novels. Since the novel is a hunt for a Biblical artifact, there is a lot of mention of God, not preaching at the reader, but clues from the Bible to help Tox and his crew to solve the mystery. I believe fans of Kendig and Indiana Jones will devour this novel. I know I did.

With the hunt for a Biblical mystery, Ronie Kendig's Conspiracy of Silence invited me into a new world of intrigue with relatable characters to experience a world I have never encountered. I really can't wait for the next installment. Write faster, Ronie!

I received a complimentary copy of Conspiracy of Silence from Bethany House Publishers and Ronie Kendig, and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

This book reminded me a lot of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. Do you agree? Why or Why not?

DOWNSIZING

By Kelly Bridgewater

At the beginning of September 2016, my family bought a smaller house in the country with a little under four acres. We have a nice patch of woods with a creek running through it, and a nice flat field for our garden next summer. We went from a 2,500 square foot home to a 1,536 square foot home, so we have had to get rid of a LOT of stuff. I, personally, got rid of 10 Wal-Mart bags filled of books, which knowing me, this hurt, but they were books that I had on my Kindle, so I decided they could go!

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My children and husband have a harder time getting rid of things. My husband now has a five car garage and the heated sun porch off the side of the house, and he won't throw anything away, which annoys me.

As a family, we needed this move because I have been saying over and over that the old school district just shoves students through the school district, not actually teaching them, so I needed my boys challenged. Which is exactly what happened at the new school. They are actually being forced to do school work and moving at a faster pace. They are not succeeding because of how harder it is, but I am glad for the extra work for them.

We are spending more time as a family. We are using the electronics less. Less television. Less game systems. Since we have no internet at the new house, my boys are actually running around outside, building forts in the woods and riding their bikes around the yard. It is nice to see these little boys act like little boys. They have spent too much time in doors at the old house because we didn't live in the best neighborhood, but it is nice to allow them to roam around outside and not have to worry about them.

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The boys may not enjoy all this "free" time, but Mommy really enjoys losing her apron strings a little. Since this is our first Christmas in a new home, I am excited to see how much MORE we incorporate Jesus into our holiday. I want to decorate our home with Jesus's birth in mind. My boys are not receiving any toys for Christmas since we don't really have room for more in our little house. More books. Yes. More time with family. Most definitely.

My husband and I want to spend more time with the boys making memories before they leave us for good and start their own lives without us.

What have you done to invest more time in your family?

Karen Kingsbury: A Baxter Family Christmas

By Kelly Bridgewater

Whether you’re meeting the Baxter family for the first time, or finding them all over again…A Baxter Family Christmas will leave fingerprints on your heart forever.

Two years have passed since the terrible car accident that took the life of John Baxter’s daughter, Erin, her husband and three of their four daughters. Prompted by grief, and missing his daughter, John has invited a stranger for Christmas Eve dinner—Kendra Bryant, the transplant recipient who now has Erin’s heart.

In light of their father’s idea, Ashley and her brother Luke don’t think it’s right. They want to protect their ten-year-old niece, Amy—the only surviving member of the accident. But John is determined and believes meeting this woman is something his deceased daughter would want.

At the same time, Maddie West, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Brooke Baxter West, is praying for meaning this Christmas. Could she find it in a newfound friendship with a boy she never expected to see again? Maddie believes in miracles, especially at Christmastime, but this is a stretch even she can’t imagine.

Meanwhile, Kendra Bryant has been struggling these past few years to find purpose in the tragedy that gave her a second chance. She believes the invitation to see the Baxters and witness their unwavering faith in God can instill peace and happiness back into her life.

Heartwarming and touching, filled with love and redemption, A Baxter Family Christmas brings together two families in the aftermath of loss and in the midst of an unfolding love story, all with the help of one very special child.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

Karen Kingsbury was the second author who I was introduced to in the Christian Publishing world. I picked up a book of hers and devoured them within hours. I passed them onto my aunt, who sadly passed away last year, and we would talk about them once she finished them. When we heard Karen Kingsbury was coming to Bloomington, Indiana, which is where the Baxter's "lived" for a family reunion, I mentioned to my aunt, and we purchased tickets and spend the night in town. It was a lot of fun to see a whole bunch of people come to Bloomington to support this fictional family. I enjoyed reading about the Baxter family, but with the release of some of her previous books, I haven't been reading a lot of her writings. Her books were getting to happy, sappy, and simple. But I was really looking forward to reconnecting with the Baxter family, so I was excited to receive a review copy of A Baxter Family Christmas.

First, I really enjoyed catching up with the Baxter family. It was nice seeing their family again as they had grown through the years, even surpassing all the struggles and still depending on God. All five of the Baxter children had come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas at the old family home. I was nice to see them interact and still keep their family traditions alive, even start some new ones. You don't have to have recently read the complete twenty books featuring the Baxters. Kingsbury weaves in their back stories for newcomers to the family.

As for the story, it really had no conflict. It centered around allowing the young woman who had received Erin's heart come to their home to celebrate Christ's birth. While the family struggled with the issue, it really didn't cause a rift in the family. The story was a feel good story that made me feel warm and snuggly inside. This would be a great story to read by a fire on a cool day with the cup of cocoa next to the Christmas tree with the Christmas music playing in the background. The plot wasn't dark, and I finished the entire book in one day.

I highly recommend this story to fans of Kingsbury's Baxter family. It is nostalgic and enjoyable, but if you want something with more conflict, then this might not be the story for you. It is pretty soft and has a tinge of a teenage romance. Nothing serious. Readers of any age can read this book.

I received a complimentary copy of A Baxter Family Christmas from Howard Books and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars