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egbella's reviews
212 reviews
Operation Lionhearted by Maribeth Barber
5.0
Although I’m not usually a big science fiction reader, I’m a fan of this sweet author, and I’m so glad I gave this book a try! I didn't get around to reviewing it right after I read it, so I won't get into too many specifics just in case I'd misremember them. But I enjoyed this a lot!
This is a very character-forward book, which is great because the characters are my favorite part. They were interesting, sympathetic, and wrestled with a lot of real issues that helped me understand why they acted the way they did. The protagonist fascinated me, and I could relate to her in a lot of ways. The romance subplot was sweet and completely clean, which I really appreciated, and I could ship them from the very start.
All of the supporting characters (while I had trouble keeping track of them all sometimes) seemed to have lives, dreams, and goals outside of the main story line, which helped reinforce how real they felt. I could never quite figure out whether I was meant to trust/like a couple of them, which kept me on my toes in the best possible way.
The world-building was also done extremely well, where I could picture and follow along with most everything. I wish I was a more frequent science fiction reader so I could really appreciate all of the depth of details the author packed into this book. It's clear she put a lot of thought and development into this world, and I would love to read further stories about it.
The balancing of the fast-paced action, political intrigue, and slower meaningful moments was done wonderfully, giving the story some naturally great pacing. There was never a point where I lost interest. And of course, the themes, while not explicitly Christian, were beautifully-written and powerful. I could pick up on the allegorical elements, while nothing was even remotely forced.
All in all, this made me like science fiction even more, and I really enjoyed the read!
I would definitely recommend this to teens and older that enjoy action-packed, political science fiction reads with strong characters, sweet and subtle romance, and memorable themes.
CW: war-type violence, death, and some ethical dilemmas (as war tends to bring).
This is a very character-forward book, which is great because the characters are my favorite part. They were interesting, sympathetic, and wrestled with a lot of real issues that helped me understand why they acted the way they did. The protagonist fascinated me, and I could relate to her in a lot of ways. The romance subplot was sweet and completely clean, which I really appreciated, and I could ship them from the very start.
All of the supporting characters (while I had trouble keeping track of them all sometimes) seemed to have lives, dreams, and goals outside of the main story line, which helped reinforce how real they felt. I could never quite figure out whether I was meant to trust/like a couple of them, which kept me on my toes in the best possible way.
The world-building was also done extremely well, where I could picture and follow along with most everything. I wish I was a more frequent science fiction reader so I could really appreciate all of the depth of details the author packed into this book. It's clear she put a lot of thought and development into this world, and I would love to read further stories about it.
The balancing of the fast-paced action, political intrigue, and slower meaningful moments was done wonderfully, giving the story some naturally great pacing. There was never a point where I lost interest. And of course, the themes, while not explicitly Christian, were beautifully-written and powerful. I could pick up on the allegorical elements, while nothing was even remotely forced.
All in all, this made me like science fiction even more, and I really enjoyed the read!
I would definitely recommend this to teens and older that enjoy action-packed, political science fiction reads with strong characters, sweet and subtle romance, and memorable themes.
CW: war-type violence, death, and some ethical dilemmas (as war tends to bring).
Held Captive by Grace A. Johnson
5.0
Caveat first: this is in the process of being completely re-written (something I’m excited to read!), but all of my thoughts are about the original version, read in 2023.
Obviously, I’ve been in a pirate stories phase recently, and this was one I’d wanted to read for a long time! Written by the sweet author when she was young, I was super impressed with how much depth it had! From the plot to the characters to the strong Christian themes, I enjoyed it. I can definitely see how there are more - long - books in the series because there is just so much more that I want to see and learn more about in this story world.
I had a lot of fun reading about the protagonist, who started out so rough, and admirably grew a major amount over the course of the story. Admittedly, I wasn't expecting the protagonist to be quite such a die-hard pirate. But boy, she certainly was. Her fiery spirits, clever insults, wild mannerisms, and her dry humor kept making me smile, and her character was convincingly written. She wasn't likable per se, not in the typical sense, but I greatly enjoyed following her.
The characters in general were relatable and well-developed, and there were very few that I didn't love and wish that I could meet in real life. All of the family members in particular made my heart full, as they were so kind and well-written. They did a very good job portraying Christ as well, which I believe was the point.
As far as the romance went, that was really the only part that gave me pause. I did enjoy most of the romance elements, and am extremely glad at how everything worked out in the end. And if the protagonists had been married for the events of the plot, I don't think I'd have any qualms. Although the romance was clean, there were quite a few compromising situations that made me a little uncomfortable to read, mainly because the male protagonist should have thought better of them, being a staunch Christian. I can forgive Rina, as she hadn't really been taught better, but it would have made me admire and respect Xavier a lot more if he had handled things with a little bit more...care, I guess? Still, nothing inappropriate ever happened, and they are very sweet together.
The plot moved along well, and kept me interested, even though a large portion of the book was slower and more introspective. I kept wanting to get into the action of her father's killer, but I'm guessing that comes in with the later books, and I'm looking forward to reading them!
And wow those themes. The author did a wonderful job at portraying Christian struggles with heart and truth. The allegorical nature of Rina's finding her family and Christ at about the same time, and the fact that they influenced each other, was so heartfelt and beautiful. The struggles that Rina had, with forgiveness and believing God's love felt very authentic. I think a lot of people can relate.
All in all, I enjoyed it even more than I thought that I would, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series (and the re-write)! I’d recommend it to teens and above that enjoy strong characters, pirate stories, sweet romances, and prominent Christian messages.
CW: Drinking/drunkenness, violence, typical pirate brutality, strong but clean romance.
Obviously, I’ve been in a pirate stories phase recently, and this was one I’d wanted to read for a long time! Written by the sweet author when she was young, I was super impressed with how much depth it had! From the plot to the characters to the strong Christian themes, I enjoyed it. I can definitely see how there are more - long - books in the series because there is just so much more that I want to see and learn more about in this story world.
I had a lot of fun reading about the protagonist, who started out so rough, and admirably grew a major amount over the course of the story. Admittedly, I wasn't expecting the protagonist to be quite such a die-hard pirate. But boy, she certainly was. Her fiery spirits, clever insults, wild mannerisms, and her dry humor kept making me smile, and her character was convincingly written. She wasn't likable per se, not in the typical sense, but I greatly enjoyed following her.
The characters in general were relatable and well-developed, and there were very few that I didn't love and wish that I could meet in real life. All of the family members in particular made my heart full, as they were so kind and well-written. They did a very good job portraying Christ as well, which I believe was the point.
As far as the romance went, that was really the only part that gave me pause. I did enjoy most of the romance elements, and am extremely glad at how everything worked out in the end. And if the protagonists had been married for the events of the plot, I don't think I'd have any qualms. Although the romance was clean, there were quite a few compromising situations that made me a little uncomfortable to read, mainly because the male protagonist should have thought better of them, being a staunch Christian. I can forgive Rina, as she hadn't really been taught better, but it would have made me admire and respect Xavier a lot more if he had handled things with a little bit more...care, I guess? Still, nothing inappropriate ever happened, and they are very sweet together.
The plot moved along well, and kept me interested, even though a large portion of the book was slower and more introspective. I kept wanting to get into the action of her father's killer, but I'm guessing that comes in with the later books, and I'm looking forward to reading them!
And wow those themes. The author did a wonderful job at portraying Christian struggles with heart and truth. The allegorical nature of Rina's finding her family and Christ at about the same time, and the fact that they influenced each other, was so heartfelt and beautiful. The struggles that Rina had, with forgiveness and believing God's love felt very authentic. I think a lot of people can relate.
All in all, I enjoyed it even more than I thought that I would, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series (and the re-write)! I’d recommend it to teens and above that enjoy strong characters, pirate stories, sweet romances, and prominent Christian messages.
CW: Drinking/drunkenness, violence, typical pirate brutality, strong but clean romance.
If the Stars Awaken by Kate Willis
5.0
Wow! I just spent the entire morning reading this, and I don't even know where to start. This was fantastic. For the sake of spoilers, I won't go into extreme detail here, but I will list the main things I loved.
Epic, more-detailed fantasies like this tend to give me pause. Not because I don't like fantasy, but because they're usually so focused on all of the details of the fantasy world, the magic systems, and the epic plot that they don't give as much time to the characters as I prefer. However, this book had exactly the balance I hoped.
It had such an incredibly interesting world, with lots of details and a captivating plot, but it followed the characters closely, with a narrow and more intimate storytelling lens. And I loved that. I really got to connect and empathize with each character, and even the minor characters seemed very real.
Speaking of characters, they were extremely well-done. I greatly admired the Queen in particular. I liked her, related to her, and look up to her for her example of strength, grace, and love even in the midst of hardship. Each of the other characters around her were unique and likable, and I rooted for all of the ones except for the ones I wasn't supposed to.
The entire world and their system of reading the stars was super detailed and intriguing, and I was drawn into it quickly. And even though it wasn't explicitly Christian, the allegorical elements expertly woven throughout the story were beautiful. Not out of place at all, and very powerful.
If I have any complaint, it's just that I wanted more. From start to finish, I was invested, and I would have loved to learn more about the characters, their backstories, the world itself, what happened to them at the end, and exactly why some of the story events happened. I'm not sure if I just didn't understand a few things, or if the author is saving explanations for another book...? Either way, I didn't want it to end, and thoroughly enjoyed the read!
I would recommend this to mature middle-grade readers and up that enjoy fantasy stories with inspirational characters, allegorical elements, family love, and journeys.
CW: Loss, grief, references to child loss, injuries, fights, and violence.
** I was given an e-ARC copy, but was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts expressed are my own honest opinions.**
Epic, more-detailed fantasies like this tend to give me pause. Not because I don't like fantasy, but because they're usually so focused on all of the details of the fantasy world, the magic systems, and the epic plot that they don't give as much time to the characters as I prefer. However, this book had exactly the balance I hoped.
It had such an incredibly interesting world, with lots of details and a captivating plot, but it followed the characters closely, with a narrow and more intimate storytelling lens. And I loved that. I really got to connect and empathize with each character, and even the minor characters seemed very real.
Speaking of characters, they were extremely well-done. I greatly admired the Queen in particular. I liked her, related to her, and look up to her for her example of strength, grace, and love even in the midst of hardship. Each of the other characters around her were unique and likable, and I rooted for all of the ones except for the ones I wasn't supposed to.
The entire world and their system of reading the stars was super detailed and intriguing, and I was drawn into it quickly. And even though it wasn't explicitly Christian, the allegorical elements expertly woven throughout the story were beautiful. Not out of place at all, and very powerful.
If I have any complaint, it's just that I wanted more. From start to finish, I was invested, and I would have loved to learn more about the characters, their backstories, the world itself, what happened to them at the end, and exactly why some of the story events happened. I'm not sure if I just didn't understand a few things, or if the author is saving explanations for another book...? Either way, I didn't want it to end, and thoroughly enjoyed the read!
I would recommend this to mature middle-grade readers and up that enjoy fantasy stories with inspirational characters, allegorical elements, family love, and journeys.
CW: Loss, grief, references to child loss, injuries, fights, and violence.
** I was given an e-ARC copy, but was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts expressed are my own honest opinions.**
Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg
3.0
3.5 stars. I'm trying to explore out-of-my-comfort-zone genres a bit more lately, and this was a cute one to jump into. I have my gripes, but overall, it was a light, cozy, and somewhat predictable contemporary romance about two kids that have been best friends since middle school, and eventually realize they've wanted to be more for years.
If those are your kind of books, you'd probably enjoy this one. Most of the story was spent going back and forth in a "will they, won't they" kind of situation. They dated (and dumped) other people, went to various parts of the world for a break, confessed feelings, ignored confessions, and were in denial for a large part of the book. That said, you can eventually expect a happy ending.
I wasn't sure where the main theme of "everyone says a boy and a girl can't be best friends" was going, because I usually do agree with that. At least not without one or the other wanting to be more at some point. And that's exactly what happens in the story. I'm pretty sure the author was trying to highlight the irony, not actually prove that point, and in that case, she did a good job.
The characters were interesting and sympathetic, all of the main ones having some good backstory and personality traits. I appreciated the everyday mentions of a family member with a learning disability and that it wasn't portrayed as his entire personality. I also enjoyed the fact that it was set in my home state. Admittedly, it was pretty obvious the author doesn't actually live in Wisconsin, as there were quite a few references to Wisconsin things that felt forced and thrown in there for the sake of it, not for any real purpose. But mostly, it was neat to be able to relate to and picture a lot of the aspects she mentioned.
It was definitely rife with high school teen/tween dating drama, and as that's not my typical genre, I was frustrated a few times at the miscommunication going on. But I can see why the characters acted the way they did (they acted like realistic teenagers), and was glad when they eventually sorted things out.
I'd recommend this to readers that are a fan of contemporary romances involving high-school students, tight-knit family, drama, and the good old Midwest.
CW: a couple mild sexual innuendos, kisses (not-detailed), teen dating, drama, loss/grief, bullying, several instances of the R word during bullying about people with disabilities (presented as wrong).
If those are your kind of books, you'd probably enjoy this one. Most of the story was spent going back and forth in a "will they, won't they" kind of situation. They dated (and dumped) other people, went to various parts of the world for a break, confessed feelings, ignored confessions, and were in denial for a large part of the book. That said, you can eventually expect a happy ending.
I wasn't sure where the main theme of "everyone says a boy and a girl can't be best friends" was going, because I usually do agree with that. At least not without one or the other wanting to be more at some point. And that's exactly what happens in the story. I'm pretty sure the author was trying to highlight the irony, not actually prove that point, and in that case, she did a good job.
The characters were interesting and sympathetic, all of the main ones having some good backstory and personality traits. I appreciated the everyday mentions of a family member with a learning disability and that it wasn't portrayed as his entire personality. I also enjoyed the fact that it was set in my home state. Admittedly, it was pretty obvious the author doesn't actually live in Wisconsin, as there were quite a few references to Wisconsin things that felt forced and thrown in there for the sake of it, not for any real purpose. But mostly, it was neat to be able to relate to and picture a lot of the aspects she mentioned.
It was definitely rife with high school teen/tween dating drama, and as that's not my typical genre, I was frustrated a few times at the miscommunication going on. But I can see why the characters acted the way they did (they acted like realistic teenagers), and was glad when they eventually sorted things out.
I'd recommend this to readers that are a fan of contemporary romances involving high-school students, tight-knit family, drama, and the good old Midwest.
CW: a couple mild sexual innuendos, kisses (not-detailed), teen dating, drama, loss/grief, bullying, several instances of the R word during bullying about people with disabilities (presented as wrong).
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
3.0
After finding the series at my local thrift store for cheap, I decided I want to read it and see for myself whether it's as awful (or as good?) as people say. One book in and I'm very conflicted so far. Parts were surprisingly well-written, interesting, and wholesome, and other (granted, a lot of other) parts made me cringe and realize why it's made fun of often. I'm going to hold off on full judgement until I read the full series.
Overall, I did actually enjoy this. Not every little part of it, but as a whole, it was a 'junk food' read - not too much substance, but it's still enjoyable if you don't pay too close attention and if you like these kinds of plots. I've never seen the full movies, but from the clips I've seen, I do think the first book holds more promise than the first movie.
I'll try to come back and update this with specifics and a full series review after I'm done with the rest of the books. (or just have a better way to word my thoughts so far, haha!)
Overall, I did actually enjoy this. Not every little part of it, but as a whole, it was a 'junk food' read - not too much substance, but it's still enjoyable if you don't pay too close attention and if you like these kinds of plots. I've never seen the full movies, but from the clips I've seen, I do think the first book holds more promise than the first movie.
I'll try to come back and update this with specifics and a full series review after I'm done with the rest of the books. (or just have a better way to word my thoughts so far, haha!)
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
3.0
Another complicated one that I'll probably try to come back and review more thoroughly after reading the entire series. Parts of this were really enjoyable, other parts made me cringe, and other parts I was uncomfortable with. I can honestly see why people love this series, and I can see why others hate it. I'm interested to see how the next two books go.
You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times by Max Lucado
5.0
Max Lucado just has a way of making familiar Scriptures come alive for me, and this book was no different. Reading it felt like strolling calmly with a dear friend, soaking up his wisdom. If you're in a tough place in your life right now, I definitely recommend this book for its encouragement and inspiring reminders that the same God that was with Joseph through all the trials and sufferings of His life is with us still today. There's nothing going on that He can't handle, or that He's unaware of. No matter the pain, no matter the grief, or guilt, or uncertainty, we WILL get through this - with Christ. I needed to be reminded of that right now, and if you do too, reading this book is an excellent place to start.
Me, Myself & Bob: A True Story about God, Dreams, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer
5.0
Wow, I can look at Veggietales with a whole new perspective after this book.
Now firstly, Veggietales is my childhood. I grew up watching their films and listening to their music, and I remember wishing often that Bob and Larry were real (as awesome as Larry was/is, I'll admit Bob has always been my favorite, haha). As I've gotten older, I've only appreciated and respected their content more. The morals, unashamed teaching of Christianity, clever humor, silly songs...I'm convinced that it's not only for kids, but maybe even more beneficial for adults!
That is, the classic Veggietales. The Netflix version (with the new animation, squeaky voices, and watered-down messages) is almost physically painful to me. I wondered what had happened to Big Idea, and after reading this book, it all makes sense.
While Phil is sometimes a tad wordier than is needed (though I'm one to talk...) and I skimmed over some of the 'numbers' sections, I found his story fascinating. In fact, I binge-read it in one day. The origins and dream that caused him to start Big Idea/Veggietales, the quick growth of the company, the internal struggles of both Phil and the company, and the ultimate downfall were all new to me. I had no idea that any of that had gone on while I was simply enjoying their movies. The part I found most beneficial however was the very end chapters, where Phil talked about 'what he has learned' (you know you want to sing it).
As someone who has a lot of 'dreams' and is all too prone to rationalizing my full steam ahead approach toward those dreams with, "well, they're for God's glory!", I needed Phil's reminders and insights. Just because we may be able to do something, and that thing may be good, it doesn't mean it's the right thing. God's plans are not often the same as ours, and unless we're fully dependent on Him, we may rush ahead in the wrong directions. I greatly appreciated Phil's honesty and humility in admitting how he'd gone wrong in his pursuit of his huge dreams, and his advice for helping others - especially young people - from repeating his mistakes.
In short, I'm very glad I read this book, both for the backstory on my favorite childhood 'fandom', and for the much-needed lessons on walking step by step with the Lord as we seek to do big things.
Now firstly, Veggietales is my childhood. I grew up watching their films and listening to their music, and I remember wishing often that Bob and Larry were real (as awesome as Larry was/is, I'll admit Bob has always been my favorite, haha). As I've gotten older, I've only appreciated and respected their content more. The morals, unashamed teaching of Christianity, clever humor, silly songs...I'm convinced that it's not only for kids, but maybe even more beneficial for adults!
That is, the classic Veggietales. The Netflix version (with the new animation, squeaky voices, and watered-down messages) is almost physically painful to me. I wondered what had happened to Big Idea, and after reading this book, it all makes sense.
While Phil is sometimes a tad wordier than is needed (though I'm one to talk...) and I skimmed over some of the 'numbers' sections, I found his story fascinating. In fact, I binge-read it in one day. The origins and dream that caused him to start Big Idea/Veggietales, the quick growth of the company, the internal struggles of both Phil and the company, and the ultimate downfall were all new to me. I had no idea that any of that had gone on while I was simply enjoying their movies. The part I found most beneficial however was the very end chapters, where Phil talked about 'what he has learned' (you know you want to sing it).
As someone who has a lot of 'dreams' and is all too prone to rationalizing my full steam ahead approach toward those dreams with, "well, they're for God's glory!", I needed Phil's reminders and insights. Just because we may be able to do something, and that thing may be good, it doesn't mean it's the right thing. God's plans are not often the same as ours, and unless we're fully dependent on Him, we may rush ahead in the wrong directions. I greatly appreciated Phil's honesty and humility in admitting how he'd gone wrong in his pursuit of his huge dreams, and his advice for helping others - especially young people - from repeating his mistakes.
In short, I'm very glad I read this book, both for the backstory on my favorite childhood 'fandom', and for the much-needed lessons on walking step by step with the Lord as we seek to do big things.