The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart is the third book in his children’s adventure series. We again join Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance on an adventure to thwart Mr Curtain.

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I liked learning more about Constance and watching the four of them continue to learn and grow. The characters are still so wonderful and fun to watch. It is really nice to see them over an extended period of time and handling varying situations up to and through this book.

The plot was fascinating and interesting making for a fast read. I liked that with each book we get new scenarios, even if the same villain. The clues and problem solving are so captivating I only wish I was so clever.

Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the series and I am almost sad that there is only one more sequel and a prequel left to read.

A Gathering of Memories Review

 

A Gathering of Memories by Lori Wick is the last book in her “Long Road Home” historical Christian fiction series. We follow Amanda Jackson when her mother dies leaving her to take care of her 4 younger siblings as their father has been gone for a long time and they don’t know where he is or when he will return. Ross Beckett has become a lawyer and has moved his practice to Baxter following a call from God.

 

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. This was an absolutely lovely read. The characters were charming to follow. I enjoyed seeing all the familiar faces from the first three books and getting glimpses into what happens in their futures. However, it was just as pleasing to follow Ross, who was a side character in book 3, as the main male lead here along with some new characters.

Not only are the characters interesting and enjoyable to watch, but the plot is smooth and quick to follow. The plot is primarily character driven, but there is a small bit of action in a subplot. Normally I prefer plot driven books, but this one caught my interest and kept me invested the whole way through. As with all Wick books, it has a solidly wrapped up ending (which I enjoyed).

The faith element is very strong in this book and some might consider it “preachy”, but I had no problem with it.

As the end of the series I am also very pleased with how it all came together and where we leave these wonderful characters. I love the sense of family, love, and hope we are left with. 

Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey Review

 

Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart is the second book in his children’s adventure series. Here we come back to Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance as they set out on a scavenger hunt Mr. Benedict set up for them as a gift for the one year anniversary of their previous adventures. Only it is far more perilous than he had intended as Mr. Curtain has kidnapped him and Number Two, but this doesn’t stop the kids from setting out to rescue them.

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was such a fun story. Their adventures were interesting and felt more realistic than in the first book, an aspect that I really appreciated here. The clues and mysteries they had to puzzle out were so clever and creative. I loved watching them work together and make their way through every step of the journey.

The characters were even more wonderful than in the first book. They were still the familiar people we came to care about, but they are clearly growing and changing and it is fantastic to see it. I love seeing them learning new things, even though they are already so smart and intuitive to begin with. It also felt like their friendships really grew and were strengthened (in a way that felt more believable than in the first book).

Overall, I found this to be a wonderful sequel and think I may have liked it even more than the first one.

The Matchmaker Review

 

The Matchmaker by Sarah Price is an Amish retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. We follow 21 year old Emma as her cousin gets married and all the changes that follow in her community and due to her involvement in others’ lives because of her desire to find matches for others.

  

I gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. This is well written and a very strong retelling of Emma. There are some changes made that are necessary for the setting, but it still kind of works. However, I felt this retelling didn’t fit the Amish setting nearly as well as the other 3 retellings I have read so far. I believe that is because of the topics Austen was addressing like class/ wealth/ prejudice and human failings such as vanity/ arrogance etc. That being said, I really do like how Price captured the characters. I especially like how she developed the relationship between Emma and Gideon.

First Impressions Review

 

First Impressions by Sarah Price is an Amish retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. We follow Elizabeth and her family as a young man, his sister, his cousin and a friend move into the farm next door.

 

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. Just like the other books in this series the Amish setting works so well for telling Austen’s story. It did require a few changes, but they were handled very smoothly and I appreciated them more for that. Furthermore, I liked how she developed the characters: that they still rang true from the original work, but were uniquely built to fit into their own setting.

I also really liked how much faith content was present. I don’t necessarily agree with what she was saying about everything being God’s will, but I do recognize that is something that the Amish do believe.

My only real complaint is that it is very rushed (timeline wise). Everything takes place in less than 6 months, which means all the major character development takes place in a matter of days sometimes. Other than that, it was such a joy to read and I know I will continue to read the rest of the books in this Amish Classics series.

The Mysterious Benedict Society Review

 

 The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is the first book in a children’s mystery, adventure series. It is about 4 kids (2 boys and 2 girls) who answer a mysterious add in a newspaper and pass a set of bizarre tests. This sets them on a secret mission that will take all of their giftedness and creativity to make it out.

 

This book got 4.5 out of 5 stars from me. I really liked this story. The characters were all so interesting and funny and constantly taking me by surprise. They were unique and well developed and relatable. I appreciated how the 4 kids were all special in a different way and/ or a way we may not have thought of as special. The side characters were memorable and diverse.

The plot was so intriguing. I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next and being taken by surprise. The twists and turns were so entertaining and fun. I loved the riddles and mysteries and all the interesting information included in the story. This was truly an enjoyable read and one that adults as well as children would love.

I don’t really even have more to say, except that it was a wonderful read and I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.

July Overview

 

Classics:

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Persuasion by Jane Austen

 

Children:

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis

Prince Caspian by C S Lewis

 

Amish Fiction:

First Impressions by Sarah Price

The Matchmaker by Sarah Price

Sense and Sensibility by Sarah Price

Mount Hope by Sarah Price

 

Christian Contemporary Fiction:

In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh

 

Christian Non-fiction:

Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life by Haley Stewart

 

Poetry:

Break Your Glass Slippers by Amanda Lovelace

Sci-fi Romance:

When She's Lonely by Ruby Dixon

Worse Guy by Ruby Dixon

Paranormal Romance:

Her Falcon by Fiona Davenport

Her Loner by Fiona Davenport

Her Grizzly by Fiona Davenport

Non-Christian Contemporary Romance:

Stuck With You by Ali Hazelwood

Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up Review

 

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, translated by Cathy Hirano, is a non-fiction book on the topic of cleaning and organizing.

 

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I really liked this book. The tone is encouraging, excited and hopeful. It had a lot of good information and advice. This method looks promising and I came away eager to put much of it into practice. It most definitely helps to supplement the reading with youtube vidoes that give a visual aid in understanding her method of folding clothes (especially necessary for visual learners like myself).

The only aspect I didn’t really like was the “spiritualistic” quality that she lightly incorporates throughout the book and focuses more on in a later small section toward the end. I do agree with her idea that we should cultivate gratitude for our things and not just as a whole group but for the individual items; but of course that gratitude is towards God our provider (for the physical items, inspiration for their creation, etc.) not to be expressed toward that item itself.

If you can look past her spiritual take on things and focus on her tidying methods themselves, than I highly recommend this book.

Mount Hope Review

 

Mount Hope by Sarah Price is an Amish retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. We follow Fanny Price, a young Amish girl who is sent away from her poor family to live with her well off relatives in another Amish settlement.

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was a wonderful Mansfield Park retelling. As before, I was impressed with Price’s writing style; the comfort and ease of reading her work. I loved how well the story translated to the Amish setting. Furthermore, the faith element fit so well and rang a cord of truth whenever present. It was also really nice to see how she developed the characters and filled out the end of the book where Jane Austen rushed it. Not once did I feel like the events were forced into the setting or out of place in it. This was everything I wanted from a retelling.

After reading this book I am eager to get to the other books in Price’s Amish Classics series.

Persuasion Review

 

Persuasion by Jane Austen is a classic regency romance. We follow Anne Elliot the unmarried middle daughter of a baronet who has made a mess of his finances and must make some changes that directly affect what happens to Anne. We see the people that come and go in this season of her life.

 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I love this book. It is so reflective and thoughtful. The characters jump off the page and are all fascinating in their own different ways (some good and some not). Anne is my favourite Austen heroine; she is sweet, thoughtful, caring, wise, intelligent, and bookish. This book really makes one look at the people, what they do, what they say and what motivates them. Every time I read this book I notice new things and enjoy it just as much as the first time.

Sense and Sensibility Review

 

Sense and Sensibility by Sarah Price is an Amish retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. It is the story of 2 sisters (Eleanor and Mary Ann) and the events that take place for them and their family after the unexpected death of their father.

 

I gave this book between 3.5 - 4  out of 5 stars. This was a delightful retelling. I found the Amish setting worked really well to tell the story in a slightly new way. Price’s writing style was light and easy and well executed. I also enjoyed the differences from the original that the setting required (without sacrificing any of the original plot).

Because of the setting, the faith content didn’t feel out of place but flowed naturally in the story with only a few exceptions (around Mary Ann being read to).

My only real complaint is that there were a number of scenes throughout the book that felt like they were almost copy and pasted out of the 1995 movie adaptation. I would have appreciated Price’s own interpretation of those scenes in this unique setting much more.

Overall, I am glad I picked this book up and look forward to exploring the other books in this series (The Amish Classics) as I understand they are each a retelling of one of Jane Austen’s main novels.

Northanger Abbey Review

 

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is a regency romantic classic. We follow young and innocent country girl Catherine Moorland when her well to do neighbours invite her to join them on a vacation to Bath.

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is such a delightful read. Catherine is sweet and adorable while the other characters are fascinating in their own different ways (both good and bad). It never ceases to entertain me seeing how she interacts with each of the other characters, especially when things are going over her head.

I love how Austen makes fun of the gothic novels and weaves her own captivating story. Even though there isn’t much happening, it doesn’t feel boring. It is a bit of a slower read, but that is because of the writing style and language of the times.

This is one of those books that can be read multiple times and you can get something more from it each time. No wonder Austen is one of my favourite authors.

Jane Austen Retellings and Variations

 

Here I am going to recommend books that are either direct retellings, variations or spinoffs of one of Jane Austen’s books. I will give a short description if necessary. I enjoyed reading all of these, but my absolute favourites on this list will have a * next to them. Books that have a review on my blog will have a > next to them.

 

Pride and Prejudice retellings:

Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (fantasy setting)*>

 The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su (companion to the youtube Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet series but still a complete book on its own and adds depth to the videos)

 

Pride and Prejudice variations:

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow*

Death Comes to Pemberley by P D James

 

Sense and Sensibility retelling:

Sense and Sensibility by Sarah Price (amish setting)

 

Sense and Sensibility variation:

The Year in Between by Christina Morland*

 

Persuasion retelling:

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (dystopian setting)*

 

Mansfield Park retelling:

Mount Hope by Sarah Price (amish setting)*

 

 

Austen spinoffs:

Austenland by Shannon Hale

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay>

Dear Mr Knightley by Katherine Reay>

Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland (middle grade)>

 

 

At the end here I am going to recommend a few books to NOT bother with as I disliked them (but feel free to try them yourself if you really want to).

 

Emma: A Modern Retelling by Alexander McCall Smith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

The Watsons & Emma Watson by Jane Austen and Joan Aiken

The Watsons by Jane Austen and Jennifer Ready Bettiol

Arabella Review

Arabella by Georgette Heyer is a regency historical romance novel. We follow Arabella the oldest daughter of a rural curate who is given the opportunity to have a season in London with her godmother. Beaumaris is the most wealthy and wanted beau in London, but is also known as a notorious flirt who won’t be caught.

 

 

This book gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. It was cute and funny and entertaining. The writing style is very reminiscent of Jane Austen. Not all the events were very realistic, but they weren’t so outlandish that I couldn’t suspend disbelief and enjoy what was happening. The characters were well written and highly entertaining to follow. I liked Arabella in her spontaneity, her kind heart and her wit, even when it got her in trouble. Beaumaris was fascinating in his views and behaviour and absolutely adorable.

I was very happy to find that, even though it wasn’t written in or around regency times, the romance was kept clean. We get to enjoy the couple meeting, getting to know each other and falling in love without the worry of running into content we would rather not see. It is refreshing and gives the feel of reading a classic (wholesome and charming). However, it does address some moral issues not shying away from serious topics.

This was a simply lovely read and I look forward to reading more from Heyer.

Jane Austen Character Rankings

 Today I wanted to take a look at the heros, heroines and villains of Jane Austen's main 6 novels.

My ranking of the heroines:

1.       Anne Eliot – Anne is my favourite heroine because she reminds me of myself. She is more on the quiet side, literary, and caring.

2.       Elizabeth Bennet – It is so enjoyable how Eliza knows her own mind, loves her family (flaws and all) and is confident in herself.

3.       Elinor Dashwood – I love that she is the strength of her family and tries to be wise in all her actions.

4.       Catherine Moorland – Catherine is so sweet and adorable in her innocence. I find her overactive imagination delightful to witness (even if it is overdramatic and unrealistic).

5.       Fanny Price -  I love her conviction and strength of character, her endurance and constancy.

6.       Marianne Dashwood – I like how passionate she was (just not her stubbornness in holding to the overdramatic).

7.       Emma Woodhouse – I’m afraid Emma really frustrates me. She is charming and truly cares for those she takes into her intimate circle, but her arrogance in believing she knows what is best for everyone is grating.

 

My ranking of the heroes:

1.       Colonel Brandon – Though often overlooked, I love that he is such a good man with hidden passion and his constancy is heart-melting.

2.       George Knightley – I love how honourable he is; that he is responsible and kind-hearted.

3.       Fitzwilliam Darcy – I love his growth and how he becomes a better man through the story.

4.       Henry Tilney – Henry is such an enjoyable tease and so sweet in his care for his sister.

5.       Captain Frederick Wentworth – I have to admit Wentworth’s leader presence is attractive and his constant love (if not always well handled in dealing with others) is moving.

6.       Edward Ferrars – I love how Edward tries to do the honourable thing no matter the consequences, but really don’t like how he treated Elinor.

7.       Edmund Bertram – I’m sorry to say I don’t really like Edmund. He tries to be a moral example in his family and gives into them instead; not to mention seeing what he wanted to see in others instead of reality.

 

My ranking of the “villains” worst to least bad:

1.       John Willoughby – He is entirely selfish and leaves the most damage behind him.

2.       George Wickham – He too is completely selfish, but does less overall damage (at least to the characters we know of).

3.       Henry Crawford – His arrogance, self-centeredness and lack of self-control is such a turnoff; along with how he treats Fanny as invisible and then a challenge/prize to win.

4.       Mr Eliot -  Again he is self-centred and manipulative.

5.       Lucy Steele – The only female on this list, but well deservedly here because she is manipulative, greedy and intentionally hurtful.

6.       John Thorpe – He is greedy and rude and self-absorbed.

7.       Frank Churchill – Some may debate me on Churchill being on this list but he was manipulative to those around him and hurtful towards his fiancé. The only reason he isn’t thought of as worse is because he lucked out in Emma not falling for him and not having to go against his Aunt to marry who he wanted.

Kissing Galileo Review

 

Kissing Galileo by Penny Reid is the second book in her Dear Professor contemporary series. We follow Emily who runs into Victor her research methods teacher at her lingerie job and the results of said encounter.

 

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. As with the first book, I really like the student/ teacher trope and it is handled quite well in this book; however, they are only student and teacher for about 1/4 to 1/3 of the book. I would say the main theme of the book is body image problems in relation to romantic relationships (with the male lead being the one with body image issues). I do appreciate this take and view of that topic, but it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable one for me.  

I did like the writing style and plot development. The characters were complex and interesting to follow. Overall, a strong and pleasant read. My biggest disappointment, and the reason I didn’t give it a higher rating, was that it wasn’t the type of story I was expecting; but still worth a read.

Jane Austen July TBR

This year I have decided to participate in the Jane Austen July readathon. Since I am a mood reader, I know I won’t read all of the books listed below (and just might pick up some books that aren’t here), but going into the readathon this is what I have.

 

Prompt 1: Read one of Jane Austen’s 6 main novels

Northanger Abbey

Persuasion

Prompt 2: Read a work by Jane Austen that isn’t one of her main 6

Sanditon

The Watsons by Jane Austen and John Coates

Prompt 3: Read a non-fiction about Jane Austen or her time

Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin

Prompt 4: Read a retelling of one of Jane Austen’s works

Sense and Sensibility by Sarah Price

Unequal Affections by Lara Ormiston

Jane of Austin by Hillary Lodge

A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart

Jane and Lizzy by Katherine Reay

Prompt 5: read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen

The Works of Lord Byron, Vol. 3