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Every Hour until Then

May 21, 2025 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

21 May

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Every Hour until Then cover

Title: Every Hour until Then
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Series: Timeless, book 5
Major Themes: Victorian Era, Historical, Time-Crossing, Mysteries
Synopsis: As a time-crosser, Kathryn lives in the late-1800s and mid-1900s simultaneously, and when she discovers her sister is going to be killed by Jack the Ripper, she must figure out how to save her sister—or die in the attempt.

I’ve enjoyed following along with the Timeless series ever since book one came out in 2022. I remember reading that first story and being enthralled by the characters, the setting, and the fun and unusual twist on time travel. I loved it so much that when I finished reading When the Day Comes at a friend’s place, I spent the next 15 minutes or so giving her a rundown of this story that I couldn’t get out of my head. I’ve eagerly picked up each subsequent book since then, and when I saw that Every Hour until Then was about to hit the shelves, I got my hands on a copy as soon as possible. This book is, once again, another excellent addition to the series.

Publisher’s description:

Gifted with the ability to time-cross between Victorian-era London and World War II Washington, DC, Kathryn faces two lives fraught with danger. In 1938 amid the looming shadow of war, Kathryn is invited to the London Museum as a guest curator to create a groundbreaking exhibit on Jack the Ripper and his reign of terror. As she delves into her grim research, she uncovers a chilling truth: Her own sister is destined to become the Ripper’s final victim decades earlier.

In 1888, in a race against fate, Kathryn is assisted by her handsome childhood friend in hunting down history’s most elusive killer. As they unravel the threads of mystery woven through time, Kathryn must decide if she’ll unmask the murderer history has chosen to hide, forfeiting a life with the man she loves to save her sister.

My thoughts:

After being somewhat disappointed by Across the Ages, book four in the series, I admit I was a little nervous going into Every Hour until Then. The first three books in the series felt complete together—Across the Ages was a big enough departure from the initial books that while I enjoyed it, I missed the beloved characters and setting from the first three. It felt more like a standalone than a continuation of the series, so I was curious how this story would go—and to my delight, the main character in this story was connected to the characters in the first three books, so I got to find out what happened “next” for them!

One part of this book that I thoroughly appreciated was the way this story explored the history surrounding Jack the Ripper. He is someone I remember hearing about briefly somewhere along the line, but I never took the time to do much research into him. This book brings his string of murders—and the context surrounding those murders—to life, without going into much gruesome detail. I found that fascinating, even if it is horrifying to think of what his victims went through in their deaths.

Then, too, this is a portrait of the world right before the Second World War—that context was interesting to see, as people were just starting to pick sides either for or against Hitler. I also found all the discussions about Freemasonry interesting, even if not all the conclusions were substantiated; that’s a topic not generally touched on in Christian fiction.

The only thing I struggled somewhat with was the feminist undertones of the book—that came through fairly strongly, and parts of it almost felt out of place for the setting. 

Every Hour until Then was a fast-paced, gripping portrait of two very different and yet not so very different parts of English and world history. As with the other books in the series, this book falls under the historical romance category, and I found that part of the story both sweet and endearing. If you enjoy stories that grip your imagination and lead you on a wild, unpredictable adventure—while delivering clean romance and memorable characters, I’d recommend you check out this book and the rest of the Timeless series. I enjoyed the story, and I’m looking forward to what book six has to offer when it comes out!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

WARNING: There is some unmarried touching (holding hands, a hug, a few times of ballroom-style dancing, etc.) throughout the book, as well as several kisses. Characters lie sometimes as they work on solving the mystery. Also, occasionally, there are  2-3 sentence descriptions of how murder victims were found—gruesome, but not overly detailed. Chapter 3: Good heavens. Chapter 11: Good gracious, a woman lives with a man she’s not married to. Chapter 13: Infernal. Chapter 18: Good heavens. Chapter 30: Woman’s life threatened.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: 1900-1950 · 19th Century · 20th Century · Books for Women · Christian Fiction · Gabrielle Meyer · Historical Fiction · Mysteries · North America · Romance · Split-Time Fiction · Time-Crossing · Timeless series · Victorian Era

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Ways to Grow Love

May 19, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

19 May

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Ways to Grow Love by Renee Watson

Title: Ways to Grow Love
Author: Renee Watson
Series: Ryan Hart, book 2
Major Themes: African Americans, Family, Friends
Synopsis: Ryan has to learn how to enjoy and love her family and friends as changes happen in her life.

Ways to Grow Love is our latest read-aloud that we would never have even looked at if it were not recommended by Sonlight Curriculum. This year, I put all the read-aloud books for the level we were working through on a special shelf, and had my daughter decide in which order she wanted me to read them rather than following the prescribed readings for each day. She thought this one looked boring, so she left it for the end of the year. Once I started reading it, though, she loved it and wanted me to read more each day than I had time for. Her five-year-old sister also loved it and wanted me to read it each day.

Publisher’s description:

Ryan Hart loves her family and friends. She’s looking forward to summer vacation, spending time with loved ones, and her first trip to sleepaway camp! But when an unexpected camper shows up, Ryan finds it’s hard to share your best friend and harder to be a friend to someone who isn’t a good friend to you. She’s also waiting for her new sister to be born—and hoping the baby doesn’t ruin everything. The Hart family is experiencing a lot of changes, and Ryan needs to grow her patience in many ways, find ways to share the love, meet new challenges, and grow into the leader her mom and dad named her to be. This summer and the start of fifth grade just might give Ryan the chance to show how she grows and glows!

My thoughts:

I have not seen very many middle-grade books that involve a new baby coming into the family. That is one of the main themes in Ways to Grow Love, though. I really liked the family relationships in this story. Both the father and mother are involved with the children, and their grandmother spends a lot of time with them as well. There are spats between the siblings, but they obviously love each other and get along most of the time. A lot of the book has to do with being a good friend, as well. Ryan has challenges with her family and friends, but learns good ways to work through them. This was a great book to read with my little girls, especially since my younger one loves babies. 

No warnings!

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: African-Americans · Books for Girls · Family · Friends · North America · Renee Watson · Ryan Hart series · US History · US History 21st Century

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Heavenly Rescues & Answered Prayers

May 16, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

16 May

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Heavenly Rescues and Answered Prayers by Andrea Jo Rodgers

Title: Heavenly Rescues & Answered Prayers
Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers
Major Themes: Doctors, Medicine, Accidents
Synopsis: Twenty-one true stories describe miracles and answered prayers experienced by a first responder.

I have always enjoyed reading books about people who work in the medical field. Some of the stories they have to tell are amazing. I have seen Andrea Jo Rodgers’ books mentioned a number of times, but never took the opportunity to read any of them. Now, after reading Heavenly Rescues & Answered Prayers, I wish I had!

Publisher’s description:

For more than 35 years, veteran EMT Andrea Jo Rodgers has been helping people in their most terrifying and vulnerable moments—and bearing witness to the miraculous power and handiwork of God.

In this new collection of unforgettable stories, Andrea shares more heart-pounding accounts of rescues and interventions from her vast experience as a first responder. Whether it’s a boy fallen through thin ice into freezing water, an old woman and her walker stuck at a railroad crossing, or a loyal dog playing guardian angel for his incapacitated owner, join Andrea as she responds to incredible scenarios that testify to God’s power and love.

Not only will you be astounded by the courage exemplified by Andrea and other first responders, but you will also be inspired by her faith, empathy, and hope—even amid the most daunting circumstances. These powerful stories will encourage you and deepen your awe for God’s amazing mercy and grace.

My thoughts:

Heavenly Rescues & Answered Prayers is written in a very readable, interesting way. Each of the 21 chapters in this book tells a stand-alone story, but taken all together, they tell one coherent story of how God cares for people. Of course, we know that many situations that first responders find themselves in don’t end happily, but in the cases described in this book, there were miraculous survivals and recoveries that are encouraging to read about.

If you enjoy stories with a medical theme, you will want to read Heavenly Rescues—and I’m guessing this author’s other books are just as good. Because each chapter can stand alone, it is easy to put down after just one, making this a good choice when there isn’t much time to read. I liked the verses that were printed at the beginning of each chapter; this helped keep the focus on God and His care.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Drug use and drunkenness are mentioned in a number of stories, and once, a prostitute was with a person when he overdosed.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: Accidents · Andrea Jo Rodgers · Christian Non-Fiction · Doctors · Medicine · Memoirs · North America · US History · US History 21st Century

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Across the Ages

May 14, 2025 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

14 May

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer

Title: Across the Ages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Series: Timeless, book 4
Major Themes: Pirates, Prohibition, Historical, Time-Crossing
Synopsis: Born with the unique gift of living in the 1700s and 1900s at the same time, Caroline must figure out what happened when her mother disappeared, and navigate the chaos of Prohibition-era Minnesota.

I’ve eagerly anticipated each new installment of the Timeless series as it’s come out over the past few years. With Across the Ages, I had to wait a while until I could borrow and read it—it’s been a popular book in my library’s network! But once I got my hands on the story, I dove in. I love the way Gabrielle Meyer develops her characters, and, as always, the premise of the story is a lot of fun. Unfortunately, in my opinion, this book wasn’t as good as some of the preceding books in the series. It was still fun, but it didn’t pack as much punch or have as many surprises as some of the other stories. Still, it was an enjoyable read.

Publisher’s description:

Caroline holds a deep secret. Living in 1727 and 1927 simultaneously, each night she goes to sleep in one life and wakes up in the other. In search of answers to her unique existence, Caroline stumbles upon a letter from her mother hinting at her own experiences as a time-crosser, sending Caroline on a daring quest to uncover the truth. In 1727, Caroline disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins a ship sailing for the Bahamas, her mother’s last known location, where she crosses paths with a ruthless but handsome pirate and is caught in a web of secrets, deception, and unexpected alliances.

In 1927 St. Paul, Minnesota, Caroline grapples with her other life as the daughter of a renowned preacher. Her two older brothers have fallen prey to the corruption rampant during Prohibition, and Caroline struggles to keep their involvement hidden to save her father’s career. As her search for answers about her time-crossing leads her to the dangerous yet exciting world of speakeasies, Caroline enlists the help of a childhood friend who is now a police officer. But with her family’s future at risk and their loyalties tested, Caroline faces a life-altering decision that could reshape her destiny.

My thoughts:

This book takes a turn from the first three books in the series. Where all of those followed the same family line, this book takes a jump into more uncharted territory—to someone who is a time-crosser but doesn’t know how it works or why she is the way she is.

In some ways, I was slightly disappointed from the beginning, because I felt like the series could have finished quite happily with book three, and now here was another book stuck on just for fun. Still, I can see how and why the author chose to add another book to the series, and I’m not complaining about having a little more time with this fun story concept and the glimpses of history the book gives us!

I really enjoyed getting to know and spend time with Caroline. It was fun to see how things went for her onboard a pirate ship—pirating is not a topic I’ve read about much. I identified even better with her as the daughter of a preacher who’s trying to find her feet in a world with many expectations. Some of the things she struggled with felt quite familiar to me, even if we live in vastly different worlds with much different circumstances. And the theme of singing for an audience of One? That truth sucker-punched me. It was a great reminder!

Overall, while I enjoyed Across the Ages, I didn’t feel like it was as deep or intriguing as the first two books in the series. I’m glad I got to read it, but I doubt I’ll want to re-read the story soon. If you like historical stories with a good amount of romance, some danger, and a good amount of drama, you would probably enjoy the story; for me, it felt a little on the fluffy side and didn’t have that nebulous something that pushes a book from good to great. I’ll be interested in finishing the series one day; hopefully, the last book will be better than this one!

WARNING: Blasted is used in ch. 7 and gee is used in ch. 22. There is lying in ch. 3, 8, 9, and 16, as well as an overarching lie through much of the book. Chapter 2: A woman dressed in a revealing way. Chapter 3: Mention of women’s monthlies. Chapter 4: Mention of a man who had multiple affairs and an illegitimate baby (this is referred to multiple times throughout the book). Chapter 12: Man goes to a brothel. Chapter 13: Story of a woman who divorced her husband and married someone else. Chapter 18: Mention of an unmarried man and woman living together (they eventually married). Chapter 20: Story of a woman who left her husband and took up with someone else, a robbery. Chapter 21: A miscarriage, mention of someone being someone’s mistress. Chapter 23: A kiss. Chapter 24: Woman’s life threatened. Chapter 25: Several kisses. Chapter 26: Story of a man who got drunk and was found naked with someone else. Chapter 27: Man tries to take advantage of a woman, a fight with a man’s life threatened, and a kiss. Chapter 28: A kiss. Chapter 31: A kiss, hint at the marriage bed. Historical Note: Mention of someone who was assaulted and then killed someone. Unmarried characters hold hands, hug, etc., fairly frequently throughout the story, and are forced to share a bedroom for quite a while (they have separate beds; nothing inappropriate happens). Smoking and drinking are mentioned occasionally.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: 18th Century · 1900-1950 · 20th Century · Books for Women · Christian Fiction · Colonial Era (US) · Gabrielle Meyer · Historical Fiction · North America · Pirates · Prohibition · Romance · Split-Time Fiction · Time Crossing · Timeless series · US History · US History 1900-1950

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Our Cry for Revival

May 12, 2025 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

12 May

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Our Cry for Revival cover

Title: Our Cry for Revival
Author: Nick Harrison
Major Themes: Devotionals, Revival, Christian Living
Synopsis: A collection of 365 brief devotions using Scripture, prayer, and reflective quotes to aid in praying for revival.

I’m always looking for good devotionals or similar works that will bless or enhance my Christian walk. Over the past few years, I’ve come across some gems, and recently, while scrolling through a list of books, I came across Our Cry for Revival. I think I’d seen it before, but it didn’t strike me one way or another when I first saw it. This time, though, I paused for a closer look and quickly realized that it likely was a book I was interested in. I’m so glad I decided to take the time for this book!

Publisher’s description:

What Christian isn’t hungering for revival? Not just an emotional display of faith, but a revival that changes lives, renews churches, and can even change history. Such revivals as the Great Awakening, the Welsh Revival, and the Jesus Movement have earned their place in church history and are evidence that God is still alive and active. Even smaller revivals such as the recent revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, caught the attention of the world as upwards of fifty thousand Christians traveled to the college campus to witness this move of God. The recent movie, The Jesus Revolution was a surprise success at the box office as, once again, Christians flocked to hear about revival.

Make no mistake, there is a worldwide hunger for revival, and especially so among American Christians. The great news is that every Christian has a part to play in bringing about revival. That part is first, last, and always prayer. Revivals are born from prayer. But will Christians pray? Do they really want revival? If recent events are indications of that fresh hunger for God in our midst, then the answer is a resounding yes!

With daily Scripture readings, reflections, prayer prompts, and quotes from classic Christian leaders, this 365-day guide will aid you in your quest to experience both personal and widespread revival through persistent prayer.

Yes, revival is on its way. Will you be one of the prayer warriors to usher in this next great move of God?

My thoughts:

Revival has been a topic on my mind over the past eight or nine months, because I’ve been researching a small revival in New Zealand in the 1930s for a story I’m working on. This book came at the perfect time for that, giving me perspective and direction from saints past and present who experienced both personal and, at times, public revival.

Each daily reading starts with a Scripture passage, has a brief reflection on the passage, a quote from a Christian in past or present church history, and then a short prayer reflective of the day’s topic. So far, my favorite part of each of the daily readings is the quote section—I’ve highlighted far more in there than I ever expected, and have shared quotes that particularly struck me with friends and family.

If you’ve been inspired by stories of revivals from history, such as those experienced in Jesus Revolution or Sheffey, I’d highly recommend you check out Our Cry for Revival. I’ve found it to be an excellent tool to use in searching my own heart and also to give me perspective in ways to pray for personal and worldwide revival. This is a gem to have in any believer’s library, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to read it!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Listening Level—Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Keywords: Christian Living · Christian Non-Fiction · Devotionals · Family Friendly · Nick Harrison · Revival

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