IgniteLit - Page 12 of 386 - Igniting a love for literature

Kinda Like Grace

December 19, 2025 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

19 Dec

Title: Kinda Like Grace
Author: Ginger Sprouse
Major Themes: Friendship, Forgiveness, Hospitality
Synopsis: The touching story of a couple who adopted a homeless man, and what he taught them about God.

Over the past year, I’ve begun reading more memoirs and biographies, and I’m discovering I really enjoy them! Kinda Like Grace was one that came up recently that looked fascinating, and I finally took the time to scan through the back cover copy enough to realize that I would likely enjoy reading this book. What I didn’t expect was that we would get a “two-in-one” story in this small book—that took me by surprise, and I ended up being really blessed by both stories.

Publisher’s description:

The inspirational story of how a woman with a difficult past befriended a homeless man whose kind, life-affirming spirit taught her and their Texas community about forgiveness, humility, and the boundless love of God.

Stopped at a familiar Houston intersection on her way to work, Ginger Sprouse watched the homeless man pacing the garbage-strewn ground in his bare feet. Compelled to pull over and say hello, she was drawn to his exuberant joy and infectious smile. Over the next few months, she would learn that Victor, who was mentally disabled, had been returning to that spot because it was the last place he had seen his mother—three years earlier.

Motivated by her faith and their deepening friendship, Ginger set out to help Victor, creating Facebook and GoFundMe pages to raise funds for Victor’s medications, clothing, and food. When it became clear that he could not live safely on his own, she and her family took a leap of faith and offered him a permanent place in their family. What Ginger learned from Victor about forgiveness, humility, and love changed her forever. Kinda Like Grace is a powerful reminder that seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome, that we all deserve second chances, and that each of us has a limitless capacity to love our neighbors, no matter how different from us they may appear to be.

My thoughts:

As I mentioned, this book is short—less than 200 pages! It makes for a quick read, and with Sprouse’s beautiful, lyrical writing, I felt pulled into her story from the first page.

I loved reading about how Ginger and her husband adopted Victor, and all the ups and downs of inviting a homeless man into their home. That’s something I couldn’t imagine doing, but it was beautiful to see them allow the Lord to work through them—even when it was vastly uncomfortable!—and the parallels that brought to our adoption as children of God. The lessons they learned, and the joy they found in serving Victor, were heart-touching.

Even more impactful for me, though, was the story of Ginger’s first marriage and eventual divorce. I’ve never seen someone talk so honestly about their divorce before, and I can’t imagine the strength it took for Ginger to open her story up for the rest of the world to see. I have a lot of respect for her for deciding to do that! She clearly lays out how the enemy loves to get us to believe lies, and the devastating consequences when we follow his advice…it was a very sobering story, but told with a strong focus on the gospel and truth. I may not agree with all of her decisions, but I appreciated getting to read her story, and feel like I was able to learn from her experiences.

If you appreciate memoirs that tell about how God works in people’s hearts, you’d probably appreciate Kinda Like Grace. It’s brutally honest at times, but it’s also full of the hope that only Jesus can give. It’s a beautiful story of community, love, and surrender to God’s will. I’m thankful I had the chance to read it!

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

WARNING: The author is transparent about deciding to have an affair, how that led to her divorce from her first husband, and how she eventually remarried. Chapter 6: Damn, dressing seductively and drinking, suicidal thoughts. Chapter 7: Doing yoga, I swear, by God. Chapter 9: Drinking wine (this comes up a few other times, too). Chapter 12: Our little darkie (someone talking in a very derogatory way about other people), smoking. Chapter 13: What the heck. Chapter 14: Thank gawd (twice), sure as heck, by God. Chapter 15: Geez.

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

The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series

December 17, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

17 Dec

The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series cover

Title: The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series
Author: Ellis Peters
Major Themes: Monks, Monasteries, Herbs, England, Murder Mysteries, Middle Ages
Synopsis: A monk who spends his time creating herbal remedies finds himself investigating murders frequently.

Almost 30 years ago, I remember reading some books from the library in which a medieval monk solved mysteries. I can’t remember for sure what the books were, but when I came across one of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael books last year, it rang a bell. (A side note about that book: It was in a load of books headed to a dump, from which we got to rescue a box full!) That one was number 19 in The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series, but later that year, we found a few more at a book sale, so I got to start at the beginning. It turns out that doesn’t really matter, though; the three I have read so far can easily stand alone.

This series is based on the character of Brother Cadfael, who entered the monastic life as an older man after many years of traveling and fighting in the Crusades. He now spends his days quietly tending his gardens and concocting herbal remedies for the monks of Shrewsbury, but because he has more worldly experience than the other brothers, he often finds himself involved in interactions with the outside world.

Publisher’s description:

A Morbid Taste for Bones: In the twelfth-century Benedictine monastery of Shrewsbury, Brother Cadfael has settled down to a quiet life in charge of the herbarium after an adventure-filled youth. But when his Prior determines to acquire the bones of a saint from a remote Welsh village, Cadfael’s worldly experience becomes vitally important, since the obstacles to the expedition include murder.…

One Corpse Too Many: When fighting engulfs Shrewsbury as King Stephen battles for the throne of England, Brother Cadfael is called upon to administer rites to some hanged prisoners. There are, he is told, 94 corpses—but his own careful count reveals 95, and once again the sleuthing monk is on the trail of a murderer.…

Monk’s Hood: At the monastery in Shrewsbury in 1138, Brother Cadfael’s herbarium shelves are richly stocked after a splendid summer. Then one Gervase Bonel, who had planned to leave his valuable manor to the Abbey, is poisoned with Cadfael’s own concoction for aching joints. As the monk investigates, he finds a web of family intrigues, where suspicion has fallen on someone he is certain is innocent.…

My thoughts:

What I have seen in this series so far makes me want to keep reading them. I don’t like murder mysteries as a steady diet, but once in a while, I enjoy a gentle one, which is what these are. Brother Cadfael doesn’t go out looking for mysteries to solve; they just come to him. In one book, he was helping to retrieve bones from a distant village when someone was killed, and set out to find the killer in order to exonerate someone else. In the next, he realized, while performing a talk he was assigned to, that someone had been murdered, and set about getting justice for him. In another, a boy was accused of poisoning his stepfather; Brother Cadfael didn’t believe it and determined to clear the boy’s name. In two of the books I have read so far, the murderer ended up accidentally killing himself (poetic justice!), but in the other, Brother Cadfael found a way for him to start a new life. All three have included a little romance, as one or two pairs of side characters find a way to marry each other for love, not the political or social advancement their families want.

I’m not sure if The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael are considered cozy mysteries or not, but they are my style. There is not enough danger or suspense to keep me awake at night, but enough to keep the story moving and keep me interested. Morals are impeccable. I haven’t picked up much history from them, but they give a wonderful picture of both monastic and village/town/castle life in 12th-century England on the Welsh border. In short, if you enjoy light mysteries set in historic times, see if you can locate one of these books about the delightful Brother Cadfael.

WARNING: Violence at least once in each book.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this series:

We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea

December 15, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

15 Dec

Title: We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea
Author: Arthur Ransome
Series: Swallows and Amazons, book 7
Major Themes: Sailing, Storms, Survival, Family
Synopsis: Mother allowed the children to spend a night on a friend’s boat, but they were not to leave the harbour under any circumstances.

Soon after we moved to this country fifteen years ago, a neighbor gave us a boxful of books she was discarding. I sorted through them, and read the ones that seemed most likely to be books I wouldn’t mind my children reading. I kept a few, among them We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea. When I heard about the Swallows and Amazons series, I realized this was one of them, although to this day I haven’t read any others. The book has sat on our shelf since then, being read once in all those years. However, one of my sons now goes for older books, and he recently chose this one for me to read aloud, which I was delighted with.

Publisher’s description:

Arthur Ransome invites readers on another thrilling adventure with the Swallows and Amazons as they find themselves unexpectedly crossing the high seas. When a coastal holiday turns into a daring voyage across the North Sea, the young crew must rely on their wit, courage, and friendship to navigate treacherous waters and outsmart unforeseen challenges. Set against the backdrop of the rugged English coastline, this timeless tale captures the essence of childhood curiosity and the spirit of exploration. As the children encounter storms, pirates, and unexpected allies, they discover the true meaning of bravery and camaraderie. With its vivid storytelling and memorable characters, We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea is a classic adventure that will captivate readers of all ages.

My thoughts:

This was not the favorite book of the four we had going at the same time, but we certainly enjoyed it! We figured out quickly what would happen, and since it is a fiction story, we knew it would turn out well—but how? How would the children survive their ordeal? I liked that they wanted to obey their mother and worried about her feelings. I loved seeing the way they worked together to survive, and how the older children took care of the younger ones, and I really liked the respect they all showed to adults. So, while I certainly hope nothing like this ever happens to my own children, this story offers good role models of responsibility, respect, and ingenuity. It is a good book to have on the shelf, and I will be watching for more books in the series. Though We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea is part of a series, it worked fine for us as a stand-alone story, although there were obvious references to previous adventures. It is a wonderful picture of the way life was in England in the 1930s, when children were able to have adventures.

WARNING: Gosh many times, jove once.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12

Links to buy this book:

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

Surgery in the Swamp

December 12, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

12 Dec

Title: Surgery in the Swamp
Author: Katrina Hoover Lee
Series: The Brady Street Boys, book 9
Major Themes: Indiana, Michigan, Accidents, Doctors, Mysteries
Synopsis: The search for the elusive Dr. Jefferson continues as the Fitzpatrick boys continue their summer study of the Fruits of the Spirit.

As you have probably noticed, if you have followed us for very long, we love the Brady Street Boys series. We have been anxiously waiting for the publication of book nine, the final episode in the saga of the Fitzpatrick boys during the summer holidays. When I got an email from Katrina Hoover Lee saying that she was nearly ready to ship the books, I was horrified that we had missed our chance to get an early copy of Surgery in the Swamp for review! I immediately emailed the author, and was delighted when she sent me a copy. When I told the children we would be starting to read the book that day, there were cheers.

Publisher’s description:

Gary Fitzpatrick feels hope slipping away. Learning the missing doctor who removed his leg is being sued, his heart plummets and he tells his dad it’s time to give up. But when his father reminds him of the value of temperance and staying steady, the intelligent boy takes a deep breath and rethinks his path.

Now ready to accept whatever awaits him on the hunt along with his siblings and his beloved uncle, the sensitive teenager resolves to finish the quest. And as the trail leads to the library, an apartment, and a surprising clue pointing to northern Michigan, he’s off on an exhilarating plane flight to embrace his destiny.

Will his journey’s conclusion bring joy and enlightenment, or will Gary find nothing but a dead end?

My thoughts:

Surgery in the Swamp is a perfect wrap-up for the series. All the loose ends were tied up, the boys completed their summer study of the Fruits of the Spirit, and there was even some romance, which took me off guard, but I loved the way it was written. There were a lot of surprises; a number of things came to light that I was not expecting, any more than Terry, Gary, and Larry were. As with all the previous books, the boys respected their parents and did all they could to obey them. When their parents could not go with the boys on an investigatory trip, Uncle Aaron went with them. I really like the healthy family dynamics.

Although the boys (teenagers except for 12-year-old Larry) are carrying out the investigation, they are not acting as adults, but very much acting their age. And the surgery alluded to in the title? Well, that situation sounds entirely plausible! I can imagine my own sons getting themselves into a similar situation. In fact, everything in the series seems quite plausible—although so many exciting things don’t normally happen to one family in the span of nine weeks!

Katrina Hoover Lee has written a wonderful series for children, especially boys, although girls love these books, too. In fact, the families who regularly borrow books from our library like them so well that frequently there are no copies on the shelf. A couple of families are eagerly waiting for the last two books in the series to arrive here. I hope that she will continue writing middle-grade fiction.

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

WARNING: Don’t read this if you can’t handle mentions of 1) rats and 2) blood.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

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

The Wanderer’s Legacy

December 10, 2025 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

10 Dec

Title: The Wanderer’s Legacy
Author: Natasha Woodcraft
Series: The Wanderer series, book 3
Major Themes: Domestic Violence, Pre-Flood world, Ancient Times
Synopsis: Adah thought her husband Lamech loved her—but when she couldn’t give him an heir, her life shattered.

I enjoyed The Wanderer Scorned so much that when I saw an offer to review The Wanderer’s Legacy, I didn’t hesitate to sign up. I was disappointed, when I started reading it, to find that it was book three in The Wanderer series, but as it turned out, reading book two wasn’t necessary. This one stands alone well enough.

Publisher’s description:

Adah lives trapped between the life she yearned for and the life she chose. Childless and desperate, she’s failed to produce an heir for her once-devoted husband, Lamech. As his love turns to obsession and control, Adah finds herself drawn to whispered legends of a mysterious Wanderer.

When Lamech takes a second wife, Adah’s world shatters—sending her fleeing to her family home. There, a fragile sense of freedom awakens long-buried hopes. But her body hides a secret that will propel her back into the heart of danger.

As survival becomes a daily challenge, can a legend offer her the salvation she craves? Or does someone else hold the power to help her dwell in safety?

My thoughts:

I did not get into The Wanderer’s Legacy as much as I did the first book. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t grip me in the same way. I liked the way this author has imagined life before the Flood. We don’t have much information to go on, but what she has come up with sounds quite plausible. While I was reading the book, I went back to Genesis 4 and read again what the Bible has to say about Lamech and Adah and their family, and could see where Natasha Woodcraft has come up with her thoughts about their characters.

It was quite intriguing—and alarming—to see the quick degeneration of humanity, from fairly moral even without a reverence for Yahweh, to utter degradation. And the cause? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

One passage I’ve been mulling over was when Chanoch, Adah’s great-great-something grandfather thought about when he was a young man and considering marriage. The thoughts there about whether the man or the woman should leave his/her family and become part of the other’s family have given me a lot to consider! It makes me think that the way most cultures view marriage, even Western Christian cultures, might be the reverse of what God intended at the beginning.

There are frequent references to s*xual activity, both within and outside of marriage. These are all discrete, no details, but it is obvious what is happening, as well as the repercussions when the marriage covenant is not honored. The way it is written, I would not have a problem with allowing someone in their mid-teens to read the book.

The biggest issue I have with The Wanderer’s Legacy is an issue on which I differ from much of modern Christianity. That is remarriage after divorce. This book seems to condone it, even encourage it. That’s all I will say, for fear of giving spoilers!

Overall, I appreciate this book and series, and would love to read more of the author’s books. The pre-Flood world is an intriguing topic to speculate about!

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

WARNING: Increasing levels of s*xual immorality and violence throughout the story. Stillbirths/miscarriages are described. Domestic violence, especially abusive behavior toward women in the last half. People are killed several times. Not a pretty book, but my guess is that it is quite realistic.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

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

Publisher’s description:

My thoughts:

Age levels:

Links to buy this book:

Publisher’s description:

My thoughts:

Age levels:

Links to buy this series:

A Morbid Taste for Bones, book 1:

One Corpse Too Many, book 2:

Monk’s Hood, book 3:

Publisher’s description:

My thoughts:

Age levels:

Links to buy this book:

Publisher’s description:

My thoughts:

Age levels:

Links to buy this book:

Publisher’s description:

My thoughts:

Age levels:

Links to buy this book: