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Take Cover

March 11, 2026 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

11 Mar

Title: Take Cover
Author: Chautona Havig
Series: The Agency Files, book 7
Major Themes: Murder Mystery, Espionage
Synopsis: Someone is going all out to destroy The Agency—will that person succeed?

I have been enjoying Chautona Havig’s The Agency Files series for quite a few years now. I don’t read many thrillers; since much of my reading happens in the 10-15 minutes just after I go to bed at night before I go to sleep, I have to be careful not to read anything too intense at that time. I make an exception for The Agency Files. What a treat to get to read the second new one in six months when Take Cover released a few weeks ago!

Publisher’s description:

Thief. Arms dealer. Assassin. The list of what Smith Abingdon will do is far longer than what he won’t. He doesn’t deal in drugs or trafficking, but he’s made enough enemies that when someone takes a shot at him—twice—he knows he’s out of chances. The Agency is his last option.

When rumors of Helen Franklin’s return coincide with a call for help from one of the world’s most notorious criminals, Marco Mendina has every reason to be suspicious. But saving lives is the job. And if it ends with Smith handed over to federal agents, that’s not exactly a loss.

Smith, however, has one ace left to play. Risking prosecution and death, he holds out for the perfect moment to play it.

There’s still a traitor inside The Agency. Now they’re protecting an enemy while another closes in. Helen isn’t coming back to negotiate—she’s taking over. And like any good takeover artist, she’ll eliminate the dead weight first.

Her opening move: Keith Auger’s wife.

The Agency will do whatever it takes.

The question is whether it will be enough.

My thoughts:

I found myself quite confused in the first few chapters of Take Cover. After that, though, I got to meet up with old familiar characters again, and when Smith asked The Agency for protection, I really got into the story. Then—the big question arose. Could he be trusted? I couldn’t tell for sure for a long time.

This book nicely wraps up many dangling threads from the previous books in the series. I was delighted to find out what happened to some favorite people from earlier books. I did pretty well know how the book would end up, but had a hard time putting it down until I found out HOW that ending came about. And, there were some major surprises along the way.

I’ve rarely read a book in which so many people were killed off. It seemed like there was non-stop danger! There was a reason for every assassination (or attempted murder), and they all needed to happen.

One thing I liked in this book was the clear presentation of the gospel. There was a lot more of that in this book than in most of Chautona’s books, and certainly more than in any other book in this series. It was naturally woven into the story, which I like.

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

WARNING: Several murders/assassinations, and one scene in which someone fantasizes about kissing someone else.

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

The Enigma Girls

March 9, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

9 Mar

Title: The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II
Author: Candace Fleming
Major Themes: Code Breaking, Math
Synopsis: The inspiring story of the girls who worked in Bletchley Park and cracked codes to help win World War II.

I first heard about The Enigma Girls about a year ago, soon after I read The Bletchley Riddle. I was intrigued because both books were centered around Bletchley Park during World War II, and I knew that one day I’d want to read The Enigma Girls—partly because it’s a subject I’m fascinated with, but also partly because it’s just a lot of fun to compare books sometimes. With books such as The Bletchley Riddle, some elements of history will inevitably be altered to suit the story, so getting two perspectives like this can be useful, anyway. I’m glad I didn’t pick this book up as soon as I heard about it; I ended up needing audiobooks for a job I was doing, so this easily slotted into my reading list early this year!

Publisher’s description:

A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book. With numerous starred reviews and accolades, from award-winning author Candace Fleming, comes the powerful and fascinating story of the brave and dedicated young women who helped turn the tide of World War II for the Allies, with their hard work and determination at Bletchley Park.

“You are to report to Station X at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, in four days’ time…That is all you need to know.” This was the terse telegram hundreds of young women throughout the British Isles received in the spring of 1941, as World War II raged. As they arrived at Station X, a sprawling mansion in a state of disrepair surrounded by Spartan-looking huts with little chimneys coughing out thick smoke―these young people had no idea what kind of work they were stepping into. Who had recommended them? Why had they been chosen? Most would never learn all the answers to these questions.

Bletchley Park was a well-kept secret during World War II, operating under the code name Station X. The critical work of code-cracking Nazi missives that went on behind its closed doors could determine a victory or loss against Hitler’s army. Amidst the brilliant cryptographers, flamboyant debutantes, and absent-minded professors working there, it was teenaged girls who kept Station X running. Some could do advanced math, while others spoke a second language. They ran the unwieldy bombe machines, made sense of wireless sound waves, and sorted the decoded messages. They were expected to excel in their fields and most importantly: know how to keep a secret.

Candace Fleming is the award-winning and highly acclaimed author of Crash from Outer Space, The Curse of the Mummy, and many other nonfiction books for young readers. With her canny and compelling narrative voice she makes history come alive. The recipient of five starred reviews, and thick with tension and suspense, The Enigma Girls is an extraordinary and relatively unknown story of World War II that will fascinate readers who will be thrilled to see young people playing such an important role in the wartime effort.

My thoughts:

If you’ve read many of my other reviews, you know that I love reading about codes and ciphers (and, occasionally, trying to solve them myself). From that perspective, this book was bound to be right down my alley—and I wasn’t at all surprised to find myself drawn into it! What I didn’t expect was the way I got to know each girl or woman as the book went on, in a sort of mini-biography style, as we discovered the different facets of how Bletchley Park worked. I found that quite intriguing, and enjoyed learning about these girls who went on to carry such heavy secrets through most of their lives.

One of the biggest things that struck me in this book was just how hard these girls had to work. These weren’t just your typical 9–5 desk jobs; this work started earlier and finished later than many jobs, and because of the type of highly secretive work these girls did, they couldn’t talk about it to anyone. It took all they had—and more, sometimes—to try to crack the German code, and if that wasn’t enough, they also frequently had the burden of knowing that if they didn’t crack the code, people’s lives were at stake. And even once they were able to decipher the messages, they had to deal with knowing what Germany’s plans were—and couldn’t tell anyone what they knew, or do anything to stop German bombs. The stress those girls were under was intense!

One thing I particularly found interesting was the discussion around the computers they were using to do calculations and (if I remember right) deciphering encoded messages. It’s incredible to think of how far technology has advanced between the early 1940s and now!

If you enjoy reading biographies or any sort of true story illustrating part of our history, I’d highly recommend you check out The Enigma Girls. I was worried, going into the book, that it might have feminist leanings, but I didn’t pick up on any of that at all. Instead, this book focuses on different aspects of what made Bletchley Park so successful, and tells the stories of some of the girls who helped to make that happen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’d love to have it on the shelf in our home library one day!

WARNING: Chapter 3: Good God. Chapter 31: Gosh, worked like the devil. Chapter 44: Description of D-Day. Chapter 47: What in heaven’s name.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above

Links to buy this book:

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

The Trouble Begins at 8

March 6, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

6 Mar

Title: The Trouble Begins at 8
Author: Sid Fleischman
Major Themes: Mark Twain, Writers, Biographies, Literature, Wild West
Synopsis: A biography of Mark Twain’s life, from his childhood as the son of a down-and-out wannabe business man, through to his rise in popularity as one of America’s great authors.

Several months ago, I listened to Sid Fleischman’s biography of Houdini, Escape!. That was a fascinating book, and I knew that I wanted to try some of Fleischman’s other biographies at some stage. When one of my brothers borrowed the audiobook of The Trouble Begins at 8, I took advantage of having it available and listened to it, too. This is another great Fleischman book. Although I don’t always enjoy the language he uses sometimes, I appreciate his writing style and the way he draws us into his characters’ lives, whether they are real people from history or completely made up.

Publisher’s description:

“Mark Twain was born fully grown, with a cheap cigar clamped between his teeth.” So begins Sid Fleischman’s ramble-scramble biography of the great American author and wit, who started life in a Missouri village as a barefoot boy named Samuel Clemens.

Abandoning a career as a young steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, Sam took a bumpy stagecoach to the Far West. In the gold and silver fields, he expected to get rich quick. Instead, he got poor fast, digging in the wrong places. His stint as a sagebrush newspaperman led to a duel with pistols. Had he not survived, the world would never have heard of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn—or red-headed Mark Twain.

Samuel Clemens adopted his pen name in a hotel room in San Francisco and promptly made a jumping frog (and himself) famous. His celebrated novels followed at a leisurely pace; his quips at jet speed. “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education,” he wrote.

Here, in high style, is the story of a wisecracking adventurer who came of age in the untamed West; an ink-stained rebel who surprised himself by becoming the most famous American of his time. Bountifully illustrated.

My thoughts:

As soon as I got into The Trouble Begins at 8, I realized that I knew a lot less about Samuel Clemens than I thought I did. Hearing about his growing-up years—and the way he eventually became an author—was fascinating, not to mention rather humorous at times! I was surprised by how often he faced poverty, and things like his terribly long journey with his brother were fascinating to hear about—especially considering some of the journeys he sent his characters on later in life!

If you’re looking for an interesting, well-written biography about this well-known author of classic literature, I’d recommend you check out this book. I’m glad I took the time to read it, if nothing else but to get a slightly different perspective on the likes of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. It’s also a fascinating peek into what the “wild” west looked like during Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain’s lifetime—so from a historical perspective, this book is worth reading right there! I enjoyed this biography, and I’m looking forward to checking out other biographies by Sid Fleischman if I get the chance.

WARNING: Chapter 3: Stealing, boy sees a dead body. Chapter 5: Confounded, so help me Moses. Chapter 7: Going to a fortune teller. Chapter 13: Lying. Chapter 16: Confound it. Chapter 19: You shameless ass, man watches girls bathing. Chapter 21: By George. Chapter 23: God knows where. Afterstory: Confounded, I’ve been…an ass.

Age levels:

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

Links to buy this book:

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

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

March 4, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · 1 Comment

4 Mar

Title: The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
Author: Syrie James
Major Themes: Historical Fiction, Writers, Jane Austen
Synopsis: Jane Austen may be one of the best-known female authors in classic literature, but not all of her life’s secrets, including the inspiration behind her beloved stories, were known…until now.

Near the end of 2024, I came across a Jane Austen read-along that immediately intrigued me. I’ve been wanting to get through my collection of Austen’s books for years, but never quite took the time. This one looked doable—and fun! The book for January was The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, and I was delighted to find an audio version of the book, which I was able to listen to at work. I ended up reading the book in one day—it was a delightful story, grabbing my attention and not letting go, even after I got home from work!

Publisher’s description:

Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane’s life—finally, the truth may have been found.…

What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen’s memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That’s the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen’s life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.

Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.

Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen’s own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author’s romantic tales. It’s a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.

My thoughts:

I’ve only physically read Pride and Prejudice so far in my Jane Austen repertoire. I’m pretty sure I listened to most of them years ago, but for some reason (probably because I was sewing at the time and didn’t catch everything that was being said above the hum of the machine), I didn’t get a whole lot out of them. Still, I’ve watched movies and TV adaptations of several of the books, and have fallen in love with the storylines. So when it came to The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, I was curious what I’d think of this book. I wouldn’t say I’m overly familiar with Austen’s works or writing style, but I’m familiar enough that when I got into this one, it immediately felt like I had come home.

Syrie James is a great author. She sucked me in within the first few pages, and I found myself rooting for Jane Austen in a way that I didn’t expect. I believe a lot of the basic historical information in this book is based on real events, and the way it was shared here made it unforgettable.

My favorite part of the book—by far!—was the way Syrie James managed to incorporate parts of nearly all of Austen’s novels into the plot in one way or another…but in such a way that they didn’t feel like they were shouting, “Hey! I came from the _____ book!” As I said before, I don’t know all of Jane Austen’s novels very well—I’m the most familiar with Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion—but I found places in this book where inspiration was pulled from those three books. At multiple points, James seemed to be asking, “What kind of real-life experience could have inspired the major plot twists in these stories?”—and then included that in the narrative of Jane Austen’s life. It was brilliant, it was fun, and as an aspiring author myself, I loved seeing how real life could have been pulled into Austen’s fiction writing.

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen was a delightful, fast-paced, engaging read. I believe any Jane Austen fan would enjoy this book, even if only because this story is full of nods to Austen’s beloved characters. It’s also good fiction in its own right! I did have to laugh at myself when I finished the story—the ending felt so realistic to me that I had to do a Google search to make sure that it was actually fiction, not really a memoir as the introduction and afterward claimed to be. I feel like that should have been obvious, but Syrie James did a great job making me wonder for a while, anyway. If you love realistic regency fiction, or have ever enjoyed one of Jane Austen’s books (or even just an adaptation of one of her works!), I’d highly recommend you check this book out. It’s a fun one!

WARNING: I may not have gotten all the language, since I listened to the audiobook. Here are the notes I took: Chapter 5: What in God’s name. Chapter 8: I’ll be dashed. Chapter 17: Good God. Chapter 18: Lying. Chapter 23: Several kisses. Chapter 24: Palm reading, a kiss. Chapter 25: A kiss. Chapter 26: A kiss.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

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

National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry

March 2, 2026 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

2 Mar

National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry cover

Title: National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry
Edited by: J. Patrick Lewis
Major Themes: Poetry, Nature
Synopsis: A beautiful collection of nature poetry, interspersed with vivid, full-page photography.

My sisters and I enjoy reading poetry together on some evenings, and one of the books we recently finished was the National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry. We read their book about animal poetry about a year ago, and loved that—the stunning pictures, combined with endearing and thoughtfully selected poems, made for a delightful reading experience. I didn’t appreciate all of the poems in that book; a few touched on topics I don’t agree with, but overall, I really appreciated that collection.

When it came to this book, we excitedly dove into it, expecting more great poetry. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

Publisher’s description:

When words in verse are paired with the awesomeness of nature, something magical happens! Beloved former U.S. Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis curates an exuberant poetic celebration of the natural world in this stellar collection of nature poems. From trickling streams to deafening thunderstorms to soaring mountains, discover majestic photography perfectly paired with contemporary (such as Billy Collins), classics (such as Robert Frost), and never-before-published works.

My thoughts:

One of the biggest things I enjoyed about this book—and the same thing I loved about the Animals book—was the photography. These pages brim with vivid color and life, drawing you into the action alongside the poetry. I love these pictures. They aren’t stylized in any way; they’re nature at its fullest and best, and that was delightful to me. I also love that there are notes with every picture, telling you what you’re looking at—and inviting further exploration into the topic, if you are so inclined.

Not everything was all hunky-dory, however. I don’t remember when I first started noticing it, but soon after we started the National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry, I realized that some of the poems had a weird mystical/spiritual element to them. It was subtle, and not in every poem, but there was enough that it started to almost feel like a pattern. As can be expected with the topic, there were semi-frequent allusions to evolution; since it was expected, that didn’t bother me much. But when you get into spiritualism other than worshipping, praising, and glorifying God for what He’s made, I struggle with that.

On the flip side, one thing I loved about this book was the way it introduced me to several places in the world that I never knew about before: The Great Blue Hole and Catatumbo Lightning, to name two of them. One of my sisters and I found those mentions so interesting that we took the time to look them up on YouTube after reading poems about those places. Another one that gripped my youngest sister’s imagination was the Christmas Island crabs—we enjoyed watching a couple of videos after reading about them, too.

Overall, while I wanted to love the National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry, and there were certainly several very lovable/educational elements, I came away from the book disappointed. Unfortunately, I don’t think this book will stay on our shelves, but I am thankful for the poems my sisters and I did get to enjoy together in this collection.

WARNING: Throughout the book, there are some allusions to evolution. Some of the poems also carry an element of mysticism in them, and many, many mentions of Mother Nature. Page 5: “Travel by photograph or on foot, but go quickly before nature disappears.” (While I agree that it’s sad that things are disappearing from the world, I didn’t like the implication that people are to blame when sin is the root issue.) Page 10: “I stand in good relation to the gods.” Page 35: And said that he’d kill and kill. Page 103: “Leaves browse on the sun like gods.” Page 123: A poem about global warming. Page 128: “The weather gods.” Page 145: Poem praising nature and ends with pledging allegiance to a place, “one ecosystem in diversity.” Page 152: Allusion to evolution. Page 155: “The gods conspire to produce.…” Page 157: Mention of millions of years. Page 159: “Men call me [Mount Everest] ‘Holy’ .” Page 162: Millions of years. Page 163: “All is one and one is all.” Page 167: Talking about Ayers Rock in a mystical sense. Page 175: Evolution. Page 177: Old Indian prayer. Page 180: “Who is Mother Nature?” (article about “her”).

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 3 – 4, 5 – 8, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com