I mentioned this book to my subscribers a few weeks ago, and I promised a full review, so today, that’s exactly what I plan to do!

Euphonics for Writers by Rayne Hall
(2015)
3.5 Stars

Learn how to touch your readers' subconscious with subtle tricks.

Certain sounds have certain effects on the mind. By using words which include those sounds, you influence how the reader feels

Rayne Hall is the author of the bestselling Writer's Craft series. Her short stories have been published in many anthologies, and some of her books have been translated into several languages.

 *I cannot recommend anything else she writes as I have either not read or would never read them*

I found out about this book through this article, and I was truly intrigued. I had a free Kindle Unlimited Subscription, so I decided to check it out. The concept of using specific sounds to evoke a setting for a scene was fascinating to me and something I certainly plan to play around with. Like the author said, too much can ruin the story, but a light sprinkling can make your story shine!

I didn’t appreciate some inappropriate adult-rated content that was in the book (she was using this for all genres, and some aren’t fit for anyone’s eyes and got skipped!), so I wouldn’t just hand this to a young reader without editing it first. There were also two short stories at the end that are inappropriate (horror and ghost stories) that I skipped. Other than that, I think it was a useful manual and one that I would like to have a print copy of so I can censor it and put it to use!

Have a blessed day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello! Today, I have a fun collaboration with Author Kassie Angle to share with you today! We are expounding on a total of 10 things that Military and Ministry kids (MKs) can relate to! So click here to read her post first, then slide on down to read 6-10 here! (PSST! If you are subscribed to my email list, you get to know my take on the first 5!)

Note || I can only speak for myself on these issues and my own personal experience. Attitude is everything, and if you are raised with a selfless mindset, that makes all the difference!

Ministry kids vary, but a lot of us have moved several times. Traveling a lot during the year counts too 😉 I have personally moved five times in my life, living in four different locations. Military kids can undoubtedly sympathize with me here! When dad gets stationed somewhere else, its pack up and go. The same is true for Ministry kids. We go where Dad and our family has been called to! And I’ve been excited every time! There was never a choice in the matter, and that didn’t bother me. It’s not my choice to make anyway. Just accept it, embrace it, and enjoy the ride!

My siblings are my best friends, not gonna lie. I don’t need other people to change that for me. While I certainly enjoy having friends as we travel, I get along just fine (I’m one of seven kids, y’all, things are never dull 😉).

That being said, as a ministry kid, I have learned the importance of a friendly spirit, while being on guard. Are these people going to be a good influence on me? Can I help them in some way while I’m here? Can I bring honor to God through my relationship with them, no matter how long or short term it is?

I can’t vouch for anyone else, but most of my friends are much older or at least a few years younger than me! My generation tends toward cliques, and I want no part of that. Some places we go, I don’t “hit it off” with anyone. Other places, it’s like we’ve known each other for life!

The long and short of it is, I’m not looking for friends. It’s just a bonus when I find one!

Yes, yes, yes! I cannot fathom trying to be a ministry family while trying to attend a school, Christian or not! We need to be flexible, and (in an average year XP), we have a lot of out of town meetings. It’s not possible to always leave everyone behind (we sing when our dad preaches), and no school on earth would put up with us being gone so much, lol! I can imagine that being a military kid would also benefit when you’re never sure when Dad will have some time off for a quick trip to visit family. And who wants to do school when dad just got home from Afghanistan in the middle of October??? Seriously! So as homeschoolers, when things come up, and we need time off, we can double up to take days off or make-up days we missed.

Also, ministry/military kids tend to be some of the most patriotic kids around (I am not saying you have to be in the ministry or the military to be patriotic 😉), so we tend to reject mainstream educational trends. With homeschool, we know precisely what our kiddos are learning and can make sure that what they learn is Biblical and Historically sound!

And hence I try to come up with a way to explain this. The short answer is, it’s impossible, but anyone in either group is nodding their head right now. We have our inside jokes and favorite books/films. We have our favorite events of the year and the games we play. We understand each other pretty well, and we know when one of us is being a little over dramatic about a situation 😊 I mean, you don’t have to be one of us to play with us or talk with us, but you might not understand all of our references, just saying 😉

Not proud in the sense that we are boastful. I think a better word for it is grateful, appreciative that God chose us for this, even when we didn’t. I am so thankful to be a ministry kid, and I hope my kids someday will have the same privilege. God is so good, and He writes the best life stories.

Are you letting Him write yours?
 
That's it for now! Don't forget to swing by Kassie's blog if you haven't already!
Have a blessed day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Well, It’s time for another book review. I had mentioned this book in my Summer Reading List, and I just now got around to writing this. I wanted to like this book. Let’s find out if I did or not.

All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner
(2019)
1 Star

When Annie Jacobson's brother Mike enlists as a medic in the Army in 1967, he hands her a piece of paper with the address of their long-estranged father. If anything should happen to him in Vietnam, Mike says, Annie must let their father know.

In Mike's absence, their father returns to face tragedy at home, adding an extra measure of complication to an already tense time. As they work toward healing and pray fervently for Mike's safety overseas, letter by letter the Jacobsons must find a way to pull together as a family, regardless of past hurts. In the tumult of this time, Annie and her family grapple with the tension of holding both hope and grief in the same hand, even as they learn to turn to the One who binds the wounds of the brokenhearted.

Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author... She speaks at retreats and women's events across the state. Susie and her husband have three children and live in West Michigan.

As you can see, I didn’t like this book. I will start with a disclaimer, I only read 37% (partway through chapter 20, page 160 of 448) of the ebook, so maybe it got better, I don’t know. But I couldn’t get passed all the messed up/unbiblical relationships, ungodly behavior, and then on top of it all, they decided to toss in the Civil Rights movement, which is an era I never care to read about. It’s so often misrepresented, and this was no exception. I appreciated that it was set in Michigan, so the story didn’t blame all the insanity on the South. The main character was telling lies or deceiving her mom in just about every chapter, and it’s not clear what anyone thinks about the Vietnam war. I couldn’t connect with the main character at all. It’s an overall disappointment. I had to stop reading; I was too afraid of where it was going. So yeah, I don’t recommend this book to anyone.
 
Sorry today’s review wasn’t a positive one. I much prefer writing those kinds. Hopefully, my next review will be better! Why not check out my reviews of O To Be Like Thee, Iron Scouts of the Confederacy, or Let’s Roll!?

Hope you have a Blessed Week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello! Hope you’ve had a blessed week so far! I have a fun post to share with you today that I hope you will enjoy! I’m going to list all the upcoming books that I am anticipating! Then, I’m going to list some books that have been out, but I haven’t read yet! So here we go!!

Stop the Rain by Kassie Angle

About the Book ||

He left his entire world in Iraq. So why did the war follow him home?

Harley Keane and his best friend Nigel were just kids when 9/11 rocked their world and changed their lives forever. When they’re finally old enough to join the army, all their childhood dreams seem about to come true. But war wasn’t supposed to be like this. A kid’s dream isn’t supposed to become a living nightmare. Fellow soldiers aren’t supposed to bleed out in front of your eyes.

Back home, safe and unwounded, Harley feels anything but. Why would God spare him when so many others were taken? Why won’t the nightmares stop, even when he’s awake? And how long can he hide the truth that threatens everything he has left? When Harley’s invisible scars refuse to stay hidden, will he let anyone close enough to help? And how do you go on with life when “okay” isn’t okay at all?

Coming November 11, 2020

My Thoughts ||

This is my number one anticipated read! I’ve loved everything Kassie has written, and I had the privilege of Alpha reading this book for her! I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to read the revised version, but I cannot wait to hold this book baby in my hands.

A Fine Day Tomorrow by Amanda Tero

About the Book||

Essie March never planned to do much with her life, being the sickly one of the family. And just as she starts to pursue her dream of nursing, it seems that everything stands in her way to prevent it. Inspired by Little Women.

Coming October 26th, 2020

My Thoughts ||

This book is part of a collection, but I’m personally just interested in this one, lol! I’ve loved everything Amanda has written, and I can’t wait for this one to be added to my collection! I beta read this one, and I just know the revisions will make it even better than it already was!
 

A Secret Place of Thunder by Alicia Ruggieri

About the Book ||

Edna Sue O’Connell came back to the Kentucky hills out of duty and can’t wait for the chance to escape again. Her work as a horseback librarian in rural Appalachia provides enough income for her invalid father to survive in the midst of the Great Depression, but it affords her with little else.

When an opportunity arises for Edna to take on an additional book delivery area, she spies a glimmer of hope that she might find a way out of Willow Hollow after all… and that she might actually make something of her life apart from the tragedy that has filled it thus far.

But the new routes give Edna more than she ever bargained for. Slowly, she finds that the mountains contain many valuable secrets – if she has the grit to meet them.

The Secret Place of Thunder is part of the Librarians of Willow Hollow multi-author novella collection. Each novella stands on its own but is connected to the others in this historical Christian fiction series set in 1930s Appalachia.

My Thoughts ||

I’ve never read this author, but I’ve been working through all the books in this series, so I’m eager to see how the final Librarian of Willow Hollow compares with the others! (Reviews for Book 2 and 3 coming soon!)
 
Fair in War (Book 8 in the Emily Abbott Series) by Perry Kirkpatrick

About the Book ||

She expected popcorn and cheap prizes--not a front row seat to crime and conspiracy...

When Brent's brother, Carter, unexpectedly arrives in Phoenix bearing important intel, Brent disappears into their world of espionage and world-saving, leaving Emily feeling left out. Telling herself she doesn't really belong in their world anyway, she determines to enjoy her afternoon at the state fair with Izzy.

But as she sees more and more familiar faces in the crowds and among the vendors, it becomes clear something more is going on.

(This is just a working blurb. Subject to change.)

My Thoughts ||

This is a favorite series of mine, and I can’t wait to see what happens next with our favorite Accidental Spy! (Click here for my review of this series!)

The Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk by Carolyn Keene

About the Book ||

A trunk that Nancy receives from her father for a trip to Buenos Aires becomes the center of a mystery.

My Thoughts ||

I love Nancy Drew books, and this is the next one in our read through! The 60’s rewrites are the best out there, as the 1930s are so feministic, and the ‘70s are just garbage. Thankfully, our library has ‘60s versions!
 
Soldier Dogs #5, #6 and 7 by Marcus Sutter

About the Books ||

Book #5: Battle of the Bulge

A loyal army of sled dog teams up with an unlikely pair of kids to help Allied forces win the Battle of the Bulge.

Boss the Alaskan Husky is parachuting into the middle of a snowstorm. As an army dog, it’s her job to bring supplies to Allied troops during the Battle of the Bulge. But when she finds a wounded sled dog and two lost kids, she knows she has to help them, too.

As the blizzard bears down, can Boss complete her mission, escape the Nazis, and get the kids out of the storm alive?

Book #6: Heroes on the Home Front

Twin siblings give their dog to the Coast Guard during WWII only to discover a German threat in their hometown.

When they hear about the Dogs for Defense program, twins Charlie and Kate know their yellow lab Buster would be a perfect soldier dog. So they enlist Buster in the Coast Guard, where he works alongside Army horseback patrols to protect US shores from German U-boat attacks.

Back home, Charlie and Kate discover a threat of their own—a coded message about a Nazi sabotage plan! With danger on every side, can Charlie, Kate, and Buster to defend US shores from the Axis Powers?

Book #7: Shipwreck on the High Seas (Blurb to come)

My Thoughts||

I love this series (Dogs, WWII, Military in general…what’s not to love??) Reviews on all three coming soon! (Click the links for reviews of Book 1, 2, 3, and 4!)
 
Captive at Kangaroo Springs by Robert Elmer

About the Book||

Book 2 in the Adventures Down Under for middle-grade readers. Bushrangers take Patrick's sister hostage, then Patrick is captured. Can they find a way to stop the bounty hunters' terrible plan?

My Thoughts||

This is the second book in The Adventures Down Under Series! Can’t wait for more Aussie culture and mystery! Will Mr. McQuaid be proven innocent this time??
 
Structuring Your Novel by K. M. Weiland

About the Book||

Is Structure the Hidden Foundation of All Successful Stories?

Why do some stories work and others don’t? The answer is structure. In this new guide from the author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, you will discover the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. An understanding of proper story and scene structure will help you to not only perfectly time your story’s major events, but will also provide you with an unerring standard to use in evaluating your novel’s pacing and progression.

I so enjoyed her last book I read that I jumped at the chance to get this one for review! Can’t wait to share the review when I finish!
 
Well, I could list many more, but I’ll just leave it there 😉
Hope you have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello! Welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! Today I have a lovely story to share with you from an Indie published author that I have come to enjoy! If you like history, family trees, and westerns, then I have a story for you! Let’s dive in!

Woodbreak
By Rebekah A. Morris
Woodbreak Series Prequel
(2020)
5 Stars
||Amazon||

Who holds the key to Woodbreak's hidden past? When Ryan and Robin decide to search out the history of their family's ranch, their quest leads them to an old box filled with curious artifacts. Who was the mysterious Anna? What brought her west? And what connection does she have to the strange name carved into the log? A peek into Anna's diary reveals a few answers but even more questions. Is there anyone who can show them the truth of Woodbreak?

Rebekah A. Morris has lived her entire life (as of now) in Missouri. Being home educated during her school years was great, except for writing. That was the worst subject (along with math) that she had to do. It wasn't until after she graduated that she discovered the joys and wonder of writing. Now she can't write enough. After spending six years in research and writing, she completed her first book, "Home Fires of the Great War," a 500+ page, historical fiction about home life in the United States and Canada during the First World War. Since then, she has been an avid writer and always has more than one story going on at once because only one story at a time got tiring and dull.

This book was so sweet! I instantly fell in love with the characters, Anna and Eddy, mainly. The story was written in modern-day with diary excerpts from 1872 sprinkled throughout. This is the backstory to the series, so it actually didn’t have a powerful western flare to it. But it had enough to make me want to read book 1 as soon as I can! The book is 5 chapters long and can be read in about half an hour, a nice quick read! Suitable for all ages. Please note there is mention of an accident that injures a character, and *spoiler* kills three people *end of spoiler*, but there are no details given that would be upsetting to sensitive readers. It describes the lasting effects it has on the one injured, and that’s it! And even though the story was quite short, I mourned for the characters and already felt a connection to them. And the aspect of why God allows trials in our life was very well presented. Highly recommended for all ages.

*I received a complimentary copy of Woodbreak from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts are my own. *

That's all for now! Have a Blessed Day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22