 My Review Recommended for 16+ 🧵🪡|| Content Meter: 4/5 🧵🪡|| Quality Meter: 9/10 🧵🪡|| Personal Enjoyment: 8 🧵🪡|| Overall: 8/10 🧵🪡 The Story This is the second time I've read this book. Frankly, I am in a better place to be reading this book. The first time was too soon and I didn't appreciate it. But this time...I adore it. Alice is a dear and I deeply identify with her. Claire too, but in an out of context way 🤣 Nettie is by far my favorite character and I would love a whole book about her 🥰 Ivy is a dear and the whole story is one big Victorian hug. 🧵🪡 I'll sandwich my complaints between the praise, I've only two. The part about the War Between the States didn't fit, it felt completely random (Also, I listened to part of the audio book and y'all, southerners don't sound like that 🙄). The second issue is that most of the time, I just thought I was in turn of the century New York rather than Victorian England, but that may just be me. 🧵🪡 It's deep and uncomfortable but in a way people need to be made uncomfortable. Prejudging people is not okay. It just isn't. And even if the person is in the wrong, you will never help them see it if you cast them out. I firmly believe that. Jesus didn't refuse to speak to those who rejected Him and neither should we. I am very much looking forward to binging the rest of the series! 🧵🪡 The Aesthetic This book is a book that makes me want to grab a cup of tea; fabric, thread, old sewing machines; tea, finger sandwiches and tea cakes; lace, pearls and ponies; handkerchiefs, kittens and school books; Dickens, shop girls and butlers🧵🪡 The Writing I’ve said it before, Kelly’s is a talented author. I’ve never seen someone craft a story on such a taboo topic with such grace and honesty, balanced with struggle, realistic conflict and grounded truth. I can honestly say, this is a book I would gladly recommend to my friends.🧵🪡 The Vibe This book gives a vibe of desperation, perseverance, love, agony, betrayal and fulfillment. It’s moody with the rainy London backdrop and cheery with the visits out of the city. It’s a reminder that olden days weren’t perfect, yes, far from it. There is darkness…but also Light…🧵🪡 The Content Insinuations of immorality happening in the past, but no details; mentions/assumptions of assault; mention (vague) of how babies are made; mention of running away; verbally/emotionally abusive father; SPOILER: forced annulment and the man remarried while first wife is living, but the situation is resolved in a biblical manner.🧵🪡
Have you read this book? If so, did you enjoy it? If not, would you? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Hello and welcome back to Life of Heritage! I am so excited to review Pride and Prejudice, my first classic of 2022! I don't know why I put off Jane Austen for so long!  My Review || 🦚 Recommended for 16+ 🦚|| Content Meter: 4/5 🦚|| Quality Meter: 10/10 🦚|| Personal Enjoyment: 10/10 🦚|| Overall Rating: 9/10 🦚 I always thought this book was a romance. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was not that at all. Not in the typical sense at least! No talk of anything remotely sensual! It was a breath of fresh air. 🦚
I would not call this a love story either, for only one of the couples truly loved each other. The last couple in the story might as well, but it was hard to tell. Seemed to me more like they just respected each other 🤣 But such was the times they lived in. 🦚 The best way to describe this masterpiece is as societal satire. It exposes the stupidity and flippancy with which Regency English society regarded marriage without coming right out and saying it. Anyone could see Austen’s brilliance in tackling the subject! She had me laughing for the first half of the book and nearly in tears for the second half. 🦚 One thing this book emphasized for me? Communication is key. Just come right out and say what you mean! Then all this back and forth could be avoided! 🦚 My favorite character was Elizabeth even though she frustrated me more than once 😅 Darcy grew on me 😉 I despise Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins. If you don't know why, you haven't read the book 😁Oh, Lydia and her excuse for a husband too. 🦚 Overall, I adore this book and will be reading it again! 🦚 Content || Mention of a couple living together prior to marriage but not that anything happened besides that. Basically, they stayed in the same house. Still wrong! Have you read Pride and Prejudice? Have a blessed day and God Bless America! Ryana Lynn and Dixie Cross😉 Jude 22 Hello everyone! It was really hard to pick my top ten books from last year 😊 I didn’t read a whole lot and while I read several good ones, there weren’t a whole lot of favorites. Even so there were some super good books that stood out above the rest, and I’m excited to share them with you! (PSST! I hit 33 weeks on Wednesday! How crazy is that??)  (All Book Images are from Goodreads)  6| Tattered Wings by Kassie Angle Yes, this is a reread. Yes, I have harped on and on about this book and how good it is. Yes, this is one of my top favorite books ever. And yes, it technically rates higher than most of the books on this list. BUT. Sense it is a reread and I do talk about this book a lot, I decided to put it at the bottom and let the new books get some spotlight. Does that mean my love for it has diminished? Not at all *halo* and if you are a fan, comment below so we can fangirl! (Click here for my review!)  5| O To Be Like Thee by Kassie Angle *Clears throat* Please reread the above paragraph. Still applies. (Click here for my review!)  4| The Colour Red by Katja H. Labonté This book is undergoing rewrites and hasn’t officially released, but I highly recommend it! I loved the unfinished version I read so much and can’t wait to read the revised edition! It’s the story of a boy named Jay and his journey through trial and triumph as he learns to love again and be loved by they family he never had but always needed. This book is written especially for those who deal with emotional and mental health issues and as someone who deals with mild forms of depression, I found it a balm for my heart. Highly recommend! (Click here for my review!)  3| Shadows at Crag Cottage by Victoria Minks When I found out that Victoria Minks had a new book out, I was elated! And to discover it was a series was even better! I’m not a huge fan of the regency-esque era, but this book made me second guess my stance. I decided, because of this book, to take a chance on Jane Austen and I’m not sorry! Some light romance in this story, even though marriage and such is the center of their lives, but it’s more in a comical light than a disgusting “oh, he’s a dreamboat!” fashion. It’s appropriate and well written. And the ending! I was on the edge of my seat! Can’t wait for Episode 2! (Click here for my review!)  2| Oh, the Fallen by Abigail Kay Harris This book ripped my heart out. If you ever need a good cry, go get you a copy of this little baby and lock yourself in your room for the afternoon. Tissues recommended. Y’all know I’m a softy for a good military read and this one…yeah, let’s just say I can’t wait to read the next book! (Click here for my review!) And now, for the top book of 2021…  1| Modern Warriors by Pete Hegseth Surprise, surprise XD I predicted in my review post that this would make it onto my top ’21 list and it sure did! I want desperately to reread it, but I have to finish some other books before I can justify pouring over this lovely soldier to civilian compilation. If you get the chance, snag this book! (Click here for my review!) What were your favorite books of 2021? Comment below and share your favorites!
Have a blessed day and God Bless America! Ryana Lynn (and Baby Girl Peterson!) Hello and welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! I hope you are having an amazing Monday! I’ve been promising book reviews for a while and today I am bringing you two! I’ve always had a morbid fascination with the murder of Abraham Lincoln (call it what it is, don’t hide behind fancy words) and have read more about it than the battle of Gettysburg and that’s saying a lot, since that is my favorite battle to study, lol! (Would y’all like a 10TRF post about the Lincoln Murder? Comment below!)  These reviews are of two different books by the same author. The first is the young people’s version of the second, and tbh, I was surprised by how different they were. Without further ado, let’s jump into these reviews!  About the Book || NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author James Swanson delivers a riveting account of the chase for Abraham Lincoln's assassin. Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and the manhunters, CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER is a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia. -From Amazon About the Author || James L. Swanson is the award-winning author of the bestseller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. His other books include Chasing Lincoln's Killer, an adaptation of Manhunt for young adults, and his follow-up, "The President Has Been Shot!: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy", which was a finalist for the YALSA-ALA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction award. He has held a number of government and think-tank posts in Washington, D.C. My Review || This book was good for the most part! It had excellent information, though some basic facts needed correcting. It assumed too strongly that Dr. Mudd was deserved to be punished when his only crime was knowing B ooth. Though it did clarify he wasn’t involved in killing Lincoln. It also pushed the Lincoln Worship narrative to an almost cultish point in my opinion for a children’s book. It was very heavy-handed on calling the Confederacy rebels and such. It seemed more like an indoctrination campaign, lol! I did appreciate how much detail was put into this book! It’s a great comprehensive book for young people that gives them information that will encourage them to share with others! It’s not the generic fact book; it’s got unique little-known facts! At the conclusion of the book, there was a comment about Lincoln being the hero of the story; this was not true, as he had little “screen time” and most of the things said about him were incorrect. There was no protagonist in this story. Nothing wrong with that! Not all stories have a good guy. I recommend it for anyone who loves history, true crime, and dramatic anti-heroes! Recommended for 14+ || Content meter: 3.5* || Quality: 6 || Personal Enjoyment: 5 || Overall: 5 *One major swear word that I remember, in a quote. There is also great detail about injuries/blood. Moderate censoring is needed for younger readers.  Manhunt: The 12-Day Hunt for Lincoln’s Killer By James L. Swanson Adult Narrative Non-Fiction 2006 5 Stars || Amazon || About the Book || The murder of Abraham Lincoln set off the greatest manhunt in American history--the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth. From April 14 to April 26, 1865, the assassin led Union cavalry troops on a wild, 12-day chase from the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia, while the nation, still reeling from the just-ended Civil War, watched in horror and sadness. Based on rare archival materials, obscure trial transcripts, and Lincoln’s own blood relics Manhunt is a fully documented, fascinating tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal. A gripping hour-by-hour account told through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters, it is history as it’s never been read before. About the Author || James L. Swanson is the author of the New York Times bestseller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. He is an attorney who has written about history, the Constitution, popular culture, and other subjects for a variety of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, American Heritage, Smithsonian, and the Los Angeles Times. Mr. Swanson serves on the advisory council of the Ford's Theatre Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign and is a member of the advisory committee of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. My Review || This book is my favorite! It’s chock full of information that is incredibly difficult to find! People you had no idea were connected with the death of Lincoln and Booth, the mad dash through Virginia, and the final hours of both men.
There is some mild Lincoln worship and anti-southern propaganda, but not nearly as bad as the children’s version. There are multiple swear words in quotes that need censoring and there are some “Too much information!” moments that should be censored out. Remember, Booth was an actor, and the actors’ reputation of today applies to the past as well. The sections on Boston Corbett also need attention! I learned so much about how Washington City was laid out, how interconnected the people were in each other's lives and how such a scheme could be pulled off with just a few hours' notice. It’s disturbing! Thank God we have more safeguards in place now, but it’s alarming just the same. I do wish they had emphasized more how the South did not sanction or condone Booth’s actions. So I will say it for the author: we do NOT as a whole believe that this was a proper move. As much as I dislike Lincoln, this was not the proper course of justice. It was his night to die, or he would not have died. But it was not Booth’s call to make; that was God’s. I recommend this book to anyone who loves history, narrative non-fiction, and true crime. It’s well written and well executed! Grab a copy today! Recommended for 18+ || Content meter: 3 || Quality: 10 || Personal Enjoyment: 9 || Overall: 9 Have you read these books? Do you have a recommendation for a book on this subject? Would you like a post of random facts about the Lincoln Murder? Comment below! Have a Blessed Day and God Bless America! Ryana Lynn Jude 22 It's Memorial Day!! What better way to honor those who gave it all on a book blog then to share about a book with the same goal in mind? This is probably one of my top books of the year so far, so without further ado, let's get into it!  Oh, the Fallen Abigail Kay Harris May 31st, 2021 Military Romance (Mild) Recommended 12+ for Understanding 4 Stars About the Book || In the cause of freedom, some will give their all. When Matt Renicker joins the Army, he's determined to give his best for his country and his Lord, even if it means risking everything he loves most. But when tragedy strikes on a routine patrol, more than one heart is left shattered and lamenting. In the wake of a terrible loss, will those left behind find the strength to go on? Or will the faith, family, and freedom Matt fought to preserve be broken beyond repair? Goodreads || Amazon About the Author ||  Abigail Kay Harris is a daughter of the King with a personal degree in book-nerdiness. A sister to seven, her passionate love of the written word and deeper meanings hidden in normal things leads her to spend her time reading, writing, using sarcasm, and defining obscure words. When she’s not chasing words, she enjoys watching shows, classic romance movies, tea, sunrises, and the outdoors, especially mountains, beaches, and forests. Follow/contact links:
Guest Post || The Story Behind Oh, the Fallen Oh, The Fallen is my first finished story over 10,000 words that made it to a final draft. I had nearly given up on ever finishing another story after dealing with writers’ block for a long time. Oh, The Fallen came from a fun little (and yes, sad) flash fiction I wrote last summer based on the song I Drive Your Truck, it was super short, between 200-500 words and I set it aside after sharing it with some friends. Well, my family was on a road trip and on road trips I got lots of time to read and write, I had already read like five books and we weren’t even halfway to where we were going. I was chatting with a friend who I wouldn’t be able to chat with again for a long time and I got new ideas for a short story. The main idea was similar to the short flash fiction I had written so I dug that up from whatever lost doc it had been in, I cleaned it up, broke up the story into parts for a longer story, found a song to listen to on loop (Fallen Soldier by Nathan Fair) and wrote the first draft. I was thinking I may share it on my blog, write another draft, and by that time I was thinking it may be a little longer than a short story. Then, at the end of the month, I had a nearly finished short story, ideas to finish it off the story, and talking with a friend about publishing it. Well, another draft or two and I had more ideas, some characters were taking over the story in ways I didn’t expect, and I had the idea for three other books. Fast forward a bit more to right before release, I have the first draft of the next book finished and like five more ideas for short stories, flash fiction, a novelette, and a few novellas. And, that’s the story of Oh, The Fallen. Except for the flash fiction that started it all, there are about 150 days between starting Oh, The Fallen and release day with the millions of ideas that came into play as I went along. I'm not sure where this will end but I’m trusting God on that one. My Review || A more thorough review is in the works, using my system, but since this post is already long, I'll just cut to the chase. (I read a pre-edited copy of the book as a beta-reader. I received a copy of the book from the author for promotional purposes. All thoughts are my own.)
This book is amazing y'all. At the point in which I was reading it, it was in the process of being edited, so of course I caught a few things here and there and even offered a few suggestions, but honestly, the story blew me away! The author's voice is unique and homey and steeped in patriotic passion for God and Country. I cried through the entire thing and debuts rarely do that for me. Abigail Kay Harris has been added to my list of auto-buy authors! There is some mild violence and romance, but nothing gory or PG-13. I would recommend a family read it together for Memorial Day. It's the perfect tribute <3 Grab the links above for more release day fun! God Bless America and God Bless our Gold Star Families... Ryana Lynn Jude 22 PS. What are your favorite Memorial Day reads? How do you honor those who have given their lives for us? Tell me in the comments below! |
Ryana Lynn
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