Image from BakerPublishingGroup.com

Review: 

Robin Jones Gunn is back! Fans of Robin's Christy Miller series will love this new release, and new readers will enjoy the series as well. It centers around two new characters, Fern and Lily, but expect some fun easter eggs from Robin's other series!

Fern and Lily are such fun, lovable characters. Both come to Africa with a wanderlust long kept dormant, and both also arrive with burdens that they must deal with during their trip. Their friendship is unique and heartwarming- I love the way Robin can write about so many different friendships and people over the years, and yet make each specially unique and interesting!

This was a perfect read for me during the chilly fall evenings- a cup of hot chocolate while reading TwE made for the best cozy evening. However, while this is definitely a laid-back, heartwarming read, expect to be challenged a bit on the way, as the characters each confront things in their own hearts.

I've heard Christians place fiction as less important, underneath non-fiction theological books. I think both are necessary, both can make an impact. Ironically, I had just recently become jobless when I received this book to review, and so Fern's plight resonated with me even more. It was like a little nod from God saying, "I see you. I've got you."

Tea with Elephants is also a love letter to God's awe-inspiring creation. Robin's beautiful descriptions take you right into the heart of Africa, and make you long to jump on a plane and go visit this beautiful country. It made me nostalgic for the international trip I've been on, and may have been part of the reason I said yes to my next adventure.....

From the eye-catching cover; to Robin Jones Gunn's sweet, prayer-filled words inside; to the prose that takes you right into Africa; this book holds a special place in my heart.

Photo from Amazon.com

My Review: 

Usually, I am an advocate for hard, (sometimes gritty) realism in stories, and that hasn't changed, but I feel like we can give Christmas books a pass. There's just something special about that time of year, something that makes the occasional Hallmark movie or fluffy Christmas book more palatable. I've read Melody Carlson books before and have never been a huge fan of her style, but I actually did enjoy The Christmas Tree Farm. Like I said, it's a little fluffy. I can definitely see it premiering on the Hallmark Channel as a Christmas flick. However, the protagonists and their situations had more depth and realism than I was expecting, and I found myself engaging with the story and the plight of its characters. 

I liked Madison's can-do attitude, her willingness to get dirty if it meant getting things done, and how she preferred the outdoors. It made a good foil to her sister's more typical girly-girl personality. The dirt bike aspect was fun, too. 

Also, the cover is so cute and appealing for a Christmas novella! It fit the story perfectly. 

Overall, if you're looking for a cute Christmassy novel to get you smiling over the holidays, then this book is for you. There were still some cheesy moments that made me cringe a little (like the ending...) but all in all, this book got me a little more in the Christmassy mood. 

Photo and description from BakerPublishingGroup.com

Review:

Photo from Amazon.com

About:

Photo and book description from Amazon.com

About the Book: 

As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the Occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.

When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.

The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time.

My Review:

Sarah Sundin is the queen of WWII fiction. She is a master at exploring and uncovering different aspects of the Greatest Generation, and making a gripping story out of sometimes little-known history. 

Embers in the London Sky stars Hugh, a BBC radio correspondent, and Aleida, a Dutch evacuee who is searching for her missing son. Aleida's search for her little boy, Theo, is what much of the plot is cenetered around, and really brought to light the struggles of English parents during the Blitz and the agonizing choices they had to make. 

I loved both characters so much, and their fun banter made for an entertaining read. Sarah Sundin tends to stay away from the typical plot and character stereotypes that many authors fall into, and I love how multi-layered her characters are. 

I laughed, cried, and eagerly turned the pages to see what would happen next. Another brilliant novel from Sarah Sundin!