Rachelle J. Christensen

Romance, Suspense, Mystery Author

Book Review: The Vicar’s Daughter by Josi S. Kilpack

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

I LOVED The Vicar’s Daughter! I loved the character of Cassie–her vibrant personality that got her into so much trouble when she was only trying to help her very shy sister Lenora to find a husband in Evan. The twist right at the beginning of the story is that Cassie starts to fall in love with Evan. I love Evan’s character as well and it was fun to read from his perspective as he tried to figure out the stark differences between “Lenora’s letters” and her real temperament in person.
I read this book quickly because I couldn’t wait to get to the happy ending. I really enjoyed the setting of this book in the countryside away from London. It’s still Regency England but the courtship process was slightly more relaxed. I also enjoyed the family that Kilpack created with Cassie having five sisters and Evan having two sisters as well. I hope there are more stories to be told from this little village! I think this is one of my favorite from the proper romance line. If you decide to read it, beware, you might fall in love with the characters too!
Here’s more about the book:
Cassie, the youngest of six daughters in the Wilton family, is bold, bright, and ready to enter society. There’s only one problem: her older sister Lenora, whose extreme shyness prevents her from attending many social events. Lenora is now entering her third season, and since their father has decreed that only one Wilton girl can be out at a time, Cassie has no choice except to wait her turn.
Evan Glenside, a soft-spoken, East London clerk, has just been named his great-uncle’s heir and, though he is eager to learn all that will be required of him, he struggles to feel accepted in a new town and in his new position.
A chance meeting between Evan and Lenora promises to change everything, but when Lenora proves too shy to pursue the relationship, Cassie begins to write Mr. Glenside letters in the name of her sister. Her good intentions lead to disaster when Cassie realizes she is falling in love with Evan. But then Evan begins to court Lenora, thinking she is the author of the letters.
As secrets are revealed, the hearts of Cassie, Evan, and Lenora are tested. Will the final letter sent by the vicar’s daughter be able to reunite the sisters as well as unite Evan with his true love?

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Book Review: Ruth by H.B. Moore

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Ruth by [Moore, Heather B., Moore, H. B.]Book Thoughts by Rachelle

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a huge fan of H.B. Moore AKA Heather Moore’s novels. I especially love all of her Bible and Book of Mormon fiction based on actual events. I was so excited to read her new book, Ruth, based on the Bible story of Ruth and Naomi.

First off, this cover is extraordinary! I love the artwork and the feeling it gives about the story of Ruth. This tale is familiar to me from studying the Bible, but Moore pulls in wonderful details about the customs, cultures, and the land that help me understand on a deeper level how important the choices that Ruth made were to Naomi.

This was a quick read as I found myself intrigued to know how the ancient customs might interfere with Ruth’s chance at love with Boaz. I truly appreciate Moore’s skill in bringing this event from the past to the consciousness of the reader in a way that I felt like I was viewing the events. I highly recommend Ruth by H.B. Moore and ALL of the books she’s written!

Here’s more about the book:

Master storyteller and best-selling author H.B. Moore brings to life the biblical account of Ruth as never before in this vivid retelling of her courageous and faithful life.
Following the death of Ruth’s husband, she finds herself at a crossroads. Rather than return to her family and hometown, the young widow makes a remarkable decision: she will remain with her mother-in-law, Naomi, as her caretaker and companion.
Together, the two widows boldly leave behind the lives they knew in the land of Moab and make their way to Bethlehem, arriving downtrodden and destitute. Though Ruth works day and night to provide for Naomi, it is ultimately through the kindness and generosity of Boaz that the two women find respite from their trials. As Ruth comes to know Boaz, she finds that her broken heart is beginning to heal in ways she could never have imagined. But when a question of inheritance threatens any hope of a life with Boaz, Ruth may have to give up the last piece of her heart in order to secure her future.

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Book Review: The Recipe Hacker Confidential by Diana Keuilian

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

I have loved cooking ever since I was a little girl. At the time, I remember my mom saying that she hated cooking and I couldn’t imagine it. She said, “Wait, until you have a family and you’ll understand.”

I understand now. As a mother of five little kids, it feels like all I do is fix stuff to eat, which then makes a mess, we clean up, and then start over. Luckily, my amazing husband likes to do dishes, or else I would’ve given up a long time ago. But I digress, I’m here to share a new cookbook with you.

I reviewed Diana Keuilian’s first Recipe Hacker cookbook and I learned a lot from it. My family is dairy-free and some of us are also gluten-free so I treasure cookbooks like these which have taught me how to adapt pretty much any recipe I’d like to make for my family.

In her new book, The Recipe Hacker Confidential, Keuilian delves even deeper into how to prepare healthy recipes. I love Keuilian’s insight and creative tips, such as the Lazy Man’s Double Broiler–genius!

I’m lucky enough now to have a daughter who loves to cook, so one of the first recipes she tried was the vanilla pudding. That’s something we never have because of dairy, so my kids thought it was a real treat! And I can share that these recipes are easy enough that an eleven-year-old can have success on the first try.

My cookbook is marked up with all the recipes we want to make and I’m feeling very encouraged about the positive approach to food that Diana teaches. This cookbook is a must for anyone with food allergies and for those who’d like to eat healthier and lose weight.

Here’s more about the book:

The Recipe Hacker Confidential: Break the Code to Cooking Mouthwatering & Good-For-You Meals without Grains, Gluten, Dairy, Soy, or Cane Sugar

In today’s era of rampant food allergies, gluten-free popularity, and the rise of paleo eating, putting together a meal that will satisfy everyone at your table is easier said than done. With Diana Keuilian’s unique approach for “hacking” recipes, however, you’ll learn how to easily recreate beloved, traditional comfort foods without the grains, gluten, dairy, soy, or cane sugar.

The long-awaited follow-up to The Recipe Hacker, The Recipe Hacker Confidential is bursting with more than 100 new recipes and stunning photos that will tantalize your taste buds while trimming your waist, with lighter versions of your favorite recipes such as:

– Breakfast Pizza, Sweet Potato Mini Muffins
– Butternut Squash Spaghetti
– Easy Teriyaki Chicken, Maple Bacon-Wrapped Salmon
– Real Healthy Snickers Bars
– Cookie Dough Bonbons

Keuilian spills all her secrets on how to hack these recipes—and many more—while preserving the flavor, presentation, and enjoyability of each sumptuous dish. She also shares stories and musings throughout the book that will inspire, encourage, motivate, and propel you toward weight loss, better health, and culinary happiness.

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Book Review: Master by Toni Sorenson

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

I finished reading the book by Toni Sorenson, Master. It’s a historical novel published by Covenant and an extraordinary read. If you enjoyed reading The Work and the Glory series by Gerald Lund, I think you will enjoy Master. This is because it is all about real events—the life of Christ—with a fictional character, Almon to guide you through his associations as a servant of Christ.I have a deeper understanding and appreciation of Jesus Christ, our savior after reading this book. I didn’t know that just by reading this book, I would understand so many of the scriptures in the New Testament on a deeper level. I learned many details about Jewish life and customs and found an answer to a pressing question. Why couldn’t the Jews see who Jesus was and accept Him as their savior?

The answer is because the Jews misinterpreted their own scriptures to mean that, the Christ or Savior would deliver them from bondage from the Romans. Jesus Christ delivered us all from bondage, but it was a different kind—the bondage of sin. He opened a doorway to eternal life and gave us the gift of the atonement.

The Jews could not understand Jesus Christ’s teachings even though He tried in so many ways. He taught in parables, He spoke plainly, He led by example and still the Jews could not understand and so rejected Him.
The account of Jesus’ life in Master testifies of His true divinity. It brings to life His crucifixion as if you were really there and leaves the reader with a deeper understanding of His love for the apostles, even one who betrayed him—Judas.

Reading Master has renewed again my testimony of Jesus Christ and His teachings. I am so thankful for the gospel and I desire to be like Christ. It is so difficult, but after reading Master, I am reminded that if I try my best, Jesus Christ has made up the difference.

I hope that you will have the opportunity to read Master by Toni Sorenson. It is not just a “church” book, but a novel written to engage the reader on a mission to truly know our Savior, where He came from, His life and His mission.

Here’s more about the book:
My name will mean nothing to you, but my story is a re-telling of the greatest story ever told and should mean everything to everyone. If you interpret my words as fiction and fiction only, you will miss out on truths that are both historical and spiritual. Search the scriptures. There you will find evidence of my existence recorded in ancient sacred writ, overlooked for millennia. My story comes forth now because now is the promised day when satanic doubt spreads like black ink, threatening to blot out His very name, to reduce Him to nothing more than a teacher, to erase the eternal truths He taught and lived. That cannot happen. Jesus was who He said He was. I know because I was there in the shadows of His holy footsteps. His miracles were real. I know because I am one of those miracles.
-Almon

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Book Review: The Woman With No Name by Kelly Nelson

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The Woman with No Name by [Nelson, Kelly]Book Thoughts by Rachelle

The Woman With No Name is an excellent clean read that was fast-paced and set in an interesting area of Utah. I like the way the book started out with tension increasing throughout each chapter. Reading through both the viewpoints of Skye and Colton add to the romantic tension in the story. About midpoint, the story lagged a little bit when Skye and Colton figure out who she really is. I think this was mostly because I was completely impatient with her horribly self-absorbed fiance and I wanted to get back to the heart of the story. There is a ton of hunting detail so if you’re a fan of hunting, this story will resonate with you. Overall, a fun, light read that will leave you smiling with the perfect conclusion.

Here’s more about the book:

Sworn bachelor Colton Murdock gets more than he bargained for on the elk hunt
when he finds an injured woman in Utah’s high country. She must have a
history, but she wakes up to towering pines and the clap of a thunderstorm with no recollection of her name or how she came to be there. Colt brings her to the safety of his camp, trying to ignore the first stirrings of his heart since the tragic death of his fiancée six years ago.

The young woman can’t help falling for her ruggedly handsome rescuer, who calls her Skye for her blue eyes. But her life goes into a tailspin when she is recognized as Lily Vanasche, fiancée of a popular TV news anchorman, and Colt is arrested for a series of crimes—including her abduction. After the real kidnapper leaves a death threat in Lily’s ransacked house, the clock starts ticking. Can she remember her past before it catches up with her?

This exciting romantic-suspense novel will appeal to readers who enjoy inspirational Christian fiction.

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Book Review: The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

Man, I just love the Weird Watson’s! You’ll have to read the book to find out why they’re called the Weird Watson’s.

The award winning, The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis is a laugh out loud book that is hard to keep to yourself. It was a Newberry Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor book along with several other awards. You will love reading this book! Certain sequences beg to be read aloud. I was rocking my baby while reading and had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing too loud.
Curtis weaves a delightful story with so many humorous events and then ties it into a very serious event from the Civil Rights movement in Alabama. He shows how traumatic events can affect children. And then he brings back the humorous side to the story.
This is an incredible book to read and to read aloud to your kids It’s a middle-grade reader super for the whole family.
I think it’s important to read children’s books because it keeps you in touch with your child’s world. I want to encourage everyone to read with their children. Pick up a book and read to your kids. Reading to them creates a bond with you and encourages them to read on their own.
Reading brings up topics for you to discuss which may not be broached otherwise. I know from experience that reading has brought up so many ideas and philosophies I wouldn’t have considered. Reading helps you open the world for your child and see that there is so much happening around them.
Here’s more about the book:
Enter the hilarious world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There’s Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron, who’s thirteen and an “official juvenile delinquent.”When Byron gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma’s church is blown up.
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