Rachelle J. Christensen

Romance, Suspense, Mystery Author

Book Review: Detective Camp by Ron Roy

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

I read Detective Camp with my son. It was a fun mystery and we liked the clues. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are funny, courageous kids.

It was fun reading and seeing if my son picked up on the clues and foreshadowing of the mystery.

Here’s more about the book:

Welcome to summer camp for detectives! The kids can’t wait to spend a week following clues and learning about the science of crime solving. Soon all the campers are working on a mystery. But while Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are figuring out their part of the puzzle, they stumble onto something suspicious. Could a real crime be happening at detective camp?

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Book Review: The Not Even Once Club by Wendy Watson Nelson

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

The Not Even Once Club by Wendy Watson Nelson is the perfect story to help kids the understand the power of their choices, of peer pressure, and also the power of good friends. Illustrated by Brandon Dorman, this book has pictures that pop, appealing to children young and old.

After I read this book, I was so excited that I went to the website in the book and printed out posters for each of my kids. Then we read this book for our family night and had a great discussion about what “Not Even Once” means. My kids loved it! They began using Not Even Once as their password when they were playing games.

This book isn’t about perfection. It’s about making a commitment to do the best you can. We all make mistakes, but if we don’t start with a goal in mind, which is to be like the Savior, how can we expect to come anywhere close to that goal?

I was so impressed with this book that I took it to church and read it to my seven-year-old Sunday School class. Such a great lesson in an enjoyable book! I’d recommend this book to anyone with children or grandchildren!

Here’s more about the book:

The Not Even Once Club is an adorable and appealing way to engage children in a story that will help them choose for themselves to keep the commandments and to never break them. Not even once. Children will meet Tyler, an energetic boy who is excited to make new friends in his Primary class. They have invited Tyler to join their special club, but first he has to pass the test and keep the club promise. With illustrations from bestselling illustrator Brandon Dorman, The Not Even Once Club is a fun and engaging way for parents to help teach their children the importance of keeping the commandments. Included in the back of the book are additional teaching helps for parents and leaders.

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Book Review: The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

I loved The Magic of Ordinary Days!! I saw the movie several years ago and it is one of my favorites. I’m happy to report that the book is even better. There is so much more depth to the characters, the setting, and the situation. Written against the backdrop of WWII, Creel does an excellent job of painting a picture forgotten or not considered by many concerning the war. Outside of the cities, farmers had a different way of life to support the war effort and in Colorado, the Japanese Americans lived in a camp even though many were US citizens.

The intersection of Livvy with this farm life and the Japanese interns is only one part of this well-written tale. Definitely a must-read!

Here’s more about the book:

The powerful story of one woman’s passion in a world at war.

Olivia Dunne, a studious minister’s daughter who dreams of becoming an archaeologist, never thought that the drama of World War II would affect her quiet life in Denver. But when an exhilarating flirtation reshapes her life, she finds herself in a rural Colorado outpost, married to a man she hardly knows. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Olivia tentatively tries to establish a new life, finding much needed friendship and solace in two Japanese American sisters who are living at a nearby internment camp. When Olivia unwittingly becomes an accomplice to a crime and is faced with betrayal, she finally confronts her own yearnings and comes to understand what she truly believes about the nature of trust and love.

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The Whiskey Sea by [Ann Howard Creel]   

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Book Review: Impossible by Nancy Werlin

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

Impossible was an interesting book, very different from what I thought it might be and I enjoyed it.

I loved the character of Lucy and my favorite part of this teenage heroine was that she actually talked about her fears and asked for help. You know when you read those books and you’re always screaming at the character, “Just tell someone!” Impossible was refreshing because it was different. There was a strong family unit but in a different way than the traditional family.

The supernatural elements with the Faerie curse is written in a way that seems totally normal in the contemporary world. The building suspense, mystery, and romance make this a book that stays on your mind. It was fun to read it again and savor the excellent writing. Loved the romance in this one and all the different twists and turns!

Here’s more about the book:

Lucy Scarborough is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child’s birth. But Lucy is the first girl who won’t be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents beside her. And she has Zach, whose strength amazes her more each day. Do they have enough love and resolve to overcome an age-old evil?

Inspired by the ballad “Scarborough Fair,” the New York Times bestseller Impossible combines suspense, fantasy, and romance to tell a story of love and family conquering all.

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Black Mirror (Nancy Werlin - Edgar-winning Suspense) by [Nancy Werlin]   

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Book Review: The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

I love Mary Stewart. This is definitely a different style of writing from her. I liked how she crafted the story of Merlin but be prepared that The Crystal Cave is lengthy! Stewart goes into great detail over the landscape and wars and I found myself skimming at the end of the book to see what was supposed to happen.

I’m mildly interested to see what happens in the rest of the series but not sure if I’m patient enough to slog through all of them.

If you’ve read the rest of the series, I’d love to know what you thought?

Here’s more about the book:

Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys — or as he would later be known, Merlin — leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man’s-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon . . . and the conception of Arthur — king for once and always.

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Book Review: Why Not Me? by Brenda Angle

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

This book came to me during one of the hardest times of my life. My husband had committed suicide and my ex-husband was suing me among other very harrowing events. If anyone had a right to ask, Why Me? I figured it was me. The title caught my eye and I wondered what it could mean– Why Not Me?

It’s a simple, yet powerful shift in perspective that Brenda Angle teaches. I didn’t have to adopt a thought that was completely unbelievable to me at the time. Instead, I was taught truths about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how my Savior has, can, and will help me accomplish my mission on earth.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this book complimented what I’ve studied and learned about the eternal perspective of my life. It answered questions that I had regarding the severe and painful trials I’ve had to endure and that seem to continue to pile up on me. I enjoyed reading short vignettes of other people’s tough trials and how they chose to look at their life through a perspective of “Why Not Me?”

This book can help everyone. No matter where you are in your life, the concepts taught here will make an impact–an exclamation point–in your life’s journey. It helped save mine. I am working each day on trying to live my life with willingness to learn whatever God wants to teach me.

Here’s more about the book:

Change “Why me?” to “Why not me?”

When we are facing painful adversity it is easy to question, “Why me?” This book helps us take a step back and look at deep struggles with an eternal perspective. There is purpose to all the hard experiences. We are not alone in our challenges. We are loved. Our Savior is the true source of strength and enduring. It is because of Him that we can move through challenges with gratitude. Changing our question from, “Why me?” to “Why not me?” will change our earthly experience to a sweeter, more holy one.

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