The Summer of Creativity!

Hi friends! You may have noticed we’re quieter than usual on our calendar and social media. There’s been a lot going on, and not all things we had planned, so we wanted to send you a personal and ministry update:

Today marks one year since Gerald was discharged from the hospital.

2025 was filled with 911 calls, ambulances, and hospitalizations. Gerald had a battle with gallstones that required surgery and incited not just one but two intense rounds of pancreatitis. Over the year, we saw countless specialists, giving seemingly endless tests and medications.

We have nothing but praise for the doctors, nurses, and various professionals who cared for Gerald. Please keep our healthcare workers in your prayers - they need it!

Last year’s challenges exacerbated some existing health issues, and that’s what we’re continuing to deal with in this season. As you may know, Gerald suffers from severe arthritis in both his hips. Everything he does - sitting, standing, using the stairs - creates intense, chronic pain. Playing music, lugging our sound system, and performing live have all become very difficult. 

He saw an orthopaedic surgeon in December who gave us discouraging prognosis - Gerald would need to lose 50 lbs before he could even go on the waitlist for surgery. That would mean another possible 2-3 years of chronic pain! 

All of this affects our ability to work, make an income, serve in ministry, and cope with everyday life. We’re unable to tour, as the physical demands would be too much. We thought we would transition from a touring ministry to a church ministry, but God hasn’t opened that door yet.

Oh, in January - just to complicate life further - our roof sprung a leak, causing $17,000 in damages which, you guessed it, are not covered by insurance!

So, where does that leave us?

This chapter of our lives isn’t shaping up how we thought it might, 

and we’re starting to think that might be a good thing…

First, over a recent lunch visit, a dear friend shared her journey through a double knee replacement with a Toronto surgeon who specializes in helping patients with weight challenges. Very long story short, Gerald has an assessment appointment on July 15! Please keep us in prayer on that day. If this surgeon accepts Gerald as a patient, the surgery could happen in a fraction of the time and be literally life-changing!

Gerald has also started working with a weight loss clinic that will help him attain a healthier weight for surgery.

And second, our ministry is taking a turn, or turns, we just hadn’t anticipated …

After being released from the hospital last June, Gerald rested and then - he wrote!!! Songs just started pouring out of him! He hasn’t had this prolific a season since Nashville. We’ve been sharing the songs in concerts, but we know they have a bigger purpose. We’re exploring some exciting pathways to share these songs in new ways!

Allison had her first story professionally published in January 2022. Since then, she’s had over 100 short pieces professionally published! Writing doors are continuing to open for her. We can’t share all the details yet, but please stay tuned over the next few months for some very exciting projects and possibilities! 

We’re calling this THE SUMMER OF CREATIVITY!

We’re dedicating ourselves 100% to writing, singing, recording, and creating beautiful stuff!

Creativity needs time, space, inspiration, commitment, and separation from distractions.

There will be lots of time this summer when we’ll seem to be very quiet on social media. It’ll be intentional - not to be antisocial, but to give us time and space to pour our energies into the things we’re creating.

But we promise you - when we have stuff to share, you’ll be the first to know!

How can you join THE SUMMER OF CREATIVITY?

Everything we’re doing will be rooted in prayer, so please join us in praying for God’s direction and inspiration.

We’re available for local concerts and church services.

Gerald is teaching songwriting. Allison is teaching voice.

We’re both available to teach a variety of workshops, local or online.

Please consider booking us for a lesson or event!

We have CDs, downloads, and flashdrives available at www.InfinitelyMore.ca/store

Allison has several different Chicken Soup for the Soul books, available for pick up in St. Catharines or Burlington.

All sales support our ministry!

And … stay tuned! We continue to pray our “Infinitely More” inspiration verse, and let me tell you - God is definitely doing more than we could ever “ask or imagine”!

Blessings,

Allison + Gerald

Infinitely More

Ephesians 3:20

Lent & Easter Worship Residency!

 COME JOIN US THIS LENT & EASTER 

We're excited to partner with St. James Dundas for a spring Worship Residency! 

We'll lead music team rehearsals on Thursdays & all music for Sunday services.

And we want you to JOIN US!

We're making space for singers, musicians, and songwriters  share their gifts!

You can join the choir, play your instrument with us each Sunday, 

or simply join us one week for a special song.

Contact us for more info...

Celebrate a Blue Christmas - Published by Faith Today!

 

Do you "Celebrate a Blue Christmas"?

I'm thrilled to have my new article published by Faith Today!

You can read my article HERE.

Please feel free to share with your friends and church.

The Word Awards - WINNER!

 I'm thrilled and honoured to announce 

"I won a Word Award!!"

Given by The Word Guild, these awards honour "the Best of Canadian Christian Writing."

Earlier this summer, I received THREE nominations!

All three were for previously published pieces:

Devotional/Inspirational

“Trust This Good News!” - Warner Press, Inc.

Personal Experience - General Market

“The Last Noel” - Chicken Soup for the Soul

“Touch the Horizon” - Chicken Soup for the Soul

This week, we learned that "Touch the Horizon" 

won in its category!

Writing and publishing has been an unexpected chapter in my life (no pun intended!)

This award is such a piece of encouragement in a challenging year. 

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, 

and thank you to The Word Guild for supporting Canadian Christian writers!

You can find the full list of winners HERE.

Family Break!

After everything that's happened over the last few months, we've decided to take some family time!

We'll be offline for the next two weeks.

We'll be back in time for our next worship service on August 17.

Happy August, everyone!

MINISTRY UPDATE

Wednesday's Great Canadian Sing-along was tremendous!

And we're so glad it was, because it's going to need to sustain us for a while...

We won't offer another event for the next TWO MONTHS.

Never in our careers, not even in the pandemic, have we taken such a break, 

but right now, we really need to focus on Gerald's health.

His gallbladder surgery is scheduled for Friday, May 30.

As we've mentioned, there are a few additional health issues, so this month we'll be focusing on surgery prep and making sure Gerald is in the best position possible for surgery.

Our prayers are for a swift recovery, so we'll be ready for our week at 

Elim Lodge, June 29-July 5.

WHAT DOES OUR MINISTRY LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW?

- As Gerald's health allows, we're both taking time this month to write and create in gentle ways.

- Allison is available for online Voice lessons, as well as coaching sessions in Music Business (emerging and seasoned artists) and Goal Setting (musicians, writers & everyone!)

- Looking ahead to summer, we're booking Southern Ontario concerts and worship services for July and August. Please CONTACT us for more info!

ARE WE STILL INTERESTED IN A CHURCH POSITION?

- YES! But, our focus is on healing right now. 

We're trusting God will open that door when we're ready to accept it.

HOW CAN PEOPLE HELP?

- Please keep us, our family, and our medical team in prayer!

- If you wish to support our ministry by purchasing a CD or flash drive, or giving a donation, 

you can visit www.InfinitelyMore.ca/store

We're so grateful for all your love and support during this very trying season! 

Please know how much we appreciate and value each of you <3

Blessings,

Allison + Gerald

Infinitely More - Ephesians 3:20

Ministry Update with some GOOD NEWS!

It’s been 5 weeks since we rushed to the emergency room 

and Gerald was diagnosed with gallstones. 

It’s been a tremendously difficult month. We’re grateful for everyone who has shared their personal story with us. We’ve learned that gallstones are fairly common, immensely painful, and every person has their own unique journey. We’ve figured out the special dietary requirements (no fat, no spice, no caffeine), and Gerald has reached a much more stable place.

And that leads to the good news:

We have a Surgery Date!!!

We met with the surgeon last Monday.

Gerald will have his gallbladder surgery on Friday, May 30.

Here’s the plan:

Over the next two months, we’ll need to strictly stick to the diet to keep any gallbladder attacks at bay.

Gerald has a few other, unrelated conditions, so we’ll need a few extra appointments and communications just to make sure he’s in the best possible position for surgery.

Two weeks before surgery, he’ll be put on a high-protein, shake-based diet. We’re calling this his Supermodel Diet!

Finally, he’ll meet with the pre-surgical team at the hospital to make sure he’s cleared for surgery.

We have a great team of doctors, who have all been very knowledgeable and compassionate. 

And honestly, it just feels so good to have a plan in place!

So, where does that leave Infinitely More for now?

We have two events on the calendar here in St. Catharines - the annual Downtown Good Friday Walk and the Great Canadian Sing-along. Details at www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Calendar

We’re excited for both, but we don’t plan on doing any other events before the surgery. 

We’re currently booking concerts and worship services for July and August, and our hope is that we can have a fun and busy summer of singing!

We're also able to do a limited amount of online teaching in this season.

If you're interested in Voice or Songwriting lessons, please contact us via FACEBOOK or www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact

Allison is also offering coaching sessions on Goal Setting (for everyone!) and Touring, Concert Booking, and Music Business (for artists).

In the meantime, our main goal is to keep healthy, take care of one another,

stay close to God, and rest often as we lead up to the surgery date.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers, love, and support!

We are so grateful for each of you!

Blessings,

Allison + Gerald

To purchase or download music,

or to make a gift of ministry support,

please visit www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store

Thank you!

Talking To Strangers At Niagara Falls

Yesterday, I took a walk by our most famous neighbour - Niagara Falls. 

The power and beauty of Niagara Falls.

I always marvel at the range of people who gather by the Falls.
All ages, all races, all languages …
Multi-generational families, bustling tour groups, dreamy-eyed couples …
Yesterday, I even saw a tour bus of Buddhist monks in their gorgeous saffron robes. 

Over the years, taking photos for people, I always ask where they’re from. They love to share the story of what brought them there, how it’s been a lifelong dream to visit. 

No matter where people are from or what their life has brought them,
everyone stands in wonder in the mist of the Falls.

On yesterday’s visit, I detoured into the souvenir store. As I made a small purchase, I casually said to the cashier, “I guess you meet people from all over the world working here?” 

What a cliched question! I felt silly the moment I asked it.

Someone told this little guy to "Guard the Falls!",
and he was taking his job seriously!

“Oh, yes!” She beamed. “I’ve met people from Asia, Europe, the Southern States, all over Canada …”

She proceeded to list countries and parts of the world with a huge smile on her face. Finally, she showed me her lanyard. It was heavy with various enamelled pins and charms.

“I buy extra pins from the store and keep them here. Then, when I meet children or people from far away, I give them a pin to take home for themselves or for someone who couldn’t make the trip. And see, they sometimes give me pins back!”

She slid her fingers over the shiny trinkets, each imbued with a special memory.

“Australia has become very special to me ...” She told me about an Aussie woman who fell in love with Canada’s maple trees and wondered if she could buy a maple leaf cookie cutter for her Christmas baking. They didn’t have any in the store, so this cashier offered to send her an extra set that she had at home! Long story short, they now exchange Christmas cards, and she’s hoping to visit her family some day.

All of this from just being friendly. From asking strangers, 

“Where you from? How’s your day going?”

What a lesson for all of us! 

We often talk about the ministry of our CD table, of the many stories that have been graciously shared with us because a song we sang opened a door with someone. 

The desire to connect with one another is deeply ingrained in each of us. Our fast-paced world doesn’t always encourage us to slow down and just chat, but these are moments when magic can happen. When we can see and be seen. Where our common humanity rushes to the surface and we can no longer deny - we are all connected. 

As her story came to an end, she reached up on her lanyard.
“We’ve had such a nice chat; I’d like to give you a gift.”

My gifted pin...

She detached a small Niagara Falls pin, featuring the iconic rainbow and horseshoe of the Canadian falls.

“This is so you can remember your visit here today. And I hope you always enjoy your travels, wherever they take you!”

I felt humbled by the tiny gift. I pinned it on the collar of my jacket, and after saying goodbye and thank you, walked back outside, into the crowd of people taking selfies and marvelling at the wonder of the Falls …

And reminded, once again,
of why I love talking to strangers.

Our Hearts are Broken...

Yesterday, we said good-bye to our sweet Dante.

For 17 years, he filled our lives with unbelievable amounts of love.

When we moved to Nashville, we could tell Sebastian was getting lonely, so we started to look for a little brother.

We visited a house filled with puppies, but this one feisty little guy walked right up to Gerald and started nibbling his fingers.

Love at first sight

Dante considered it his job to love everyone, unconditionally.

He never met a dog or human that he didn’t greet with kisses and dances.

He knew when you were sad or suffering in any way.

He was just so, so, so good.

Two years ago, we lost Sebastian. We could sense Dante’s loneliness.

That’s when our sweet Max came to live with us.

At first Dante didn’t know what to make of this little whirlwind.

But before long, Dante and Max became their own loving duo.

Dante taught Max the joy of wandering the garden and cuddling together in their blankets.

Max reintroduced Dante to dancing, silliness, and play.

This summer, Dante celebrated his 17th birthday.

Everyone remarked on his good health, bright eyes, and happy spirit.

But three weeks ago, things started to change.

At first, they were issues we could address with care.

Last Tuesday, he took a turn for the worse, and we knew the end was near.

For six days, we smothered him in love.

Yesterday, we said good-bye.

This has come upon us so quickly. We’ve had no time to process, no time to grieve. 

We know it was the loving decision, but still, we are deeply, deeply sad.

But here are the two things I’ve been clinging to in the last few days:

Dante literally made the world a better place just by loving.

I pray that we can all hold on to that and follow his precious example.

Love EVERYONE!

Whether you think they deserve it or not.

Love is never wasted. It only makes things better.

And, there are more stories of Dante’s sweetness than we can ever remember.

But last year, I had the chance to write one of those stories for the Guideposts devotional “All God’s Creatures”. Next year, on March 3, thousands of people will be reminded of how much God loves them, all because of Dante.

And that’s the legacy he would have wanted:

Play often. 

Nap with intensity. 

Spend time in the garden.

Love everyone

Love everyone

Love everyone

PS - Please keep us in prayer! We’ve pushed our departure date until Thursday to give us an extra day, but we’d tired, overwhelmed, and heartbroken. Please pray for our grief and for our tour preparations. And please lift a little prayer for Max who’s lost his brother and will now have 5 weeks without us.

Friends, We Want Your Help!

 For the last 15 years, we’ve ecstatically toured Canada. 

We’ve been blessed with the honour of sharing the Gospel of Christ in hundreds of churches in over 30 different denominations. We’ve partaken in Spirit-led worship, taught songwriting and blended worship workshops, and heard the heart-cry and prayers of an entire country. 

And now, we feel God is calling us to something else.

Still ministry. Still Infinitely More. But different.

Friends, we’re feeling the call to return to regular church ministry.

There are practical reasons for this, but last winter, when we did a worship residency here in St. Catharines, we both realized that we’d missed that steady church rhythm. 

So, we’re feeling the call to pivot once again…

We are actively seeking a music director position at a church.

We’re passionate about creating blended worship that appeals to all generations.

We’d love to start and/or grow a music team of singers and instrumentalists.

Given our lifetime of skills, we’re also well suited to a church interested
in a multi-arts program that includes other kinds of creative expression. 

We’re open to full-time or part-time with some flexibility,
to allow us to work on other projects and do some touring.

Ideally, we’d love to stay in the Niagara region,
but we’re open to relocating for the right opportunity to serve. 

How can you help?

First, we know many church jobs aren’t advertised but come from relationships and word of mouth.
If your church will be looking for a new music director in the next year,
please connect us with your church leadership.

And second, please join us in prayer, that we will find a position in a healthy church where we can offer our gifts in a supportive and enthusiastic environment.

This is about to be a huge transition for us,
but we are confident in God’s calling to this next chapter! 

Please contact us with any questions or referrals!

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

In The Final Breath of the Day

 The water is calm, the camp is quiet, the dark is almost upon us

And we find ourselves here ...

In the stillness

In the silence

In the midst of the Creator's handiwork

In the final breath of the day

We find ourselves

Giving thanks ...

For this place ...  this day ...  this moment ...

Amen.

Words & Photo by Allison Lynn Flemming

Written & Photographed at Elim Lodge on the shores of Pigeon Lake, ON

Book Review - The Warsaw Sisters, by Amanda Barratt

"How's the book you're reading?" 

"Absolutely devastating. But really beautiful, too."

Today, I'm honoured to review
The Warsaw Sisters,
by Amanda Barratt.

Here's the publisher's blurb:

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart--and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.

Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.

There were times I wanted to close the cover and not read another page, but at the same time, I just couldn't put this book down.

Amanda takes us from the absolute start of the war until just past its ending. Month by month, season by season, we relentlessly follow the journey of our two heroines. No pain is hidden from us, their witnesses. 

Even more gut-wrenching is the realization that these fictionalized stories are rooted in real history. The narrative is made up, but the truth of the war in Poland is not. For many families, these stories are their family history. I have no doubt the echos still resonate.

And at the same time, this is a book of family, hope, and redemption.

This is my first Amanda Barratt novel, but it won't be my last. I truly loved every page - her writing, her characters, her storytelling, and her historical details were riveting, compelling, and even in the darkest moments, breathtaking. 

The Warsaw Sisters isn't an easy read, but it is a worthy read.
I highly recommend it!

Amanda's site has lots of resources, including FREE kits for book clubs!

www.AmandaBarratt.net 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Book Review - The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater by Jaime Jo Wright

Since I started reviewing books, I've become a super-fan of a few select authors, and Jaime Jo Wright is definitely one of them!

Thankfully, she's uber-prolific!

Jaime Jo is a Christian writer with a deep love of ghost stories, gothic settings, and all kinds of creepy historical settings. I'm definitely not a horror fan, but I loooove her spooky, suspenseful storytelling!

Today, I'm excited to share her latest creation:

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater

Here's the publisher's blurb:

It promises beauty but steals life instead. Will the ghosts of Barlowe Theater entomb them all?

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy's eldest brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta's younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her unveil the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must uncover the evil that haunts the theater and put its threat to rest.

Decades later, Kit Boyd's best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. Then television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher joins Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater's history. Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of finding her missing friend. As the theater's curse unravels Kit's life, she is determined to put an end to the evil that has marked the theater and their hometown for the last century.

The fictional Barlowe Theater is inspired by the real life Al. Ringling Theatre (see photo below). On Jaime Jo's social media, she took time to explore the real theatre and share some of its beauty and legends.

I spent the first decade of my career as an actor-singer, so the theatre setting caught me right away. Who hasn't gotten lost in the depths of an old theatre and wondered if you might ever find your way out again?

This story completely sucked me in! I loved the mood, the story, the intrigue, the setting, and the characters. 

Jaime Jo has a gift for creating twisty stories
with deeply satisfying endings,
and this tale is no exception!

I highly recommend The Lost Boys of Barlow Theater.

Jaime Jo Wright has a great newsletter and lots of social media content!

You can connect with her at

www.JaimeWrightBooks.com/

Photo from https://www.facebook.com/alringlingtheater

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Book Review - The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Power

At the start of 2023, I set a reading goal of 50 books over 12 months - the same goal I set for 2022. I find this is the right number of books for me. It means I need to be intentional about my reading time without having it overwhelm my life.  

But as the year went on and we were swamped with illness, grief, and estate duties, I had trouble keeping up my reading targets. I found myself slipping further and further behind. Then, December hit, and I took off like a rocket! 

I smashed my 50 book goal in early December, and I've been devouring books all month!

It put me a bit behind in my reviews, so stay tuned for some great reviews over the next week. 

And I'm thrilled to kick it off with this beauty:

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass

By Katie Powner

Last January, I read and reviewed Katie's novel, 
Where The Blue Sky Begins.
You can read that review HERE.

Katie has a gift for pairing interesting characters in a way that highlights the beauty and power of honest connections in ordinary life.

I really loved this book for so many reasons. First, the prairie landscape serves as its own character, giving a sense of vista and isolation. Having just spent the fall driving across the Canadian prairies, I resonated with the long drives and open space.

Second, each character is quirky, rooted, and endearing in their own way. These are flawed people who each have their own broken backstory. You find yourself cheering them on and hoping each has their own happy ending. Katie's own personal history with fostering children adds weight and realism to one particular storyline. 

Finally, I love the way faith is part of this story without ever proselytizing. This is a story of redemption, friendship, family, and love. Faith guides the path without ever demanding a direction. There's a heart and gentleness to this world that stayed with me long after I closed the cover.

If you're looking for a novel with beautiful writing, endearing characters, and a wonderful story, 

I highly recommend The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass!

You can find more of Katie's wonderful writing at

www.KatiePowner.com/

Kindred Spirits - Guest Blogger!

 I'm excited to be a guest blogger on the Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship blog!

You can read my piece - Kindred Spirits - HERE

Book Review - The Secrets Beneath, by Kimberley Woodhouse

Ever think you'd find Christian Historical Fiction
that explores the world of 1800's Palaeontology?

Well, here we go!

This week, I read Kimberley Woodhouse's new novel
The Secrets Beneath.

It's the start of a new series exploring women in Victorian era science, specifically palaeontology.

Kimberley has written over 30 books (fiction and nonfiction), but she's still a new author for me. Last year, I read and reviewed A Deep Divide. I loved her ability to bring history to life, so I was excited to read this new offering.

The official description reads:

Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they're swiftly caught up in the era known as the Bone Wars. But when her father becomes sick and an old beau, Joshua Ziegler, returns for the summer, Anna's world is upended and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.

As a lover of Historical Fiction, this book was filled with fascinating people and topics! The Bone Wars was "a period of intense and ruthlessly competitive fossil hunting and discovery during the Gilded Age of American history." To prepare for writing her novel, Kimberley explored The National Dinosaur Monument - a literal wall of dinosaur bones! She was also able to consult with the grand-daughter of renowned palaeontologist and the man who discovered the bone wall - Earl Douglass. 

Kimberley's extensive research and passion for women in science really brought those parts of the book to life. I love reading all the scenes that involved discovering and exploring the dinosaur site. If anything, I could have used more of it!

Most of the novel centres around the romance between Anna and Joshua. It was good, but honestly? I don't think romance novels are for me. As much as I love romantic films and music, I just can't get into romance as a genre. And truly, not every story needs to have a romance in it! 

That said, there really is so much to love about this book. The landscape, science, and drama in those areas are gripping. And the character of Julian is beyond fantastic! 

If you want to read a well-written novel that explores a little explored piece of American history,
I recommend The Secrets Beneath!

You can learn more about Kimberley's wonderful novels at 

www.KimberleyWoodhouse.com

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Book Review: The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom

A few years, I finally read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. It was one of those books I knew by reputation, but had never read for myself. After the opening chapter, I could already tell why this story had been a game changer for so many people.

When I was offered the chance to review the book and receive free tickets to the new movie version. I jumped at the chance!

At first, I thought I would just skim the pages. After all, I could write the review based on my memories, right? 

But again, that opening chapter hooked me. I devoured this book, and I'm sure in a few years, I'll do it again.

The Hiding Place tells the story of the Ten Boom family.
Watchmakers, people of faith, pillars of the community.
Even without their extraordinary story, they would have been a fascinating family. 

But when the Nazis invade Holland, their Christian faith is given its greatest test: 

How do we love our neighbours when our own lives could be at risk?

Corrie and her family start hiding Jews in their home. First, it's one or two people overnight, until safer accommodations can be found. But their operation grows. Eventually, they go so far as to build a secret wall in their home creating a "hiding place" for their guests.

It's estimated that the Ten Booms saved upwards of 800 people through their efforts!

I won't reveal the whole story, but this is a story of Nazis and the Holocaust, so you know it's going to get darker before it gets better.

But this isn't just a story a suffering. It's a powerful testimony of faith, hope, and loving your neighbours. It's an old story that's still frighteningly relevant for our current, divided times.

The Ten Boom's story begs the question: 

What would we be willing to risk to save a neighbour? 

What can we do in our own corner of the world to share God's love with those in need?

I highly recommend The Hiding Place! 

Read it yourself. Read it in a group.
Find a way to live out Corrie's message of hope and love...

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Book Review: This Is Where It Ends, by Cindy K. Sproles

 So, this is going to be a challenging review to write.

This Is Where It Ends is Southern fiction - a genre that intrigues me, given our own Nashville years, but a genre I really haven't gotten into yet. I was excited when the hard copy, with its beautiful cover, landed in my mailbox.

The book blurb goes like this:

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains.

Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. His friend who joins him only wants to find the location of the gold. Neither of them knows quite who they're up against when it comes to the old woman on the mountain.

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. After all, how long is one bound by a promise? But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.

I was hooked by the first few pages and chapters of this story. I loved Minerva and her spitfire, survival attitude. I loved the rural world of Minerva's mountain farm. And I'm just always a sucker for any kind of historical fiction.

If I'd written my review at that point in the story, it would have been glowing.
 My expectations were high!

But as the pages went on, my enthusiasm diminished. Minerva talks endlessly about how she's going to die soon (not that she has a fatal illness - there's no real ticking clock - she just feels old), to the point where is starts to feel repetitive. 

There's a "big twist" with Del that you can see coming a mile away. And the big secret about the box and the treasure is so bland it's like air leaking out of a balloon. 

Sadly, I had to force myself through the final chapters of the book. I still loved the characters and the world, and some of Cindy's writing is truly beautiful. I feel this would have been really strong as a novella. There just isn't enough story to carry it through to the end.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Book Review: The Long March Home, by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee

I've read a lot of great WWII books in recent years. It can be hard to find a fresh take on the subject, but the subtitle of The Long March Home caught my attention:

The Long March Home:

A World War II Novel of the Pacific

"The Pacific"?
All the books I'd read were firmly set in Europe or America.
I knew I needed to read this one right away!

Here's the promo description:

"Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire. 

Life in the Philippines seems like paradise--until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as Japanese warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history. 

What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive."

One of the most powerful lines of this book occurs just before the prologue:

"Inspired by true stories."

As you read each moving, and sometimes devastating, chapter of this journey, you'll feel the truth seeping through. It resonates. And most of the time, you'll wish it didn't.

This isn't an easy book. I've read many wartime tales, but this is the first time I've read about prisoners of war and the atrocities they faced. And yet throughout it all, each character expresses and experiences an astounding depth of humanity.

Brotherton and Lee keep the story incredibly readable by beautifully balancing the story back home with the stories from the frontline. Heartbreaking history is interwoven with friendship, honour, humour, and so much love.

Honestly? I couldn't put this book down. I was literally grabbing every moment
I could to return back to it and finish yet another chapter.

The story is compelling; the history, fascinating;
 the characters, engaging; and the writing, breathtaking.

I highly recommend The Long March Home!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Book Review: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, by Jaime Jo Wright

The first time I read a Jaime Jo Wright novel, I was gobsmacked.
Who knew you could write Spooky Gothic Christian Fiction,
and that it would actually be good???

Since then, I've loved and reviewed:

On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manner

The Premonition At Withers Farm

The Souls Of Lost Lake

And this week, I finished JJW's latest creation:

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau

Reviewing these books has become such a challenge! JJW is a world class storyteller, with gasp-inciting twists built into every tale. It's hard to write a review without giving it all away. (After all, like any great book, it leaves me wanting to shout its awesomeness from the rooftops!)

So, here's the book jacket blurb, plus a few thoughts of my own:

"In 1870, orphaned Daisy François takes a position as housemaid at a Wisconsin castle to escape the horrors of her past life. There she finds a reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress who hides tales more harrowing than the ones in her novels. As women disappear from the area and the eerie circumstances seem to parallel a local legend, Daisy is thrust into a web that could ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life.

In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of an American aristocratic family to help his grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman's stash of collectibles, a century-old mystery and the dust of the old castle's curse threaten to rise again . . . this time to leave no one alive to tell the sordid tale."

Okay first, the infamous, fictional Castle Moreau is as much a character as any human in this book. A French-inspired castle, built in love, hidden in the woods, next door to a gossipy small town - the perfect setting for grandeur and secrets!

Next, the story is beautifully structured. The mystery of the titular "vanishing" plays out in both timelines in a way that creates echos across time and oodles of tension.

The mix of characters is such a great choice! People of different social and economic backgrounds, plus various temperaments, all brought together because they each carry a connection to a decades-old mystery. 

And on a personal note: if Daisy's entrance - a red-headed orphan carrying a carpetbag - doesn't remind you of your favourite storybook heroine-with-an-E, then you're not really Canadian!

I read this book quickly, and I highly recommend doing the same!
Hide yourself away in a dark room, with a big bowl of snacks,
and savour the perfect mix of twists and tensions that is
The Vanishing of Castle Moreau. 

In addition to being a prolific novelist, Jaime Jo Wright is super active on social media, offers mentoring for writers, hosts a podcast, and sends out a great newsletter. You can learn more about her at:

www.JaimeWrightBooks.com

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.