Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund


So I just read a really good book that I have been wanting to check out,  It is the newest book by Jody Hedlund called Luther and Katharina. As the title suggest, it is the story of Martin Luther and Katharina Von Bora. When Katharina was young her father put her in a convent. She grew up there with no hopes of ever leaving to marry and have a family. She was to forever be part of the  bride of Christ. But she and her sisters ( the other nuns) found literature by Dr. Luther that explained that God made us to love and be married.  So she and the other sisters risked their lives to escape the convent. During their escape they were met with dangerous men and the threat of being discovered because they were still on Abbot Baltazar's land ( the one that ran the convent). They were only able to escape by hiding in empty barrels and smuggled to the Black Cloister, The Monastery where Dr.Luther lived. Dr Luther was surprised to see the nine runaway nuns who were smuggled to his home by one of his friends. He immediately noticed the petite nun with the blue eyes that boldly stared back at him. As the nuns started finding homes, Katharina discovered that life outside the convent might  not be exactly what she thought it was going to be. She thought she would immediately find a wealthy, titled husband, marry and have a family. But she did not count that while she is waiting for her husband to be, She has to work as a servant so that she can earn her room and board with the family that has so graciously took her in. Katharina and Dr Luther keep bumping into each other and every time they are in the same room they are bickering. Dr Luther calls Katharina, "a hissing cat" and is always trying to bait her because she gets defensive so quick and Katharina is always saying something or doing something that gets Dr. Luther furious.  Katharina finds someone who proposes love to her and promises marriage just as soon as he comes back from his trip out of town. Katharina believes that she has finally found the man God wants her to be with because he is titled and wealthy. But she wonders why Dr. Luther gets so mad every time she says her intended's name?

 Dr.Luther knows the man that Katharina likes is a horrible snake of a man and is never going to marry her. But he wonders why she is so blind that she does not see it and he also is wondering why it makes him so mad that someone out there likes Katharina. It is not like he likes her... Right? Because he could never fall in love with anyone, he is not that type of person. What happens next is too much for me to even put in my review. But there are moments of danger, a kidnapping, Illness and betrayal that occur several times in this story.  
Will Katharina be able to find someone to love her or will pride and her title keep her from ever marrying anyone because they are below her standards? Will Dr. Luther ever be able to admit that even he is not above getting married and will he find the one that is to be the wife God wants for him?
Guess you will have to read it to find out.

I thought that the book was very well written. It almost feels like you are there sitting in the same room, listening to Dr. Luther and Katharina fight with each other. The relationship between the two is very interesting because it is very up and down. With them in love one moment and about to kill each other the next.  The story is full of action and a little bit of theology for the guys and a little bit ( or a lot towards the end ) of romance in the story for the girls. There are some moments that are a bit graphic when she describes some of the violent acts  that the peasants did to get the attention of the princes. but there is nothing in too much detail. Just enough for you to see the horror of the event(s). Overall, I enjoyed the story. It had a little too much romance for my taste but it was still a good book.
I rate it 4 out of 5 stars ****



If you would like to check this book out, or some of her other awesome books, just click on the link below:
http://jodyhedlund.com/book-list/

I would like to thank Blogging for Books for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.



Happy Reading :)

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen


I cannot believe that it has almost been a month since I have reviewed a book for you!
Oh, well the Christmas season seems to be busy time for everyone. But in case you have a moment to spare and can sit and enjoy a new book, I just finished reading The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen.  It is the story of Captain Stephen Overtree who went to Lynmouth to find his irresponsible older brother Wesley. Instead of finding Wesley, he finds Sophie Dupont, who had fallen in love with Wesley and was now with child. But when Stephen finds out that Wesley left to go to Italy to find his "Mona Lisa" and left Sophie behind,  Stephen immediately feels protective of Sophie although he is not sure why except that he feels he needs to fix the mistake his brother made. So Stephen offers Sophie marriage in name only, so in the event that he is killed in battle, she will be a respected widow and not shunned from society due to having a child without a husband.  Sophie agrees and they get married, and move into his family home at Overtree Hall in England. Sophie and Stephen start growing closer together and find themselves falling in love with each other and shortly after they arrived at Overtree Hall Stephen has to go back to war. A few days after Stephen left, Wesley returns home and is surprised to see Sophie there. He thought that she had come to find him, but when he finds out that she married his brother, He is furious!  He tries to figure out why Sophie married his brother and is upset that she did not wait for him. When Stephen is reported Missing in Action  and  Presumed dead, The whole family is upset but Wesley sees his chance to convince Sophie to marry him. Sophie is outraged that Wesley would be so uncaring and heartless, and she prays fervently for Stephen's safe return. Will Wesley finally realize that Sophie is no longer in love with him but her heart now belongs to his brother, Stephen?  Will Stephen be found safe and be able to come home to his wife and child?





I thought that the book was good, Very well written with believable and likable characters. There was nothing graphic or inappropriate mentioned but it had little bit too much romance for my liking but I understand why it was in the story.  I love the faith that Stephan shows throughout the story and how you can see Sophie grow in her faith towards the end of the book.
 I did not care for Mrs.Klassen's previous book Lady Maybe but was thrilled that she went with her old style of writing on this book!  I hope that she continues writing books like this one.
Overall, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars ****


If you want to check out all of Mrs.Klassens's books check out the link below>
I recommend all of them :)
http://www.julieklassen.com/books.html

 Happy Reading!  :)




 I would like to thank Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was not asked to write a favorable review, Just a honest one.