Book Review: MESSENGER BY Moonlight by Stephanie Grace Whitson

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Psalm 23:1(KJV)

Publisher's Description

Bestselling author Stephanie Grace Whitson's latest historical novel features an adventurous young heroine who works for the Pony Express.

Orphaned Annie Paxton and her brothers may have lost the only home they've ever known, but they're determined to make a better future in St. Joseph, Missouri. Annie dreams of a pretty house with window boxes, and having friends, and attending church every week. But then her brothers spot the ad for a new venture called the Pony Express. "Wanted," it reads, "Young, skinny fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders and willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred." Sure enough, both her brothers land jobs as Express messengers, and Annie puts her dreams on hold to work as a cook at Clearwater Ranch, a station along the Pony Express route.

Annie struggles to adapt to her new job--work made all the more challenging when she has so many to feed and few ingredients. The gruff station owner, George, doesn't seem inclined to make her life any easier, or at least not at first. But slowly a friendship builds between them. When Annie attracts the attention of a refined, dashing lieutenant from the nearby fort, she'll have to learn how to trust her instincts and follow her heart, even if she's conflicted about which way it's leading her.

Editorial Reviews

"Whitson's fascinating look at the Pony Express and those who lived in the Midwest during that time is entertaining and intriguing. The romance is unexpected, beautifully developed and well-balanced with action and family drama. The faith message is touching and relevant."―RT Book Reviews on Messenger by Moonlight

"Messenger by Moonlight is a well-researched tribute to the strong and courageous men and women of the Pony Express."―Historical Novel Society

My Personal Review

MESSENGER BY Moonlight by Stephanie Grace Whitson is an exceptionally entertaining, well written and engaging book! From the first page, right up until the last, I found myself thoroughly absorbed in the action and completely transported back in time to the days of the Pony Express. 

The story circles around the main character, Annie Paxton, who is surrounded by two loving brothers who make it their mission to provide for her after the loss of their parents. From the very beginning of the novel there is a strong message of the importance of family connection.  The theme of perseverance during difficult times and leaning on the Lord in the face of adversity is effectively communicated  throughout the book, as well. 

As the Paxton brothers carry out their new jobs as Pony Express messengers, Annie accepts a job as a cook at a large ranch on the route. She has very little experience and not a great deal of supplies, but she learns how to manage with the help of the station manager, George Morgan. The interactions and relationships that develop at the ranch are fun and authentic and evoke many emotions from the reader.

The trials and harsh times that were a part of this era in history are narrated so vividly, that  I found a whole new appreciation for the modern comforts of air-conditioning, heat, cars, medicine, communication, and easily accessible food! It's amazing what we take for granted. I also had no idea what the Pony Express riders had to endure as they navigated their treacherous routes, nor was I aware of the speed at which they were required to run them. Not only were they having to deal with the elements, but the dangers of predators, illness, horse injuries and much more.

Pony Express route covering 1900 miles

MESSENGER BY Moonlight has everything a good Christian Historical Fiction book should have. It informs, causes reflection, brings a spirit of worship, entertains, and provides a clear vision of a loving Savior in Christ. Perhaps the only thing missing is a map illustrating the 1900 mile Pony Express Route and a few approximate station locations to serve as a point of reference. Maybe it's because I am such a visual learner, but I found myself wanting to see their path and the location of the Clearwater Ranch. At one point while reading the novel, I went on a search to see a map of their journey. I have provided that here from the National Park Service website. 

I would like to thank FaithWords and Hachette Book Group Inc for this complimentary review copy of MESSENGER BY Moonlight by Stephanie Grace Whitson. I was not required to give a favorable review, but only to read the work in it's entirety and give an honest opinion. 

Book Review: A Sparrow In Terezin by Kristy Cambron

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection through one survivor’s story of hope in the darkest days of a war-torn world.

This book is incredibly realistic!
Put it on your reading list today.
  

Present Day—With the grand opening of her new art gallery and a fairy–tale wedding just around the corner, Sera James feels like she’s stumbled into a charmed life—until a brutal legal battle against fiancé William Hanover threatens to destroy their future before it even begins.

Now, after an eleventh-hour wedding ceremony and a callous arrest, William faces a decade in prison for a crime he never committed, and Sera must battle the scathing accusations that threaten her family and any hope for a future with the man she loves.

1942—Kája Makovsky narrowly escaped Nazi-occupied Prague in 1939 and was forced to leave behind her half-Jewish family. Now a reporter for The Daily Telegraph in England, Kája discovers the terror has followed her across the Channel in the shadowy form of the London Blitz. When she learns Jews are being exterminated by the thousands on the continent, she has no choice but to return to her mother city, risking her life to smuggle her family to freedom and peace.

Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, these two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains them and fight to protect all they hold dear–even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

MY PERSONAL REVIEW:

A Sparrow In Terezin by Kristy Cambron is a heartbreaking, yet hope filled book of love and courage written for the reader who is not only interested in being entertained, but simultaneously informed to historical events that took place during World War II. 

Masterful writing!

A Sparrow In Terezin by Kristy Cambron captures the happenings that took place within the boundaries of the Nazi established Jewish internment camp of Terezin during World War II. Terezin was a town in Northwestern Czechoslovakia and history records that Jews were brought by the thousands to this city for the purpose of falsely promoting a model "Jewish settlement" of sorts and thereby utilizing it to show the world how well the Jewish nation was being treated by the Nazis. This in fact was a lie. The town in actuality served as a transit camp run by the SS for the Jews who were en route for extermination to other death camps. The city was an overcrowded ghetto filled with underfed, mostly elderly and young Jewish people who were suffering from rampant illness and poor living conditions.

Kristy Cambron logically interlaces the lives of the two main characters, Kaja and Sera between current time and 1942. As each woman faces the most intense trial of her life, they each uncover an inner strength and peace. The story utilizes meticulous narration as the two intertwined lives eventually comprehend that the source of their strength is Christ living within them. The gospel presentation is subtle, but unmistakably clear. The continual foundation of family commitment and unwavering selflessness that are consistently communicated in this book, are inspiring and commendable. The inhumanity revealed within A Sparrow In Terezin as depicted through the horrendous events occurring in the city during the war are clearly appalling and paralyzing, however, the countering bravery, trust, resilience, hope and faith that each character represents, manage to restore a sense of confidence in humankind that is undeniable. 

I was enlightened to some of the atrocities that occurred during this time period and I am grateful for a deeper understanding of the intense suffering that took place. I was truly touched by the reading of this book. I found the descriptions of the children within the city walls to be hauntingly realistic. A Sparrow In Terezin was painful to read in some parts, but the exchange for knowledge was worth the injurious emotions. I'm thankful for the education and I walk away from this masterpiece with a desire to be "a teacher of hope". 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc for this review copy of A Sparrow In Terezin by Kristy Cambron. A copy of this book was provided to me through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a complete read and an honest opinion of this work.