Review: Whose Waves These Are

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Christian novel with a boat.

Annie, in Chicago, receives a message to return to Maine because something happened to her great-uncle Bob. She is so attached to him she immediately leaves her job and travels to Maine. I can't tell you what happened to him because that would be a spoiler!

The book is mainly set in the Maine fishing town of Ansel-by-the-Sea. As it turns out, though Annie does keep up with her Chicago job online, she isn't in any hurry to go back.

Overall, I thought it was a unique book that was unlike any other Christian novel I've read, mainly because of the boats and islands they visited. It was slightly romantic and slightly Christian... meaning there was only a very subtle amount of Christianity on the surface of the waves. You would have to dive deep to find more.

100% clean.

I read this for a 2026 "Read and Roam" challenge at the 2026 Reading Challenge group here on Goodreads. I've decided to read all Christian fiction for this challenge... and all Christy Award winners.

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Review: Treasure Island

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An island, priceless treasure, and greedy pirates!

Great story! I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It was written for teenage boys, but I felt compassion for Jim who had to face many tough challenges at a young age. The plot moves fast enough to keep a reader's attention.

In general, I very much like Robert Louis Stevenson's writing. This is the second of his books that I've read and I may read more. Kidnapped looks good. I've already read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Treasure Island isn't entirely white-washed. There are multiple deaths and fighting goes both ways between the pirates and others. Jim's life is in danger.

The doctor was made into a hero as he fearlessly attended to medical needs in both camps. The lead pirate, Long John Silver, was a scoundrel but, stepping out of character, he could also be congenial and even polite at times. There are other interesting characters you might not expect, and for me, the surprises made the book an exceptionally good read.

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Review: If I Were You

If I Were You by Lynn Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a WWII Christian novel.

Lynn Austin is the best author of Christian fiction I've found. Some might say it is Francine Rivers, and she is also near the top of the list for me. However, Lynn Austin's fiction feels so realistic and inspiring, I've always loved every book I've read of hers.

In this novel she's got two main characters, really. Audrey and Eve. They are best friends. In a slightly "Prince and the Pauper" kind of UK scenario Audrey is a member of the aristocracy and is raised in a huge English manor house. She meets Eve in the woods when they are children. Eve's mom works as a lady's maid for Audrey's mother. Audrey and Eve become best friends. Much later in life one girl impersonates the other. It is a good story!

Aside from the personal story, WWII happens and the two young women have to survive it, which isn't easy with German planes carpet-bombing London and other places in the country. This books gives a real education on what it might have been like to live through that kind of war.

I recommend the book. I read it as part of my participation in the Sisters In Christ Book Club here on Goodreads.

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Review: 1776

1776 by David McCullough
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I learned SO MUCH about the Revolutionary War from this book! But that's the point of reading books by David McCullough - he did the research and found the facts and knit them all together in a readable narrative, and all I have to do is read his books and learn from them. He was truly one of the greatest writers of the last century, maybe one of the top ten. He brought American history into the lives of 21st century readers and armchair travelers. This is the third book I've read by him and hopefully it will not be the last.

So, back to the topic: General Washington and his grand endeavor to free the American states from the rule and taxation of the British government. The book chronicles only one year of the war, 1776. It is considered the founding year of our country because the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4. The war was already in progress. It started April 19, 1775 and lasted until September 3, 1783.

1776 was a decisive year. It started with General Washington and an army of questionable soundness encamped just west of Boston which was occupied by the British. There were many problems with the army including that the men were often extremely sick and unable to fight. By the end of the year the army seemed dedicated to the cause but again in very bad shape, some even marching to battle on icy roads with no shoes. It is to these men that we owe a huge debt of gratitude because despite all the hardships, they persevered! Amazing!

I liked reading the book because I learned more about the people involved in the battles - both the Americans and the British. I learned what kinds of hardships the Americans endured to bring this country its independence. There's so much in this book worthy of note that I really knew nothing about before. Thinking back to what I learned about the Revolutionary War in high school I see now that what I thought it was, it wasn't. And what it was, was amazing. The battles, the retreats, the unexpected attacks, the decisions General Washington had to make - they are all detailed in this book.

Anyhow, I'm glad I read it and my only question now is: What David McCullough book do I want to read next?

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Review: New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional

New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Treasures of the Snow

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful Christian novel for children.

This novel pits Annette against Lucien. They live in a Swiss village. She is a motherless child devoted to raising her younger brother with the help of her father and grandmother. Lucien is a fatherless boy who helps his mother and older sister survive. Unfortunately Annette and Lucien are antagonistic toward one another, sometimes for good reasons. Neither child is perfect.

During the course of the novel they learn how letting Jesus into their hearts can change things for the better. It is a story of despair, injury, distress and ultimate redemption. I very much recommend this brief novel for anyone with a love for quality Christian children's literature.

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Review: The Last Sin Eater

The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be The Artist You Truly Are

The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be The Artist You Truly Are by Danny Gregory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Celebrate creativity!

This book is sketchy. It seems like all of Danny Gregory's art is sketchy. But wow, what a creative guy he is!!

Danny Gregory is a great, wonderful, talented sketchbook artist who encourages us not to let a lack of artistic talent stop us from having fun with art-making. One has to start somewhere. And seriously, one has to start over every day and keep sketching in order to get good at sketching things. It is fun. I recommend it.

The book has a handwriting-type font that I found difficult to read at length, but for short jaunts through his prose it wasn't too bad. The pages generally don't flow together anyway. The book is full of short bursts of inspiration. When you turn the page, some other inspiration appears along with bright, colorful, sketchy pictures that are a delight to look at.

This book is just plain fun. Every page is some kind of fun. There's no plot. It is all just inspirational thoughts of interest, probably, to artists.

That said I want to give special attention to two page-spreads near the end of the book. Pages 160-161 are titled "The Art of the Cinema" and they contain his brief reviews of 31 movies about artists. This will provide me with a convenient list of movies I absolutely have to see. I'm so grateful.

The other page-spread that really excited me was on pages 190-191, "Chillin' With Dylan." There Danny Gregory reviews and enthuses at length Bob Dylan's memoir, Chronicles, Vol. 1, a book I was mesmerized and amazed by. What an amazing writing style Bob Dylan has! I was so surprised and happy when I saw that Danny liked that book as much as I did!

Well, if you're interested in art, sketching, creativity and unique literary presentations, this book, Creative License, is one you might like to check out. I recommend it.

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