These were my five-star reads in 2021. I’m stingy with my stars, so these books really stood out for me among the 115+ books I read last year. I enjoyed them for a variety of reasons: Some inspired me, some taught me forgotten history, some were funny, some were creative, but one stands alone for extraordinary writing. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner Angle of Repose may be the best book I have ever read. Wallace Stegner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel traces the fortunes of four generations of one family as they attempt to build a life for themselves in the American West. Confined to a wheelchair, retired historian Lyman […]
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Amy’s September Reads and Reviews
There’s not much I enjoy more than curling up with a book on a crisp autumn evening. I have a feeling some of you agree. When I write these posts, I intentionally include reviews of books I loved and others I didn’t. Why? Because we all like different things. Being a writer and editor makes me a tough critic, but I do my best to include both pros and cons on each book. Maybe you’ll find the perfect read in this month’s group. A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner “The person who completes your life is not so much the person who shares all the years of your existence, […]
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April Reads
A new month is upon us, fellow bibliophiles, which means it’s time to post what I read in April. There weren’t any 5-star winners, but there were no real duds either. In all the years I’ve been rating books, I’ve only given two 2-stars reviews—one because of grammatical errors and the other because of objectionable content. As an author I know how hard it is to write a book, and I think most books deserve at least three stars (unless a book is self-published, and then it’s no holds barred). April turned out to be a wonderful mix of genres: mystery, thriller, historical fiction, and memoir. I laughed out loud, […]
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The Nature of Fragile Things – Book Review
I normally take notes while I am reading an advance reader copy (ARC) to help facilitate my review. Susan Meissner’s historical novel, The Nature of Fragile Things, though, was so wonderful I didn’t want the interruption. Here’s a quick synopsis: Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and moves to San Francisco. She quickly adjusts to her new life and develops a deep affection for Kat, her new stepdaughter, but something about her husband isn’t quite right. Then one spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a chain of events. […]
Read more...Unconditional Love on GOD UNPLUGGED internet radio talk show
This week’s guest on GOD UNPLUGGED is author and speaker Susan Meissner. Susan is a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include the Rachael Flynn Mystery series as well as A Window to the World, named one of 2005’s top ten Christian fiction novels by Booklist magazine. Her latest book, Blue Heart Blessed, was released by Harvest House in February 2008. This compelling story is about the magnificence of unconditional love and God’s impeccable timing in bringing it about. Susan will share her testimony, her journey becoming a published author and share her insight on God’s unconditional love. During […]
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