Bloggin' 'bout Books: 12/24/19

2023 Literary Escapes Challenge

- ~~Alabama~~ (1)

- ~~Alaska~~ (1)

- ~~Arizona~~ (1)

- Arkansas

- ~~California~~ (5)

- ~~Colorado~~ (1)

- ~~Connecticut~~ (1)

- Delaware

- Florida

- ~~Georgia~~ (1)

- Hawaii

- Idaho

- Illinois

- Indiana

- ~~Iowa~~ (1)

- ~~Kansas~~ (1)

- Kentucky

- ~~Louisiana~~ (1)

- ~~Maine~~ (1)

- ~~Maryland~~ (2)

- ~~Massachusetts~~ (2)

- ~~Michigan~~ (1)

- Minnesota

- ~~Mississippi~~ (1)

- Missouri

- ~~Montana~~ (1)

- Nebraska

- Nevada

- New Hampshire

- New Jersey

- New Mexico

- ~~New York~~ (4)

- ~~North Carolina~~ (3)

- North Dakota

- ~~Ohio~~ (1)

- Oklahoma

- Oregon

- Pennsylvania

- ~~Rhode Island~~ (1)

- ~~South Carolina~~ (1)

- South Dakota

- Tennessee

- ~~Texas~~ (1)

- Utah

- ~~Vermont~~ (2)

- Virginia

- ~~Washington~~ (2)

- ~~West Virginia~~ (1)

- ~~Wisconsin~~ (1)

- Wyoming

- Washington, D.C.*

International:

- Australia (3)

- Canada (6)

- England (11)

- France (1)

- Ireland (2)

- Scotland (1)

- South Korea (1)

- The Netherlands (1)

-Vietnam (1)

Are YOU Ready for Christmas?

11:36 AM

This meme has been making me chuckle ever since I saw it, not just because my name is Susan but because the sentiment is so very true! I feel as if I'm perpetually behind, not just at Christmastime, but always.

Case in point: I was supposed to review Wings Like a Dove by Camille Eide today. Not only do I not have a review for you, but I haven't even read the book yet. I'm definitely going on the book blogger naughty list! However, I would like to share a spotlight because (1) I need to fulfill my commitment (at least partly) to the lovely folks over at Celebrate Lit! and (2) the book sounds like one I would really like. I'm planning to read it at some point, but not today. I haven't even finished my reading for the Cybils Awards and Round 1 decision-making is happening in a couple days. Bad, blogger! So, here you go with a spotlight:

Can the invisible walls that separate people ever come down?

In 1933, Anna Leibowicz is convinced that the American dream that brought her Jewish family here from Poland is nothing but an illusion. Her father has vanished. Her dreams of college can’t make it past the sweat-shop door. And when she discovers to her shame and horror that she’s with child, her mother gives her little choice but to leave her family. Deciding her best course of action is to try to find her father, she strikes out…hoping against hope to somehow redeem them both.

When Anna stumbles upon a house full of orphan boys in rural Indiana who are in desperate need of a tutor, she agrees to postpone her journey. But she knows from the moment she meets their contemplative, deep-hearted caretaker, Thomas Chandler, that she doesn’t dare risk staying too long. She can’t afford to open her heart to them, to him. She can’t risk letting her secrets out.

All too soon, the townspeople realize she’s not like them and treat her with the same disdain they give the Sisters of Mercy—the nuns who help Thomas and the boys—and Samuel, the quiet colored boy Thomas has taken in. With the Klan presence in the town growing ever stronger and the danger to this family increasing the longer she stays, Anna is torn between fleeing to keep them safe…and staying to fight beside them.

Oh, that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest…

Sounds intriguing, right? I've never read anything by Camille Eide, but Wings Like a Dove looks like a good place to start.

If you're interested in reading some real reviews of this historical novel, you can follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:

KarenSueHadley, December 17

My Devotional Thoughts, December 17

Reflections From My Bookshelves, December 18

Mia Reads, December 18

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 19

Genesis 5020, December 19

Emily Yager, December 20

mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 20

Betti Mace, December 21

To Everything A Season, December 21

Christian Bookaholic, December 22

April Hayman, Author, December 22