The Heretic by Henry Vyner-Brooks Book Review

About the Book:

In 1536 it seems the entire known world is changing--strange new lands are discovered and the Reformation is challenging Rome and its power. In England the king’s declaration of a new church and dissolution of the monasteries overturns the customs and authorities of centuries. In the new world order, spies abound and no one can be trusted.

To Brother Pacificus of the Abbey of St. Benet's in Norfolk, it looks like his abbey alone will be spared dissolution. But this last Benedictine house is mired in murder and intrigue. Then when Pacificus falls under suspicion, more than his own dark past comes to light, while the body count keeps rising. Pacificus's fate becomes entwined with that of three local children after their parents are arrested for treason and heresy. Protected only by this errant monk, a mysterious leper, and a Dutch eel-catcher, the children must quickly adjust; seeking their own identity, they soon find that neither parents nor protectors are quite what they seem.

Based on historical events, this post-medieval mystery is laced with romance, fueled by greed, and punctuated with bouts of feasting, smuggling, and jailbreak.


My Thoughts:
This book packs a punch and is one that must be read with the intention of rereading. The first time you read it, do so for enjoyment. Then, after you've finished, take another journey through and enjoy all the historical events. But be careful. If you're not a history buff (like me), you may catch yourself very much enjoying this historical fiction novel so much that you find yourself digging into events and people just to see what is fact and what isn't. And then finding that you got sidetracked because what you found was so enthralling that it's two in the morning before you know it. (Don't ask me how I know this.)

Most people don't realize what they have until they've lost it. This book reminded me just what a precious gift of religious freedom, if somewhat questionable, we have. Our religious freedom isn't something that was given to us lightly. Devout people who loved God and the Bible more than tradition gave up their lives for this. Just so they could have a Bible. So they could read God's Word for themselves. They were hunted like animals. Burned at the stake in front of jeering crowds. Tortured. Imprisoned. All because they wanted a Bible to read for themselves. This book, full of heroes - even some who weren't very willing at the beginning - is a book that you can get much out of. From a homeschooling aspect, this is a great book that has much to learn older students would enjoy. I honestly think it would be easy to get an entire school year of lesson plans for 9th to 12th graders. This isn't just a novel. This is a living, historical account of what real people endured. Like I said earlier. Be prepared to read this one more than once. And have a notebook nearby so you can take notes and research things for yourself.
Highly Recommend.

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Tweet: Keep 'em coming, @KregelBooks - The Heretic was a gr8 book! Loved it; read my review http://ctt.ec/0SNRE+ #historicalFiction

Change.

I'm sitting here making out a list of things that need to be done in the next 23 days. Cleaning, sorting, packing, getting rid of, storing, etc. and I'm getting a little sad. As everyone's does, our lives are changing. But like most people, we don't even see the change until something big comes up. Like, you know you're getting older but you don't realize it until your birthday smacks you in the face, or your hair has a ton more gray than it used to when you look in the mirror, or you can't see nearly as well as you used to.

Then, when you've finally come to grips with the gray hair, your first child starts college and your youngest is rounding the proverbial bend in school and you know your days of teaching are numbered. Talk about reality check, right?

But for us, another change is coming up.

We're moving. We've lived in our house for seventeen years and now we're packing everything up and moving closer to college, work, and church. And we're watching our children prepare themselves for the adult world. As I'm sitting here throwing stuff away (because hey, let's face it, this is the perfect time to purge, right?!) I realize just how different our lives are about to become.

We'll be living in a city for the first time in 18 years. We will have neighbors we can see. We will have to worry about our cats getting out into someone else's yard. Our kids will have to watch their driving speeds in residential areas. And like most people, I don't do change well. I could sit here and dwell on the fact that our daughter is the age when hubster and I were getting married or that our son isn't going to need me forever and will very soon be getting a real job in the real world, or that I'm further away from my family and our best friends.

Or I can focus on the good things ahead. College, work, and church are closer. Family and friends will now have a place to spend the night when they come visit (yay for bonus rooms! Just sayin), we won't be spending a fortune on gas anymore, and we will have the opportunity to make new friends and make a new home for our family that will, let's face it, be growing with marriages and grandchildren. Ugh! Am I even supposed to be thinking about grandkids at my age?!

Look, this whole growing up thing isn't for the weak. It's for the strong, faith-filled, prayer warriors that know that all these things really pale in comparison to what's really important. Eternity. See, for me, I know where I'm headed. I know that when I pass from this life, I will be spending eternity with Jesus. And thank the good Lord, my husband will be there, my parents will be there, both my kids will be there, and many friends will be there and we will have an eternity together. And that's something great to look forward to!

Now, I'm going to get up, clean up, and start packing because I've got a lot to do. Thanks for stopping by and letting me share with you for a few minutes. Here's a few pictures of our new house before you go...

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd - Book Review & Tour

About the book: 

Her secret cloaks her in isolation and loneliness.

His secret traps him in a life that is not his own.

Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could strip away everything she holds dear. But soon after accepting the position of lady's companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she's desperately hidden for years.

Nathaniel Stanton has a secret of his own --- one that has haunted him from birth and tied him to his father's position as steward of Willowgrove. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breath a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he'll never be free to find his own way in the world. He'll never be free to fall in love.

When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . . or will they stand together and build a future without the suffocating weight of secrets long suffered?

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/CsnBw

About the author: 

Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. The Heiress of Winterwood was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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My Thoughts:

Another winner from author Sarah E. Ladd! This story was a welcome respite from everyday life and problems, yet made you feel as though you were part of the story. I love how none of the characters were perfect and each had something they had to overcome before moving forward with their lives. And I very much enjoyed every moment I spent reading about them. These aren't cardboard characters with no emotion and no flair, but these are complicated with deep feelings and issues that every reader can find relatable. The only problem was the story ended too quickly for me. I wish it could go on and on and on...;)

I've read all three of the Whispers on the Moors series, and I would highly recommend them to friends.