15. Into a Golden Era

15. Into a Golden Era. Gabrielle Meyer. 2026. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [christian fiction, christian romance, series book, 3 stars]

First sentence: I needed help, and I didn't have much time. 

Premise/plot: Into a Golden Era is the newest in Gabrielle Meyer's "Timeless" series. Ally, our heroine, lives in two timelines. She lives in California in 1849 during the "Gold Rush," and in California in 1929 as an actress in the Golden Age of Hollywood. In the 1849 story line, Ally is trying to use her knowledge of the future (though not well thought out research) to make her family rich so she doesn't feel guilty leaving them for her more modern life. She knows where gold will be found, and is going to try to get there and take some before it is actually actually found. In the 1929 story line, Ally and her family (who own a small, independent film company) are filming Little Women. Ally is faking a relationship with Hollywood bad-boy, Spencer, who is starring as Laurie in the film. This is the life that she supposedly wants, but, she's not particularly happy in it. Well, to be fair, Ally is having all the issues in both timelines. 

The two love interests are Sam (in the 1849 story line) and Spencer (in the 1929 story line). The reader can guess the outcome extremely early on. 

My thoughts: I don't mind formulaic romance. I don't. It can be a great joy, a "guilty pleasure" if you will. Guilty not because it's sinful or shameful but because it isn't the most super amazing quality of literature. The books are allegedly Christian fiction. And there's a shallow amount of Christianity to be found. Which is completely fine. The speculative fiction of this series makes it strange. And perhaps it's for the best that theology or doctrine isn't inserted in this super strange world. Two bodies, one soul. It is just ODD if you overthink the theology of it. 

I wanted to love this one more than I did. But I did like it better than some in the series. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

68. Yesterday's Gone

68. Yesterday's Gone. Cindy and Erin Woodsmall. 2022. 432 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, time travel, Amish fiction, christian romance]

First sentence: Sweat rolled down Eliza Bontrager's neck as she carried her youngest sibling on one hip and a plate of sliced bread in her hand. Stale bread, and the last of it. The mountain air hung thick with the familiar July aromas. 

Premise/plot: TIME TRAVEL. AMISH ROMANCE. Who knew these two could blend so well?!?!?! 

Eliza Bontrager loves, loves, loves Jesse Ebersol despite the opposition of their families and the community. There have been marriages between the Ebersols and the Bontragers in the past that were less than ideal. There's even rumors of a 'curse' if these two families marry into one another. Jesse and Eliza do not believe in 'the curse.' Love conquers all. On their wedding day, Eliza is given a quilt--passed down through the generations--and told a family story. The story is almost too incredible to believe. If she takes the quilt to an old cabin in the woods--place names escape me--and she undoes a single stitch in the quilt and restitches it, she can travel back in time to one particular moment in her past. Supposedly, once done it is DONE. No going back to the way things used to be. And no do-overs. Five or six years later, Eliza faces strong temptation after burying her third child. She is convinced that life would be better for everyone if she'd never married Jesse. But is that true?

My thoughts: This one has IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE vibes and time travel. It also has quite a lot to say about grief, love, loss, and healing. I really LOVED this one. I loved getting to know Eliza, Jesse, Ruth, and Andrew. I loved seeing both realities. I highly recommend this one. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

25. In this Moment

In This Moment. (Timeless #2) Gabrielle Meyer. 2023. 416 pages. [Source: Library] [Speculative fiction; historical romance]

First sentence: Most days, I could pretend that my life was normal. I was a twenty-year old woman searching for my place in the world, trying to decide my future. The only difference was that I had three normal lives, and on my twenty-first birthday, just eight and a half months from now, I would have to choose which one to keep and which to forfeit. Forever. 

Our heroine is "Margaret Wakefield," "Maggie Hollingsworth," and "Meg Clarke." Her timelines are respectively 1861, 1941, and 2001. In each timeline she has an interest in medicine be it as a nurse or doctor/surgeon. A little bit of backstory, she is the daughter of TWO time slippers or two time travelers. She bears two birthmarks which signify that she has this special ability; one is inherited from her father and the other is inherited from her mother. 

This is the second novel in the series. Unlike the first book, I really LOVED this one. Mainly because it was so much improved from the first novel. What I appreciated about his novel is the characterization and storytelling. Characters are fully fleshed out in all three timelines. Well, mostly. Two of the timelines definitely get more attention to detail. However, I felt that the stories in all three were actually engaging and well-balanced. I did not feel that there was a super incredible obvious choice within the first three or four pages. I did not feel that there was one obvious HERO that would be THE ONE within the first three chapters. I think the balance between the three storylines, the cast of characters in each timeline, were well done. Most importantly, I think the heroine was actually likable. And that makes all the difference in the world. If you can't stand to be anywhere near the main character and you think she is off-putting, it's hard to like a book well enough to finish it.

Loose lips apparently don't sink ships in the world Meyer has created. Our main character can't really keep her abilities to herself. She confides in friends, family, and love interests. In every timeline she has a support system in place which allows her to talk relatively freely about her other lives, other families, other love interests. I don't know how I feel about this to be honest. 

There was one scene that I thought was theologically iffy. But I think the theology of this speculative fiction is just necessarily iffy. Because it is all make believe and has a different set of rules. God somehow seems less sovereign and less in charge of his universe. Like he's waiting on his special time-travelers to figure out how the story is going to play out. 

"Sometimes I wish God would just choose for me."

"You wouldn't really want that, would you?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. It would be easier." 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

22. When the Day Comes

When the Day Comes. (Timeless #1) Gabrielle Meyer. 2022. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: For as long as I could remember, my mama had told me that my life was a gift. But at the age of nineteen, I had yet to see how this life I was living--or rather the lives I was living--could be anything other than a burden.

Premise/plot: When the Day Comes is a "timeslip" novel I believe. The premise is that there are a select number of human beings gifted/blessed by God with an unusual ability. They live two lives. When they fall asleep in one life, they wake up in the other. That's the keeping it simple summary. On her twenty-first birthday, the individual--in this case, Libby--must choose between her two lives and commit to living in one time period. Libby lives in Colonial Williamsburg in 1774--so essentially the country is on the verge of the war--and New York in 1914--again, Libby is living on the verge of war, though she probably doesn't know that bit. Her mother is also a "time traveler" (her lives were Colonial America and the 1990s). 

Libby is 100000000% certain that she knows her choice already. She is going to stay with her widowed mother and siblings in Colonial America, and, above all she is going to stay with her much beloved sweetheart, Henry. She hates almost every moment of her "modern" life in 1914. She doesn't hate her father, she might miss him a little bit. But she has no bond or connection with anyone else. Everything is a drudge.

But God may have different plans for her life. Will He work all things out for good?

My thoughts: I don't hate the premise. I don't. I actually think it has a LOT of potential. I do. I think it could be done really well. There could be great characterization, immersion into different time periods, and genuine tension and conflict. Like what if she *equally* enjoyed/loved both lives. What if she actually cared about both families. What if she actually lived life to the fullest in both lives. What if she authentically belonged to both timelines. But as it is, the characterization just isn't there. The characters lack fleshing out. The relationships feel flat, for the most part. The book does not read historical for either time period because the main character doesn't really 'belong' anywhere. She knows too much about Colonial America [and American history up through 1914 at least]. And through conversations with her mother, she has hints of even more. At one point her mother gives her a brief overview of the twentieth century. 

I think the biggest problem for me was the NON love triangle. We have one of the weakest love triangles ever. Which is fine, completely fine. Many people hate love triangles. But when you've got the main character in relationships in both timelines, but she loves one madly and despises the other...then it is just wearisome. The modern timeline depicts S.A. 

I take back what I said about the biggest problem. The solution tie-a-bow-on-it-ending was 1000000% convenient and felt cheater-pants. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

30. Come Back To Me

Come Back To Me (Waters of Time #1) Jody Hedlund. 2021. [July] 384 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: “Your father is in a coma.” “What did you say?” Marian Creighton fumbled with her phone and almost dropped it. “I don’t think I heard you correctly.” “I’m sorry, Marian.” Harrison Burlington’s English accent on the other end was as loud and clear as if he’d been sitting at Jasper’s desk opposite from hers. “Unfortunately, you did hear me all too correctly. I’m afraid your father is in a coma.”

Premise/plot: Marian Creighton, our heroine, is determined to save both her father (who is in a coma) and her sister (who is dying of a genetic disease). Her father (before his coma) was mad determined as well. He has been obsessed with finding the tree of life. Yes, you read that correctly. The tree of life. Perhaps not the actual-actual tree, that might be a bit much, but any seeds that may remain from the tree of life. His theory is that those seeds were carried to England (at one point) and have blessed several springs with healing powers (just read your history). He is looking for that holy water. And it is up to his daughter (now that he is in a coma) to finish his research...before his competitors steal it (because of course they have an agenda).

Marian spent years--if not decades--of her life distancing herself from her father's obsession. But now that he is in a coma and she's found a few cryptic notes, she's convinced that the only way to save her family is to carry out her father's research--even if that comes at great risk to herself. (Then again, experimenting on one's self and taking big risks with the hope of great reward might be part of the whole mad scientist thing?)

Here is where I recommend readers suspend all disbelief. And I do mean all--all while you're reading (book in hand), all while you're thinking about what you've read, all while you're thinking about thinking about what you've just read. 

So now that you're willing to believe everything without asking any questions (not even one), this novel features time travel via drinking holy water. The solution to many of her problems may be found in the past--the year 1381 to be exact.

Will she find what she's looking for? Or perhaps will she found what she has never bothered looking for?

My thoughts: I definitely found this one compelling. Even when I found it over the top ridiculous I found it compelling. 

I loved the past setting of Come Back To Me. True I thought she was very UNprepared and very naive as she oriented herself to the past. (Honestly, who wouldn't be to a certain degree.) It seems to me she could have spent a little more time researching and planning before she drank herself to the past. (That's a very odd sentence). Still, it was the past that made this one an exciting read. 

This one may pretend to be many things--a mystery, a thriller, science fiction--but at its heart, at its core it is essentially a romance (and a STEAMY, STEAMY, STEAMY romance at that).

Let's talk steam. On the one hand, ALL THE STEAM happens in a marital relationship. On the other hand, even though it isn't in any way improper for the characters to be in a steamy, sensual, oh-so-intimate relationship, that might not be the case for the book's readers. 

For some readers who have had struggles in the past or are currently struggling with smutty-smut romance addiction, the steam in this one may not make this one a good choice. If reading this one makes you tempted to pick up that addiction again. (Be it romance novels or movies).

I would say also that Christian fiction tends to be labeled "safe" and "clean" and "appropriate" for readers of most ages (think 8+). I know I was certainly reading Janette Oke when I was in elementary school. This one would not be one you'd want young(er) readers to read. I think older teens it might not be a bad choice--especially if they read widely from secular publications--this is probably oh-so-tame/lame in comparison to the heavy stuff. But it might not be the absolute best choice either. 

If you are "triggered" (and I don't know that this is the best word choice) easily, this might be a gateway back into a sin you're trying to recover from.

But every reader is different. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Imagine...The Miracles of Jesus

Imagine...The Miracles of Jesus. Matt Koceich. 2019. [October] 112 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: No light. No sound...except for the beat of his heart.

Premise/plot: John Le is on his flight back home. He's dreading it...big time. His father isn't such a nice guy. His home has a lot of stress, tension, discomfort. When the plane encounters turbulence due to a storm, John flees to the bathroom where he finds a strange note. In a flash, it seems, John finds himself far from home--and in Bible land. He's in a BOAT of all places, fishing with Jesus and his disciples. Jesus has a special message for him, John Le. Jesus also has a super-big hug for him. Will being with Jesus in Bible Land make John be the stuff of dreams or nightmares?

My thoughts: Imagine...the Miracles of Jesus, in my humble opinion, is strongly influenced by The Twilight Zone. If I approach this children's book with that in mind, with the voice of that narrator, I find I like it better. John Le is on a TRIP. And it's a strange, disorienting, odd, crazy, over-the-top TRIP. He'll be chased by a dragon, a snake, a lion, a lying man, a demon masquerading as an angel of light, a 'thief' wearing his own face, etc. John Le finds Jesus--or Jesus finds John Le--in between some truly discomforting encounters.

Jesus gave John a hug and told him a second time not to worry. "I am calling you to do great things. There is an enemy that will try and stop you. He will come at you in different ways. Don't worry about anything. Say no, and trust that I am with you. Stand up, and with My power you will defeat his plans!" 

"Precious child, I need you to know that in My eyes, you are a miracle too. Please have faith that what I say is true. While you are in the world, the dragon will always be there in the shadows lurking. But he has no power over you, John Le."

John Le does have to return to a reality, a reality where his father does not believe in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

I definitely liked this one a bit better than the previous title in the series that I read earlier in the week.

This one felt like a nightmare and not an attempt at a fantasy novel. If that was the intent, then it succeeded. If it wasn't the intent, well, I guess the series probably isn't for me. Nightmares have their own crazy logic and vague-fuzzy segues. When you're dreaming...you go with the flow. It's only when you're awake that you realize how weird or bizarre it really was. Emotions matter more than being realistic.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Imagine...The Giant's Fall

Imagine...The Giant's Fall. Matt Koceich. 2019. Barbour. 112 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The giant grabbed the girl and lifted her high into the air. He yanked her up so hard and fast she thought she was going to pass out. Her struggle to get out of the monster's powerful grip was over. Despite the way the Bible story ended, it appeared the girl was not going to be as lucky as the young shepherd boy.

Premise/plot: Wren Evans is a young girl--mourning the loss of her mother AND her home--who finds herself transported back in time. The good news is that she gets to meet David before he was king, when he was just a shepherd boy. She also gets to FLY AROUND on the back of an angel named Josephine. Josephine is there to tell her that she's super-special to God and that she's needed to fight in God's army. The bad news? Well, she won't just be a witness to Goliath threatening the Israelites, to David's epic showdown with Goliath...she'll BE IN GOLIATH'S FIST DURING THE EPIC SHOWDOWN SCENE. During her time in the past, she'll learn that God is trustworthy and maybe just maybe things will be okay even though her house burned down, even though her mother is dead, even though her super-awesome-special MANUSCRIPT which already has a publisher was "lost" in the fire.

My thoughts: I am an adult. Would my opinion of this one be vastly different if I was eight years old? If I had read less widely? I don't think my issue was with the time travel. (I love time travel. Always have. My favorite Star Trek episodes growing up were the ones with time travel.) I think I had issues with several things.

First, the focus wasn't on the Bible story itself. The book wasn't so much giving readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of David, the plight of the Israelites, the culture of the Philistines, or Goliath himself. The book seemed to rely more on King Kong or possibly Jack and the Beanstalk than Scripture. I could easily imagine this giant going around saying Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum and mumbling. And why would Goliath pick up a child and carry it around in his fist and stomp around? Yes, Goliath was a giant. Yes, he was a soldier. But seriously?!

Second, the focus seemed more on the angel Josephine (who's able and willing to give piggy-back-flights to young children) and symbolic butterflies appearing as signs than on God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Ghost. It's not that I don't believe in angels. There was just something very Touched-by-an-Angel-ish about this one.

Third, I find it difficult to believe that a child (fourth grader) would write a book, find a publisher, get it published, sell copies, touch lives, change the world. We're led to believe that Josephine has a large part to do with the book's success--BUTTERFLIES--but still. The stories that fourth graders write can be super-precious and charming and wonderful to parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, their own teachers. But ready to publish a real (not vanity press) book?!?!

If I was eight, if I was looking for an incredibly happy ending, if I didn't give much thought to how silly it was...would I find it a compelling read? I just don't know.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings

The Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings. Marianne Hering. Paul McCusker. Adventures in Odyssey. 2011. Tyndale. 128 pages.

It all began on a Monday. Beth and her cousin Patrick were at Whit's End. It was a soda shop in a large, old house. Kids thought Whit's End was the best place in town for ice cream. But there was a lot more to Whit's End than scoops and cones. It had more rooms than Patrick could count. Down the hallway was a radio studio. And a theater to perform plays. Plus a library. On the second floor, there was a large model train. And the Bible Room. It was like a kids' museum.

Beth and Patrick star in this time-traveling adventure for young readers. Voyage with the Vikings is the first in a new series. And this first adventure in Imagination Station--a time machine of sorts--takes them back in time, back to the time of the Vikings. This adventure brings them face to face with Leif Ericson. Their mission is to bring back a sunstone, an item needed to help rescue Albert from Lord Darkthorn. But this mission won't be easy. For they may just end up enslaved if they're not careful.

I liked this one. It had a little action, a little adventure, and a little history. I liked how faith was part of the story. I liked how this adventure allowed them to practice their faith--to trust in God to see them through. For the intended age group, I thought the writing was strong. It was just as good--if not better--than the Magic Treehouse series titles I've read the past year. (I found it much less annoying.)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible