More gifts, more magic, more friends, more enemies, more adventures, more emotions, more themes, more stakes---more everything! Hang on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, because once you open the cover of Lumen, this second installment of J. J. Fischer’s The Nightingale Trilogy will suck you into a maelstrom as wild, powerful, and beautiful as … Continue reading Book Review: Lumen by J. J. Fischer (The Nightingale Trilogy #2)
Author: Melissa J. Troutman
Book Review: Song of Songs for Singles by Tim and Angela Little
Let’s be real: Song of Songs is one of the hardest books of the Bible to read. If you’re like me, it’s the one book you skip in your read-through-the-Bible plan because you don’t know what to do with it, it makes you uncomfortable, or both. Not anymore. Song of Songs for Singles (and Married … Continue reading Book Review: Song of Songs for Singles by Tim and Angela Little
A Letter to Fellow Creatives
Dear fellow creative, Last weekend kicked my butt--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With my school year schedule keeping me busy during the week, I've relied on the weekends--namely, Saturdays--to get in the focused writing time I need to keep moving forward in my WIP. Two weekends ago, I attended the online ACFW VA Royal Writers Conference. … Continue reading A Letter to Fellow Creatives
Book Review: The Soul Mark by J. J. Fischer (Soul Mark Duology #1)
I can't wait to tell you about J. J. Fischer's newest book, just released in May! If you’re a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, Laura Frantz, or C. S. Lewis (or all three), The Soul Mark is right up your alley with its Colonial-era swashbuckling, sweet (and clean) romance, and rich, Christian allegory. I … Continue reading Book Review: The Soul Mark by J. J. Fischer (Soul Mark Duology #1)
Book Review: Calor by J. J. Fischer (The Nightingale Trilogy #1)
Happy book birthday, J. J. Fischer! Today is the release of her third book and the first installment of The Nightingale Trilogy, Calor. I absolutely loved reading this book and can't wait to share this review! Fairytale retellings are cool and all, but nothing is cooler (literally) than a fairytale retelling mashed with Greek myth … Continue reading Book Review: Calor by J. J. Fischer (The Nightingale Trilogy #1)
Journey to the East: Original Poetry Inspired by Lord of the Rings
I just finished reading The Lord of the Rings again. Man. Each time I read this masterpiece I gain a new layer of appreciation for the story, the writing, the characters, the themes, and the language. (Compare with what I wrote in response to this saga two years ago.) While all those things impacted and … Continue reading Journey to the East: Original Poetry Inspired by Lord of the Rings
Book Review: The Darcentaria Duology by J. J. Fischer
A young woman fleeing the horrors of World War II is astonished to find an undiscovered medieval world when her plane crashes in the Bermuda Triangle. Forced to join forces with a gifted but troubled warrior-prince to survive, El’s knowledge might just be the key to winning their civil war… but how can she share … Continue reading Book Review: The Darcentaria Duology by J. J. Fischer
Book Review: Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March
In 1892, Bombay is the center of British India. Nearby, Captain Jim Agnihotri lies in Poona military hospital recovering from a skirmish on the wild northern frontier, with little to do but re-read the tales of his idol, Sherlock Holmes, and browse the daily papers. The case that catches Captain Jim's attention is being called … Continue reading Book Review: Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March
Book Review: The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson
Did you know Robert Louis Stevenson wrote more than Kidnapped, Treasure Island, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? I love his other writings, so when I saw The Black Arrow at a used-book sale, I snatched it up. It sat on my shelf for a few years, however, until I recently found myself in between … Continue reading Book Review: The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson
Reading Highlights of 2021
My total book count for the year is 58--including comfort (or book review) re-reads, skim-reads, and unpublished works. Here's the creme de la creme of my 2021 reading. (You can also find some of the new fiction titles on my virtual bookshelves.) Fiction Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. Reread. Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale. … Continue reading Reading Highlights of 2021
Melissa J. Troutman 