11. Mists Over the Channel Islands and more...

11. Mists Over the Channel Islands. Sarah Sundin. 2026. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [world war II, historical fiction, historical romance, christian fiction, 5 stars]

First sentence: Words failed Dr. Ivy Picot, so she sketched her father with gray-flecked hair, packing to go to war. 

Mists Over the Channel Island depicts a family torn apart by war. Half of the family goes to England--either to fight for Britain OR for refuge. Ivy and her sister, Fern, remain behind. Ivy is a doctor and she's needed. Fern chooses to stay than to go with her husband who will soon be fighting for the Allies. 

Gerrit van der Zee (and his friend Bernadus Kroon) are Dutch and have joined the Nazis. Not because they're actually actually Nazis--in any way. But because they want to be spies and work with the Resistance. They are assigned to Jersey (one of the Channel Islands). They soon befriend, Charlie, Ivy and Fern's younger brother. Ivy doesn't want to like--let alone like-like- the enemy. But she soon seems there's more to Gerrit than what it seems. HE is a good guy though technically 'an enemy' 'an outsider' to the islanders. Meanwhile, Fern begins working FOR the Nazis--after a fall out with her sister--and soon finds herself having an affair with a Nazi soldier. She even begins to view the Allies as enemies and the Nazis as the good guys. 

Tensions are high. Lives are at stake. Family loyalty is tested....

I enjoyed this historical romance GREATLY. It was a great read. Highly recommend. 

   

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Sunday, March 22, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Joshua 7-10; Job 11-14; Acts 8-11;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Mark 4-5;

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Esther; Ezra 4-10; Nehemiah; 1 Chronicles 1-9; Joel; Malachi;

NASB Large Print Compact Bible

1 Samuel 21-31

Monday, March 23, 2026

2 Samuel 1-7

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

2 Samuel 8-12;

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

2 Samuel 13-24

Thursday, March 26, 2026

1 Kings 1-11

Friday, March 27, 2026

Saturday, March 28, 2026

1 Kings 16-22; 

   

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Sunday, March 15, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Deuteronomy 1-3, Ezra 1-5; Luke 15-16

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 19

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Ezekiel 5-15

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Joshua 1-10

Monday, March 16, 2026

Joshua 11-24

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Judges 1-5

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Judges 6-21

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Ruth; 1 Samuel 1-3

Friday, March 20, 2026

1 Samuel 4-15

Saturday, March 21, 2026

1 Samuel 16-20

   

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10. The French Kitchen. Kristy Cambron. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy] [3 stars, historical fiction, Christian fiction]

First sentence: What would a French glamour girl wear to stash weapons in the dead of winter besides a haute couture gown? Kat Harris wished she knew.

The description of French Kitchen sounds great, interesting, intriguing. However, for me at least, the book failed to match the description. 

The French Kitchen has dual timelines. 

There is a timeline set in France during World War II where the heroine, Kat Harris, is masquerading as Celine a woman part of the Resistance. The real Celine never arrived at her assignment. Kat Harris took her place and assumed her name. She's going undercover as a pastry chef, I think??? Regardless, she's going undercover in a French kitchen. France is occupied. The book opens with a cliff hanger, though since you have no investment in the characters much of the intensity and suspense is wasted. 

The second timeline is France in the 1950s. Kat Harris has received a telegram that may or may not be concerning her dead or not dead brother who was also a spy working with the Resistance. For whatever reason she feels the best way to find her possibly-not-dead brother is to find a man she may or may not be able to trust, Gerard, and marry him. For whatever reason he says yes. (At this point, readers are most likely as clueless as I was as to why he would say yes and why she would propose and what the point is). 

The chapters alternate between the past and present. In the 'present' story line Kat is once again become interested in cooking and meets Julia Child. This is what the description emphasizes. This is what the author's note emphasizes. This supposedly is the whole reason the book exists--to create fictional characters to interact with a fictional Julia Child. She's also searching for her possibly-not-dead brother. 

There are characters--friends, enemies, frenemies--in both timelines. But the way this story unfolds...at least to me...is not as effective as it could be if the author had chosen a timeline and kept things chronological. I am not opposed to dual timelines IF the story flows well and most importantly if it makes sense with little to no confusion. 

The description seems like it was written by someone who only heard a summary of the book and didn't actually read it. 

   

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Sunday, March 8, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Leviticus 16-20; 2 Chronicles 1-5; Mark 7-9;

RSV Sovereign

Isaiah 40-43; Jeremiah 32-36;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Proverbs 12-17

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Isaiah 49-59

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Exodus 31-40 

Monday, March 9, 2026

Leviticus 1-11;

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Leviticus 12-27

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Numbers 1-36

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Deuteronomy 1-5

Friday, March 13, 2026

Deuteronomy 6-16;

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Deuteronomy 17-34

   

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