When the Sky Burned by Liz Tolsma Review

 

When the Sky Burned by Liz Tolsma is one of six books in the A Day to Remember series. Historical fiction stories based around real life tragedies. I'm sure most people have heard of the Great Chicago Fire that took place in October of 1871. However, I had never heard of the fire that takes place in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. And that is the fire that is the focus of this book. Though we do get a bit of a look at the aftermath in Chicago as well as part of the story takes place there. As horrible as the Chicago fire was, the Peshtigo fire was just devastating. 

I loved getting to know Mariah, Jay, and the little girl Angelina. Mariah is actually engaged to Angelina's father, Hollis. However, from the get go I could tell he was no good. And then we also get to see part of the story from his point of view and that makes is 100% clear that he is a villain. I couldn't stand the way he treated not just Mariah, but Angelina as well. 

We get to know the characters prior to the fire. However, fire has been threatening for days. The hot, heavy, smoky air is something the characters have been living with as they go about their daily lives. I loved hearing about the paintings that Mariah created. And then there was the embezzelling that Jay was learning about as he worked on the books for the railroad company. 

The scene of the conflagration was heartrending. So emotional I found myself quite disturbed and in tears. Especially knowing this was an actual historical event that these fictional characters were living through. Seeing so many loved ones, friends, and acquaintances dying. And then the hardship that Mariah had to live with with her blindness. Add to that the suspense of the embezzeling storyline and the danger Jay was in, and there was so much that kept me invested in this story and these characters' lives. 

I needed to know how the author was going to resolve all the different situations. Definitely a powerful, faith-filled book. And one I highly recommend. 

Friday Fun - June 13, 2025

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have one book to share with you.

I read Protected by Jerusha Agen. This is a novella prequel in her Security League series.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

Protected by Jerusha Agen:

"She knew the bullet was coming before she heard the shot."

Suspense right from the get go. Sure did draw me in. Wondered why someone was shooting at her.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here is my Friday 56 selection:

Protected by Jerusha Agen:

 

"'Drive home?' She swallowed. He meant he wanted to drive her. Kept trying to get her alone with him.

She turned to leave anyway. God could protect her from Jock, wherever he was.

'Tamara, wait,' Jenkin's voice drew closer behind her, but he didn't touch her. 'Please?'

She paused, looked over her shoulder, clutching her purse strap with tense fingers."

Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun post. Here is the link to that review:

Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright.

Here is the review for another book that I shared about recently:

Hope's Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer 

Hope's Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer Review

 

I absolutely loved Hope's Enduring Echo by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I loved how faith played such an important role in each of the characters' lives. There was the reminder to trust in God, go to Him in prayer, persist in prayer, and hope. Hope even when things continue to look like they aren't going your way. Lean on other's hope if you can't find the strength to hope.
Jennie has taken over walking the water line for her father who had fallen months earlier. Though he should be improving physically, he was declining mentally, leaving his family dependent on Jennie doing his job so the family wouldn't lose their income and home. One day as she's walking the line Leo Day, a paleontology student notices her while looking out the train window. He's interested in discovering more about the bone she is waving around. They set off to find the rest of the skeleton.
Has God answered both of their prayers?
Yet they still have much adversity to go through, events that make them question God and what they thought was His will.
There were times I know I would have resisted submitting the way Jennie did to her parents. And I could see where I would have resented both Jennie's parents and Leo's father. But I appreciated seeing two families who were following biblical teachings and I felt they were good role models.
One thing that really excited me about this book in the first place was knowing that there was going to be a search for dinosaur bones. I wondered how the author would lean, whether young earth or old earth, creationism or evolution. I was pleased to see the characters bringing science and the Bible together.
I loved everything about this book and can't wait to read more by this author.
I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright Review

 

Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse is Jaime Jo Wright's newest dual timeline novel. Set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I love that it centered around a lighthouse. A lighthouse that was supposedly haunted. Of course, knowing Jaime Jo Wright and her stories, I knew there would be a logical explanation. That didn't diminish the suspense or creepiness. 

In the present day timeline Shea is visiting the area and staying in the lighthouse for two reasons, to research for a story she would write about the lighthouse and the legend surrounding it. And to take some time for herself, away from her husband, as their relationship hasn't been the best for a while. As she delves into the past she discovers some disturbing information and finds herself dealing with some dangerous situations.

In the past we see the story through the point of view of Rebecca, the mysterious woman that those in the present refuse to talk about. There is a lot of mystery surrounding her even in the past because she is found at the foot of Annabel's grave, not in great shape, and not even remembering her name. She only thinks her name is Rebecca because of the necklace she is wearing.

As the story progresses the reader learns how the two stories relate to each other and the mystery starts to unravel, though there are parts that remain a mystery up until the very end. 

I really enjoyed this story, but the ending left me feeling like I needed something more. The big reveal was a bit of a surprise, but also a bit confusing when it came to the explanation and was a bit anticlimatic. I did appreciate the focus on working through the marriage relationship. I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of Shea for most of the story, as she seemed focused on what she thought her husband should be doing for her, instead of seeing what he was already doing. 

And then there was quite a dark revelation that left me feeling quite unsettled. It had been hinted at, but I wasn't sure I was understanding right, until the very end. 

Friday Fun - June 6, 2025

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have one book to share with you.

I'm reading Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join Carrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright:

"The violent water raged with waves that swallowed everything in its path."

Definitely setting the tone with this violent storm.

Now for:

The Friday 56 

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here is my Friday 56 selection:

Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright:

 

"As Niina led the way, Rebecca snuck a glance into the room opposite Kjersti's. The room that must be Abel's. Surely as an unmarried woman she'd not be expected to board across the hall from an unmarried man, with only a male lightkeeper a level down in the keeper's bedroom?"

Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun post. I sort of put that book on hold when I realized I needed to read Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse for a reading challenge. I hope to share my review for that book next week.

Here is the review for another book that I shared about several weeks ago:

Recipe for Love by Penny Zeller

Rescued by Jerusha Agen Review

 

Oh my gosh, what an awesome book. I was just opening the book to get my first line Friday quote for my blog, but Rescued by Jerusha Agen drew me in from that first line and I had to keep reading. What a gripping romantic suspense story. The action is almost non stop, just the way I like it. Danger kept coming after Valena, Cooper and the children, which kept me swiping through the pages. The only thing that made it less suspenseful was being in both the male and female characters' pov, because while Valena wasn't sure if she could trust Cooper, we knew his thoughts. But the danger coming after them was real, even though Valena had no clue why people were after the children in her care. 

And faith in God plays a very important part in this book, which I always appreciate.

I just loved this book and highly recommend it.

I received an e-copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.