The Boundless Bookshelf

  About the Book: ✦ Title: The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple ✦ Author: J oanna Davidson Politano ✦ Genre: Christian Historical Romance ✦ Series: No, a standalone novel ✦ Recommend for: 15/16 + My Personal Rating ⭐⭐⭐ 📖Synopsis It is 1903, and Lily Temple is a beautiful silent-film actress who spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera. But beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit, a murky past, and a tantalizing secret.  Underground investigator to the wealthy, Peter Driscoll has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire that has been missing for years--and which Lily happens to be wearing beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and unravel the mystery, Peter employs the enchanting actress's help on a case.  But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily...

About the Book: ✦ Title: The All-American ✦ Author: Susie Finkbeiner ✦ Genre: Christian Historical Fiction ✦ Series: No, a standalone novel ✦ Recommend for: ages 15/16+ My Personal Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📖Synopsis It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys--she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. When Bertha's father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American Activities Committee, life comes crashing down on them. Disgraced and shunned, the Hardings move to a small town to start over where the only one who knows them is shy Uncle Matthew. But dreams are hard to kill, and when Bertha gets a chance to try out for the Workington Sweet Pe...

About the Book... ✦ Title: The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow ✦ Author: Katherine Woodfine ✦ Genre: Historical Middle Grade Mystery ✦ Series: Book #1 of The Sinclair's Mysteries series ✦ Recommend for: ages 12/13+ My Personal Rating ⭐⭐⭐.5 📖Synopsis You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store! Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and mysteries around every corner. Wonder at the daring theft of the priceless Clockwork Sparrow! Tremble as the most dastardly criminals in London enact their wicked plans! Gasp as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, crack codes, devour ice buns, and vow to bring the villains to justice… 💭My Thoughts  3 1/2 stars. This was good, I’m just not in the target market 😉 However, I think this would be a very entertaining read for many middle graders (or older people who just like middle grade books). Prior to reading this, I hadn’t read a middle grade book since I was in middle grade, so ...

  About the book... ★ Title: A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul ★ Author: David Mathis ★ Genre: Christian nonfiction My Personal Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 📖Synopsis We live in an age dominated by screens. For many, life is sedentary, and it’s become increasingly difficult to prioritize physical activity. Quietly conformed to this new normal, they feel sluggish and unmotivated. Others, however, have become entangled in a fitness culture that prioritizes the self, fuels pride, and coddles idolatry. Is it possible to make exercise holy? A Little Theology of Exercise explores how stewarding our bodies can serve the soul, honor God, and bless others. Combining biblical texts with practical guidance, pastor and author David Mathis encourages readers to embrace modest exercise as a way to deepen their knowledge and enjoyment of Christ and then reflect his love in the world. By placing Christ at the center of physical training, readers will discover a greater joy in...

  About the Book... *Title: Storing Up Trouble *Author: Jen Turano *Genre: Christian Historical Romance *Series: Book #3 in the American Heiresses series *Recommend for: ages 14 & up My Personal Rating ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐️ 📖Synopsis When Miss Beatrix Waterbury's Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape. Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract. But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it beco...

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2025  Heh…I can’t choose just one! Some of my favorite reads of the year so far include The Secrets of Ormdale series by Christina Baehr, The Swans Are Not Silent series by John Piper, as well as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Heavenly Man by Brother Yen, Tramp for the Lord by Corrie ten Boom…among many other 5 star reads I can’t include all of here because of space!   2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2025  A really incredible sequel that I read this year was Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors. The first book is Kisses from Katie which I loved as well and need to reread. I also really enjoyed The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper (book #2 of The Swans Are Not Silent), and Drake Hall by Christina Baehr (book #2 of the Secrets of Ormdale) was good as well, although it wasn’t my favorite of the series.  3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.  A Lesson in Propriety by Jen Turano was released in May and I s...

About the Book... *Title: The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House *Author: Joanna Davidson Politano *Genre: Christian historical romance (w/ steampunk elements) *Series: No, seems to be a standalone novel *Recommend for: ages 15+ My Personal Rating ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐️ 📖Synopsis A clever young woman, a contested will, and an estate that does not easily give up its secrets. It is 1901 when clockmaker and tinker Sydney Forrester receives a most unusual inheritance. Blakely House, the island estate of an estranged uncle she's never met, seems almost alive, revealing and hiding its secrets at will. It is filled with remarkable inventions, including an intriguing unfinished automaton Sydney is itching to get her skilled hands on. The estate is also home to a number of peculiar people--including two men intent on removing this interloper from the island. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle's death, the late master's nephews contest the will and work against their cou...

About the Book... *Title: The Atlas of Untold Stories *Author: Sara Brunsvold *Genre: Contemporary Christian *Series: No, seems to be a standalone novel *Recommend for: ages 15/16+ My Personal Rating ⭐⭐⭐ 📖Synopsis A literary journey beckons them . . . and may profoundly rewrite their stories. Chloe Vance, dreamer of the family, needs to tell her pragmatic mom, Edie, that she has accepted a low-paying art instructor role at a Christian school in Prague. Her older sister, Lauren--the "responsible one"--is doing all she can to hide the fact she's been fired for a foolish mistake and is desperately seeking her next career move. Meanwhile, Edie, estranged from her own sister following their mother's recent death, is frankly in no mood for anything else to change. The one thing they can all agree on? Life in books sure is easier to navigate than life in the real world. As the three women embark on a nine-day road trip to visit significant literary sites throughout America...

  About the Book... *Title: The Reluctant Godfather *Author: Alison Tebo *Genre: Clean fairytale retelling (Cinderella) *Series: Book # 1 in the Tales of Ambia *Recommend for: Ages 12 & up My Personal Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📖Synopsis Burndee is a young and cantankerous fairy godfather, who would rather bake cakes than help humans. A disgrace to the fairy order, Burndee has only two wards entrusted to his care…a cinder girl and a charming prince. A royal ball presents Burndee with the brilliant solution of how to make his wards happy with the least amount of effort. He’ll arrange a meeting and hope the two fall in love. A humorous and magical re-telling of Cinderella from a unique perspective. 💭My Thoughts  This was actually really...neat 😉 (Burndee's highest compliment). It should be noted that I am not a fairytale retelling reader, this being only the second I've read. Furthermore, I have never even watched Cinderella and have no interest in doing so. (Or any Disney movie for tha...