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A Day to Remember #1
Monday's Child
For Krista von Buren, a beautiful model whose fair face has opened doors all over Europe, life seems perfect. Until Jorden Keller appears. Jorden, a member of the Israeli secret police, is working with a journalist to uncover an international banking scandal dating back to Hitler's Germany. Krista is stunned to find that her family in Switzerland may have been involved in such a scandal, and she suddenly finds herself entangled in a frightening, unforeseen series of events.
When a tragic accident unexpectedly changes Krista's life as she searches for the truth, she learns that her true source of happiness lies not in her fair face, but in her faith in God. And she finds the kind of love she has always prayed for -- a love that goes beyond outward beauty and reaches to her very heart and soul.
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child that is horn on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
When a tragic accident unexpectedly changes Krista's life as she searches for the truth, she learns that her true source of happiness lies not in her fair face, but in her faith in God. And she finds the kind of love she has always prayed for -- a love that goes beyond outward beauty and reaches to her very heart and soul.
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child that is horn on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
444 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1999
23 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lee Chaikin
47 books231 followersLinda Chaikin is a Christian fiction author with a focus on historical fiction. She sometimes publishes using the name L.L. Chaikin.
Linda was the youngest of 10 children and her father died shortly after she was born. She wrote her first full-length novel with pen and paper at the age of 14 - this novel was later rewritten as Wednesday's Child, part of the Day to Remember series.
She met her husband, Steve, in a Bible study, and they were married 6 months later. They both went to Multnomah School for the Bible, now known as Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
Linda was the youngest of 10 children and her father died shortly after she was born. She wrote her first full-length novel with pen and paper at the age of 14 - this novel was later rewritten as Wednesday's Child, part of the Day to Remember series.
She met her husband, Steve, in a Bible study, and they were married 6 months later. They both went to Multnomah School for the Bible, now known as Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 7, 2016
Wow, I had no clue what to expect going into this book. I thought it was WW2 historical fiction, but eventually figured out that it took place way after WW2 and was about bringing the bad guys from the war to justice. So yeah, there was some confusion there, but after I got everything straightened out it really drew me in.
I was startled to realize that I don't really know about any of the events the book talked about. I have no clue if they're real or if they are fiction and that's definitely something I'll be researching because I'm curious now. For that I'm thankful - I always like finding out more about historical events.
For the most part I liked the book. It was interesting, captivating in parts, and I felt like there was a good flow to the story. I especially liked the middle part after I found out what was going on and before the annoyance of a poorly constructed romance cropped up.
Ugg. The "romance" was almost enough to make me groan. Not because it was inappropriate or detailed (because thankfully it wasn't, thank you, author!), but because really? It's not a smart idea to fall in love with someone so very fast especially when a few days prior you were suspicious of their every move. And, even if you do fall in love with them, please, please take a step back and actually think. Other than the fact that they helped keep each other safe, there didn't seem to be a huge amount of discussion regarding who they really were. They knew nothing about what life was like when they weren't running for their lives and yeah... That spells trouble in my book.
I'm giving "Monday's Child" 3 out of 5 stars, 5 out of 10 and am considering reading more in the series.
I was startled to realize that I don't really know about any of the events the book talked about. I have no clue if they're real or if they are fiction and that's definitely something I'll be researching because I'm curious now. For that I'm thankful - I always like finding out more about historical events.
For the most part I liked the book. It was interesting, captivating in parts, and I felt like there was a good flow to the story. I especially liked the middle part after I found out what was going on and before the annoyance of a poorly constructed romance cropped up.
Ugg. The "romance" was almost enough to make me groan. Not because it was inappropriate or detailed (because thankfully it wasn't, thank you, author!), but because really? It's not a smart idea to fall in love with someone so very fast especially when a few days prior you were suspicious of their every move. And, even if you do fall in love with them, please, please take a step back and actually think. Other than the fact that they helped keep each other safe, there didn't seem to be a huge amount of discussion regarding who they really were. They knew nothing about what life was like when they weren't running for their lives and yeah... That spells trouble in my book.
I'm giving "Monday's Child" 3 out of 5 stars, 5 out of 10 and am considering reading more in the series.
March 7, 2018
Wow, what an excellent, suspenseful book! Every time I had to put this book down, I couldn't wait to be able to pick it back up, especially at the end. This is my first book I've read by this author and it will certainly not be my last. I can't wait to read Tuesday's Child!
What I Liked: This book was quite enjoyable. This mystery set in relatively modern times dealing with what happened in WW2 kept me on the edge of my seat. It wasn't the fastest paced mystery ever, but that was okay with me. The author definitely threw in a couple curve balls into the story and I enjoyed reading the side stories of the main characters as they struggled spiritually.
On that specific note, the Christian message was woven seamlessly into this story while being strong. I really appreciated the fact that Linda Lee Chaikin included many Scriptures as Krista was reminded that her identity was found in Christ, not in her beauty. It was also neat to see the second main character, Jorden Keller, begin the journey to recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.
The story itself was very intriguing and it definitely held my attention from beginning to end.
What I Didn't Like: I will admit that you had to pay close attention to what was going on in the story, or else you would miss an important detail. There were a couple times I had to go back and re-read a paragraph just to make sure I was aware of what was going on in the story. Also, the time period that this book took place in was a little fuzzy to me. I finally figured it out due to the publishing date of the book and some various clues in the story that this book probably took place in the late 80's, early 90's. But even now I'm not 100% sure.
I would have liked a little historical note at the end of the book. I truly wasn't sure how much, other than the basic facts of WW2, was true. (I obviously know that the story itself is historical fiction, but the book deals with the subject of a Swiss banking scandal of at least one bank in the book and I truly am not sure how much is fact and fiction.) I definitely want to do some research of my own.
I give this book 5 stars for an excellent story with a strong Christian message.
What I Liked: This book was quite enjoyable. This mystery set in relatively modern times dealing with what happened in WW2 kept me on the edge of my seat. It wasn't the fastest paced mystery ever, but that was okay with me. The author definitely threw in a couple curve balls into the story and I enjoyed reading the side stories of the main characters as they struggled spiritually.
On that specific note, the Christian message was woven seamlessly into this story while being strong. I really appreciated the fact that Linda Lee Chaikin included many Scriptures as Krista was reminded that her identity was found in Christ, not in her beauty. It was also neat to see the second main character, Jorden Keller, begin the journey to recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.
The story itself was very intriguing and it definitely held my attention from beginning to end.
What I Didn't Like: I will admit that you had to pay close attention to what was going on in the story, or else you would miss an important detail. There were a couple times I had to go back and re-read a paragraph just to make sure I was aware of what was going on in the story. Also, the time period that this book took place in was a little fuzzy to me. I finally figured it out due to the publishing date of the book and some various clues in the story that this book probably took place in the late 80's, early 90's. But even now I'm not 100% sure.
I would have liked a little historical note at the end of the book. I truly wasn't sure how much, other than the basic facts of WW2, was true. (I obviously know that the story itself is historical fiction, but the book deals with the subject of a Swiss banking scandal of at least one bank in the book and I truly am not sure how much is fact and fiction.) I definitely want to do some research of my own.
I give this book 5 stars for an excellent story with a strong Christian message.
May 3, 2022
This was the first book I picked up when I decided I wanted to read more.
I loved the story, although it's not the favorite of the series.
Linda Lee Chaikin continually brings new heights to what a romance novel should be. Not just a shallow story of two people attracted to one another, but stories with loveable characters, exiting themes, deep mystery, and just enough romance to make it a cozy pleasure read.
Clean and without drama, so perfect for snuggling up with the littles before bed.
If your looking for books to read that aren't too heavy or pressuring one you can unwind with and share a nice cup of tea- The "a day to remember" line by Linda is perfect.
I loved the story, although it's not the favorite of the series.
Linda Lee Chaikin continually brings new heights to what a romance novel should be. Not just a shallow story of two people attracted to one another, but stories with loveable characters, exiting themes, deep mystery, and just enough romance to make it a cozy pleasure read.
Clean and without drama, so perfect for snuggling up with the littles before bed.
If your looking for books to read that aren't too heavy or pressuring one you can unwind with and share a nice cup of tea- The "a day to remember" line by Linda is perfect.
March 7, 2021
I have been intrigued by this series for years, and I finally stumbled on it again and decided to give it a try. Basing the stories on the 1838 poem is clever, and the descriptions for each book make me want to give them all a try. I didn’t realize Monday’s Child is a contemporary setting that delves into events of the past. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I anticipated, but will try Tuesday’s Child to see if the writing is less “clunky.” The book was published in 1999, so perhaps writing styles were different back then, but I found the pace slow throughout much of the story which dissipates some of the suspense. The author includes lots of description which is nice since I’ve never been to Switzerland, but the information is often poured rather than sprinkled. There were lots of characters to keep track of, and the author does a good job of making them unique. She also leaves enough clues to lead the reader into trying to solve the mystery. Rose is an interesting mixture of intelligence and naivete, and Jorden is savvy without being hard. References to the Nazis activities give readers a glimpse into the atrocities committed without being graphic. The storyline is fascinating, and the author seems to have done her research. I’d rate the book between a 3.5 and 3.75.
March 2, 2017
This book was really gripping from page one. The intier story plot was really interesting, and the faith element was really well done.
The only problem I had with it was really just a silly little one. It was when SPOLIAR ALERT!! Jorden tried to kiss Krista the first time, she said no, that he wasn't a christian. Then, only hours later after he has said he'll think about christianity, they kiss. END SPOILAR ALRET I thought this was out of character for Krista espechially.
The only problem I had with it was really just a silly little one. It was when SPOLIAR ALERT!! Jorden tried to kiss Krista the first time, she said no, that he wasn't a christian. Then, only hours later after he has said he'll think about christianity, they kiss. END SPOILAR ALRET I thought this was out of character for Krista espechially.
August 7, 2009
This took awhile to get in to, but it was a pretty good story. I thought for awhile that it took place right after WWII, but it actually modern day. Once the time period was clear certain things made more sense.
April 13, 2011
Good story but a little predictable at times.
November 14, 2024
Re-read
Still a solid story on re-read. It's been a while since I read my Chaikin books. I always liked the history woven through this book, as it pertains to WWII.
Still a solid story on re-read. It's been a while since I read my Chaikin books. I always liked the history woven through this book, as it pertains to WWII.
July 4, 2022
Gorgeous Swiss model surprisingly finds different identity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2020
In Linda Chaikin’s novel, Monday’s Child, Krista von Buren models jewels across Europe from Gotthard Enterprises in Zurich. Her fiance, Paul, is Gotthard’s nephew. Recently, Gotthard’s has started helping Interpol in small matters, sometimes involving Krista.
When a new client suddenly comes to town and asks for a private showing and for an opportunity to speak to Krista alone, everyone’s suspicions are up. The meeting doesn’t go as planned, and Krista suspects this woman and her lawyer are not who they appear to be.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Meanwhile, an investigation has been opened into Swiss banks which were trusted to care for some of the riches sent ahead by European Jews before WWII but which have never been returned to the families. Could the strange happenings Krista encounters be tied at all to the banking scandal? One Mossad agent thinks so. But perhaps Krista is not who she appears to be, either.
It took me a few chapters to get into this novel, but wow—all of a sudden I was riveted and couldn’t read fast enough.
This is the first book in Linda’s Day to Remember series. Each of the books is based on a line of the poem that starts, “Monday’s Child is fair of face.”
Krista is a fledgling believer at first, but learns through her experiences to trust in God and not her “fair face.”
An excellent, clean, very exciting story.
When a new client suddenly comes to town and asks for a private showing and for an opportunity to speak to Krista alone, everyone’s suspicions are up. The meeting doesn’t go as planned, and Krista suspects this woman and her lawyer are not who they appear to be.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Meanwhile, an investigation has been opened into Swiss banks which were trusted to care for some of the riches sent ahead by European Jews before WWII but which have never been returned to the families. Could the strange happenings Krista encounters be tied at all to the banking scandal? One Mossad agent thinks so. But perhaps Krista is not who she appears to be, either.
It took me a few chapters to get into this novel, but wow—all of a sudden I was riveted and couldn’t read fast enough.
This is the first book in Linda’s Day to Remember series. Each of the books is based on a line of the poem that starts, “Monday’s Child is fair of face.”
Krista is a fledgling believer at first, but learns through her experiences to trust in God and not her “fair face.”
An excellent, clean, very exciting story.
September 8, 2024
Loved the book but it can be a bit overwhelming with all the many many little details. I feel like this book could have been a lot shorter and still told the same story! But I still enjoyed it for the most part!
October 22, 2025
Loved the book but it can be a bit overwhelming with all the many many little details. I feel like this book could have been a lot shorter and still told the same story! But I still enjoyed it for the most part!
July 8, 2018
Compelling story line, great character development, a really good book!
March 13, 2017
This was okay, and I can see why I would have liked it when I was in college. It had adventure and intrigue with a little bit of history, plus a cute love story. Reading it as an adult though, the writing was just a little too clunky. The couple really doesn't know each other very well, and their love story is more a compilation of dangerous experiences and both of them being young and attractive. The various agencies they were involved in and how they ended up crossing paths was much more interesting than the couple themselves.
Decluttering decision: Wait and See. I've got the rest of the series and I'm planning to read it, so I'll see how I like the other 4.
Decluttering decision: Wait and See. I've got the rest of the series and I'm planning to read it, so I'll see how I like the other 4.
March 16, 2017
This story was really good!
The reason for four stars instead of five is that there was too much filler writing for my taste. The book is quite long and a lot of fluff words could have been left out. In my opinion, the lack of those extra words would have allowed the beauty of the story to show through better. Or maybe I'm getting lazy and ADD as I get older. ;)
The reason for four stars instead of five is that there was too much filler writing for my taste. The book is quite long and a lot of fluff words could have been left out. In my opinion, the lack of those extra words would have allowed the beauty of the story to show through better. Or maybe I'm getting lazy and ADD as I get older. ;)
June 23, 2016
Monday's Child
I was so intrigued by the storyline of this book that I hardly put it down. There is so much going on in every chapter that I wanted to see what the next chapter held. The characters were so plausible and real, you could just imagine them in the role they played.
I love the Christian theme that is all through the book, as well as the lessons that came with it. Well thought out and excellently written. I'm ready to read the next book in this series. This book has romance, mystery, and a lot of intrigue. You will love this book!
I was so intrigued by the storyline of this book that I hardly put it down. There is so much going on in every chapter that I wanted to see what the next chapter held. The characters were so plausible and real, you could just imagine them in the role they played.
I love the Christian theme that is all through the book, as well as the lessons that came with it. Well thought out and excellently written. I'm ready to read the next book in this series. This book has romance, mystery, and a lot of intrigue. You will love this book!
January 4, 2009
Though a fairly long book, it didn't take me long to finish, because I was caught up in it and didn't want to stop. Espionage, Swiss banking scandals, tragic Jewish history, Bible verses, flying bullets--they all combine for an exciting and unusual read. There were a few things I disapproved of--the normal kissing and that Krista was working outside the home--but I couldn't help liking it, as mysteries are fun.
August 27, 2013
This is the book that first introduced me to Linda Chaikin. I loved this book just as much the second time around as the first. Though it is a bit confusing as to which people are good guys versus the bad guys the plot moved along convincingly and the romance between Jordan and Krista moves quickly but at the same time slow enough to be believable. I definitely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction.
May 2, 2011
Since I own this entire series and I've read many of the books twice I think I can safely say that I really enjoyed these books. Some mystery, some romance, some history; can't go wrong with a combination like that.
June 10, 2010
Set in Switzerland. Krista is a model of Gotthard Enterprises with international espionage steming from Hitler's Germany.
December 6, 2014
I actually enjoyed this book. Even though it started out really slow, the last few pages I almost cried, which it takes quite a bit for me to cry while reading a book.
December 19, 2016
Modern until for Nazi war criminals and wealth stolen from Jews with young woman the unwitting pawn in the intrigue
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews