Showing posts with label Revell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revell. Show all posts

2.28.2024

The Irish Matchmaker ~ Review


The Irish Matchmaker
By Jennifer Deibel


Return to Ireland with the newest book from author Jennifer Deibel. Matchmaking is in Catriona Daly's blood. Her father Jimmy Daly is well-known for his skills as a matchmaker, and Catriona is proving to be equally skilled. And with the annual Matchmaking Festival mere days away, both Dalys are in high demand.

But Catriona longs for a life away from the sleepy village she calls home. And when Andrew Osborne, only son of Lord Osborne, is spotted visiting Catriona sees this as her opportunity to better her own life.

How, you might ask? By proving she has the grace, decorum, and skills to be the wife of a future lord. There's just one wee problem with this plan - her heart has other plans.

Donal Bunratty lost his wife six years ago and his nine year old daughter, Sara has requested a mother. Surprisingly he reluctantly agrees - and his matchmaker is none other Catriona.

As Donald and Catriona get to know one another, they are unexpectedly drawn to one another. But Donal knows there is no way Caty could fall in love with him, a simple farmer who is barely surviving from one week to the next.

This a book about discovering one's true self. How much is enough? Can love, true love, become a part of our daily lives? What a concept is true love, a love that is willing to give up what it desires for the sake of another.

The settings come alive and the various characters have depth that you will enjoy. I highly recommend this book to fans of Historical Romance Fiction. A perfect book club selection!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I share my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Making the perfect match is both art and science
~
But love doesn't always follow the rules.


As the daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love--and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne's son, Andrew, who has returned to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker's failed setup. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man--and for herself!

Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to appease his daughter. But when he arrives, it's not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker--who clearly has eyes for someone else.

Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?

2.06.2024

The Divine Proverb of Streusel ~ Review

The Divine Proverb of Streusel 
By Sara Brunsvold

When Nikki Werner's parents broke up, she was hurt. But when her father remarried soon afterward, her world shattered. And she leaves everyone and everything behind, seeking refuge in the one place she least expected - her father's childhood home, a place she hadn't visited in more than a decade.

But in the act of trying to hide from her pain and clinging to her bitterness, she's caused a rift with the one man she thought she'd spend all her tomorrows with. This is a summer of discovery for Nikki. Discovering where she came from and the factors that shaped her father into the person he became.

I liked the recipes that Nikki discovered in an old notebook. Recipes for both food and for living. This was a really good book - I wasn't sure what to expect as it dealt with the fallout of a failed, broken marriage as seen through the eyes of an adult daughter. But it is more than that. It is a story of understanding, forgiveness, love, and loss. Of finding oneself where you are.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Shaken by her parents' divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle's farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She'll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is a past she barely knows.

Among her late grandmother's belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town's history, her ancestors--and her estranged father.

What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured--with the help of their cooking prowess. Nikki realizes how delicious streusel with a healthy dollop of faith can serve as a guide to heal wounds of the past.

2.02.2024

Double Take ~ Review

Double Take
Lake City Heroes #1
By Lynette Eason

Eighteen months ago, Lainie Jackson survived her ex-fiancé's murder attempt; he didn't. But now someone is trying to convince her otherwise. Or else she is losing her mind. And whoever it is seems intent on finishing what Adam failed to do. But she knows Adam died. She was there and tried to save his life.

Detective James Cross wants to be anywhere other than the hospital where he is now. But the hostage situation he was just involved in made a trip there an order. What's worse, his sister's best friend, Lainie, is the PA assigned to take care of him. And letting his family know that he's home and in the hospital will not be pretty. 

What follows is an intense page-turning read. Danger is seemingly just around the corner and keeping a very close eye on Lainie. And one wrong move could make the killer strike sooner.

Double Take is the first book in Lynette Eason's new Lake City Heroes series, and believe me when I say if you want to have an excuse to avoid certain obligations, this is the book you're looking for. (And, yes, I know Star Wars and Lynette Eason don't fall into the same genre, but it works.) I had an idea of where the book was going, and, in all honesty, I was only partially right. Just promise me you will not skip ahead because that will ruin everything, and this is a page-turner for a reason. In my opinion, this is one book you don't want to miss.


About the Book:

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he's rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it's not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason will leave you breathless with this fast-paced first book in a brand-new series.

1.08.2024

The Seamstress of Acadie ~ Review

The Seamstress of Acadie
By Laura Frantz

The Acadians' history is a tragic one that finds them caught in a war between the British and the French. And it is in the midst of this conflict that The Seamstress of Acadie is set. Sylvie Galant works as a seamstress for the French fort, sewing shirts for the French soldiers. But all too soon her skills are no longer used as the British threat to Acadians becomes more with each passing day. 

When her brother warns that soon all they hold will be seized becomes the truth, Sylvie's life is forever altered. But through it all she uses her needle to forge a new life with what little remains of the old.

The Seamstress of Acadie is a tragic story of lives torn apart because of hate and prejudice. The Acadians French ties have them caught in the middle of a conflict between the British and the French. And though they pledge no loyalty to either, claiming neutrality, they are accused treachery and revolution. The British lies soon drive them forcibly from their homes. Families are torn apart and the conditions aboard the ships a cruelty. Loss of life is extreme before events force them into a new existence in Virginia. But this new land views them with distrust, offering hate, fear, and ridicule while they suffer from the losses they cannot easily forgot, not that they want to. 

But there are moments of hope for the future and it is to this promise that Sylvie eventually ties all her hopes and dreams. Laura Frantz creates characters who draw one into their story. One feels Sylvie's pain. One hopes with Major Blackburn that he will succeed in providing a home for the displaced Acadians. Set in Pre-Revolutionary America this a perfect read for those who enjoy Historical Fiction set in the New World. And one fun tidbit for those who've read Laura Frantz's works before if you've read A Heart Adrift you just may see a familiar name or two. If you haven't read the author before this book is a standalone title so you can easily pick it and dive right in and read with no issues.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

QUICK FACTS
 Title: The Seamstress of Acadie
 Author: Laura Frantz
 Genre: Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction
 Publisher: Revell (January 9, 2024)
 Length: (416) pages
 Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 
 ISBN: 978-0800740689‎
 Book Tour Dates: January 8 – 22, 2024

About the Book:
As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America's borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to
navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

PRAISE FOR THE SEAMSTRESS OF ACADIE
 “Frantz’s atmospheric writing is easy to sink into, from the grimness of the
disease-riddled voyage to the ethereal Acadian landscape. While William and
Sylvie’s romance is a slow burn, there’s a rewarding payoff to this tale of second
chances born from tragedy. Frantz’s fans won’t be disappointed.”— Publisher’s
Weekly
 “This book is undoubtedly one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the faith
thread, I loved the light in the darkness theme, I loved the characters, I loved the
hope brimming from almost every page. I loved the growth (through every
struggle and triumph), and I loved the history embedded into each detail.”—
Tasha, The Clean Read Book Club
 “Fantastic story! The beautiful writing engages the reader from the beginning...
Laura Frantz's books are exceptional because they evoke an abundance of
emotions beyond the typical novel. I highly recommend this book to all historical
fiction readers.”— Milena Bookish, Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

About the Author:
Bestselling, award-winning author Laura Frantz has been writing stories since age seven. She is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th century, and her novels often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was
exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. Though she will always consider Kentucky home, she and her husband live in Washington State.

According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Foreign language editions include French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovakian, German & Polish.




12.08.2023

The Warsaw Sisters ~ Review

The Warsaw Sisters
A Novel of WWII Poland
By Amanda Barratt

This book opens as war has come to Poland's borders with Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska sending off their father to serve as a soldier against the German threat of invasion. But mere hours later hour war has come to Warsaw, soon they face two enemies as German and Russian forces surround the nation. In a day their childhood has passed into adulthood with its new trials and challenges.

But Antonia and Helena are not about to let their country fall without a fight. But both decide to take action in their own way. Unfortunately the paths they both choose require them to keep secrets from one another, and these secrets threaten the bond between them.

This is the first book I have read by the author, Amanda Barratt and I have to recommend it. The writing style is engaging. This is a book of sacrifice and loss set between 1939-1945. This is an emotionally moving read as Antonia and Helena make their way in a world in turmoil. But doing the right thing isn't easy, especially when faced with certain death if their efforts are discovered. 

While this was a good and well-researched book, I couldn't find myself connecting personally with any of the characters. But the story still offered moments that spoke to me. The book opened slowly as the setting and characters took form, but once it got into the main portion of the story it had an easier flow and I was able to get more fully into the story. For those who enjoy WW2 fiction I highly recommend this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

In WWII Poland, two sisters fight against the darkness engulfing their homeland, one by entering a daring network of women sheltering Jewish children and the other by joining the ranks of Poland's secret army. As Warsaw buckles under German oppression, they must rely on the courage that calls the ordinary to resist.

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart--and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.

Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.

12.06.2023

Her Secret Hope ~ Review

Her Secret Hope
A Season in Pinecraft #3
By Shelley Shepard Gray

Lilly Kurtz wants to reset her life, leaving her past and her sense inferiority behind.  Pinecraft, Florida, is the perfect place to start over. She has friends there and it's comfortable.  

With a job at the Bed and Breakfast that she first stayed in two years ago, Lilly's new life is on track. What Lilly never expected was to find the possibility of love so soon after leaving Ohio behind. 

Eddie Byler has taken time from his busy life as a farmer to bring his grandmother on a vacation to Florida. But Eddie is in more need of a break from his busy life than his grandmother. Since his plans for the future and a family were shattered he's been all about work. Lilly has managed to make an impact on him with her sweet and caring personality. And the time she's given to his grandmother is even more important to him.

But Lilly has a secret, one she knows will change everything. One that she's afraid to share. One that shows she's not worthy of love.

Her Secret Hope is an excellent read. This book delves into the feelings that can plague someone who has been adopted. Not knowing why has a way of affecting the way one thinks, feels, and interacts with and around others. This book is moving and in a way explains Lilly desire to please and do her best. When an incident occurs and her new life is thrown into disarray, Lilly is faced with a choice - run from the past yet again or face it. 

 I really enjoyed this book. The depths of emotion that were presented as Lilly faced new challenges were moving. One could feel her anguish when accusations were made against her. Her shock at being treated as she was. The adage of the customer is always right even when they are wrong is on full display here and such a policy is most definitely wrong if absolutely enforced all the time. Let's just say I would have been in tears too. 

This is the best book in the series, and can be read as a standalone title if you haven't read the previous two books. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys contemporary or Amish fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Almost two years after Lilly Kurtz first traveled to Pinecraft, Florida, with friends, she's decided to make a fresh start there. She's ready to be new-and-improved Lilly, a Lilly without a past, a Lilly with no secrets. At first, everything goes well. She gets a job, her coworkers feel like family, and she enjoys reconnecting with her friends. But it turns out the past is reluctant to be left behind.

When Lilly meets hardworking farmer Eddie Byler, she can't get him off of her mind. But then she discovers that Eddie actually lives just a few miles from her hometown in Ohio. Lilly knows that he's not going to like it when he finds out what secrets she's been running from. And she knows she could never follow the man she's falling in love with back to a place where she's never felt accepted.

Will Lilly have to give up on love in order to find peace? Or could it be that love is actually the solution to all of her problems?

10.27.2023

Against the Wind ~ Review

Against the Wind
Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #2
By Amanda Cabot

Louisa Vaughn is returning home after seven months away, she's been training as a midwife and a doctor and has no intention of staying in Sweetwater Crossing. But when she comes across an injured man, she has to help. And with no doctor in Sweetwater, she knows her couple days will be at least six weeks.

Joshua (Josh) Porter is determined to prove himself to his grandfather and be given control of the family business. But a broken leg, a missing horse, and his weeks of research for his plan for the family business may put a serious crimp in his plans. But laid up for six weeks with a broken leg, there's not much he can do to prove to his grandfather that he is the best man for the job.

Sweetwater Crossing is a welcoming place, but they aren't willing to accept Louisa as a doctor. In fact, some are more than a little unkind in their criticism of her just because a woman can't handle anything much or her intelligence is lacking. Even those she considered friends are skeptical of her skills. 

As Louisa and Josh struggle with fighting for their futures and their dreams, they encourage one another while growing closer. But a future together is impossible as Josh's will take him to New York and Louisa's is in Sweetwater near her sisters.

This is the second book in the Secrets in Sweetwater Crossing series, and it picks up not too long past the conclusion of book one. Sweetwater is an interesting town - everyone knows everyone's business, and on the surface, they appear caring and concerned. But it's when you get to know them a little more that you realize that there are undercurrents of pettiness and cruelty. But it is overcoming these obstacles that strength of character is born (or discovered). In other words, it is like any place and time. I have to say I'm glad that Louisa was able to return to her home. And that she found a reason to remain and reestablish her damaged relationship with Emily. I found this to be an excellent read and am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love post-Civil War Historical Fiction, you should enjoy this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
Doctor-in-training Louisa Vaughn has no intention of remaining in Sweetwater Crossing. She's just there for a few days to help a friend. But she can't abandon the injured man she finds at the side of the road. Until his broken leg heals, she'll serve as the town's doctor and midwife. She may not be fully qualified yet, but surely she's better than nothing.

Josh Porter's plans to win his grandfather's challenge and fulfill his father's final wish to gain full control of the family business hit a roadblock when he breaks his leg. But his enforced stay in Sweetwater Crossing gives him new ideas about the expansion of the company into new territory--ideas Louisa could help turn into reality.

If only the town were more accepting of Louisa's talents! Someone is determined to convince her to abandon her dream of healing others. Can Josh help her uncover the person behind the threats before it's too late? And is there any future for them together when neither of them plans to stay?

10.18.2023

Lost and Found ~ Review

Lost and Found
By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Sometimes we allow the holds of the past to take root and keep us from actually moving on, from growing up. This is a story of friendship that has the hope of becoming something more, until a message from the past convinces Micah Weaver to take actions he might not have. 

Trudy Yoder has long had feelings for Micah. But for years Micah could only see her older sister Shelley. But their shared enjoyment over birding, finding that one unique bird, locating a hidden nest has allowed them to form a friendship. And now Trudy has hopes for a future with Micah. But then Shelley intrudes even though she is miles and miles way. And until Micah can truly decide what he wants she will always be a second choice.

This book is set in Stoney Ridge, which is a little like visiting a familiar haunt. The setting and characters are comfortable and known (IF you've read any of the author's other Stoney Ridge books /series). And what is nice about this book is if you haven't read any previous Stoney Ridge books you can fully enjoy this one. The author writes in such a way that each book can be read as a standalone title. The story is complete in and of itself. 

I feel that that this book is a story about growing up. Yes, Micah is in all senses of the word a grown-up but he needs to mature internally. He needs to make the decision to move on in his life to the next place that he needs to be. This doesn't mean physically moving, though it is a possibility for those living in Stoney Ridge. No rather this is a mental moving forward, a mindset to move on to the next phase of his life. And this journey is one that offers a most intriguing story in the process. 

I really like books that are about internal growth. And no this isn't a self-help book but rather in the entertaining it provides an opportunity to look internally at one's own life. And it is just a subtle thread so if you are reading just for the story it isn't something that will jump out and go "Look at this. Key moment of internal change coming up." No I think it is something that is all about mindset and during the reading certain scenes they just clicked with me.

But no matter how you read this was an enjoyable book and one I would recommend. It isn't a heavy read and easily read over a few days or if you like to consume your books as soon as you get them a long afternoon could certainly be undertaken and enjoyed. And the title Lost and Found perfectly suits.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver--and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy's older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she's started to leave distressing phone messages for him.

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he's confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don't want to be found.

What Micah doesn't know is that what you're looking for isn't always what you find.

On Moonberry Lake ~ Review

On Moonberry Lake
By Holly Varni

When her mother moved Cora Matthews away from her grandparents and their home on Moonberry Lake she never felt like she belonged or was home. Worse for years she thought her grandparents were dead because of her mother's lie. But now she knows the truth, but too late to reconnect with her grandparents. But she has inherited their home on Moonberry Lake. And it couldn't come at a better time. Her life is in flux; her mother has just died and her fiancé is now her ex-fiancé.

I really enjoyed this book as Cora works to deal with her past while trying to understand why her mother took her away all those years ago. As she connects with those who knew her grandparents and makes connections of her own, she has to decide if she is willing to settle down and call Moonberry Lake home or do as she has always done - move on and start over.

I really enjoyed this book from Holly Varni who is a new author to me. The setting is contemporary. And who doesn't enjoy a lake setting for no reason other than the peacefulness it portrays. I felt that Cora's growth as a character was what propelled the story. Why did she do what she did and how is returning to the one place she always felt was home change her? This is the story, and I felt it worked well with the various characters who entered her life, offering her insights and new motivations. This is a contemporary romance, and it is, but the romance isn't the focus but rather the thread that works its way in and slowly grows as a possibility. I would recommend this book as it was an enjoyable read and yet not one that intrudes but rather like a good friend who stops in to say, "Hey, how's your day?" You visit and then get on with your day, happier for the exchange.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
"Delightful! Charming! Full of characters who take up residence in your heart. The best of 'News from Lake Wobegon' and Father Tim combined."--Lauraine Snelling, bestselling author of the Red River of the North series

Cora Matthews's life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever "normal" is.

It certainly isn't what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family's dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance--with a surprising condition attached--Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.



"An uplifting novel about the power of small-town community."--Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of The Sweet Life

"Rich characters, a delightful setting, and a heartwarming story. You'll love everything about On Moonberry Lake!"--Ginny L. Yttrup, Christy Award-winning author of Words

10.17.2023

Shadows at Dusk ~ Review

Shadows at Dusk
Missing in Alaska #2
By Elizabeth Goddard

Shadows at Dusk is the second book in the Missing in Alaska series, and I just have to say danger seems intent on calling Alaska home. That's not to say it doesn't lurk elsewhere but goodness the dangerous doings are rather frightening, makes me think couch travel through videos is the way to go. Not really. the descriptive detail of the scenery actually makes me want to travel there despite the on-page that exists.

This time, we get to know Carrie James, thanks to Police Chief Autumn Long directing Detective Trevor West to her. Trevor calls Montana home, but a year his sister went missing there, and a newly discovered clue has drawn him to Alaska in search of answers. And Alaska, being Alaska, travel by water plane is the only way to get to some of the remote locations he needs to see.

This book is most definitely high on the Suspense factor, with a liberal pinch of romance blended in. But when danger and tragedy hit close to home, Carrie needs Trevor to help her bring a murderer to justice. Could they be searching for answers that will open a whole new pile of problems? Or will they be able to put the past and its dark secrets firmly where they belong,  in the past?

Once again, Elizabeth Goddard has created a world that intrigues and delights the senses. The characters have dimensional depth, which helps draw one more fully into the book. This is a page-turning, late-night read fest waiting to happen as soon as the book is opened. This is sure to be a book club win!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can't help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition--that he help her track down her friend's killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they'll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They'll have to learn to trust one another--and face the dark secrets of the past--if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

9.28.2023

A Royal Christmas ~ Review

A Royal Christmas

A Christmas Novella
by Melody Carlson

You know Christmas is coming when you get a Melody Carlson Christmas title in hand, and yes, I know Christmas is still a couple of months away. But I love reading Christmas books, and when the weather is way too hot, it makes me think it's cooler while I'm reading. So, win-win in my mind.

Now, Melody Carlson has created a unique twist on the royal-who-doesn't-know-they-are-a-royal storyline by bringing modern science into the mix, specifically a DNA registry. And now the fun begins. Because most people are going to at least question this as some sort of phishing attempt, even momentarily and Adelaide Smith definitely has questions.

Adelaide is a dedicated and hard worker who has been working in a coffee shop to help put herself through law school. Having never had much, Adelaide knows had to scrimp to make ends meet and is more than a little shocked when she gets an official-looking letter informing her she is the daughter of a king. 

Having been the daughter of a nurse, to suddenly be the daughter of a king is more than hard to believe. Adalaide feels as if she's been pulled into a fairy tale, or a Hallmark movie.  She now has a stepmother who is the queen is less than pleased at her appearance and icy, totally fitting the fairy-tale stepmother role. And then there is her stepbrother Prince Georg, who is best experienced personally while reading this book. 

Montovia is a quaint small nation that thoroughly captures Adalaide's imagination. As she tries to get to know her father in the time they have, Adelaide must navigate a new culture and a tenuous family situation, all while trying to avoid any royal missteps. And just when it seems to be settling into a routine, Adelaide overhears something that shakes things up and brings loyalties into question. This will be one Christmas she'll never forget!  And it wouldn't be a Melody Carlson Christmas book without a little bit of romance.        

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.




About the Book:
Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She's understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament--and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.

Spend this Christmas with bestselling author Melody Carlson as she whisks you away to a royal holiday you'll never forget!

8.29.2023

Summer in the Spotlight ~ Review

Summer in the Spotlight
Prince Edward Island Shores #3
By Liz Johnson

In the final book of the Prince Edward Island Shores series, a hurricane is about to destroy Kelsey Ahern's plans for the future when it hits the island. The greatest damage is to the Victoria Playhouse, the playhouse where she shared the stage with her late grandmother. With the very real possibility that the playhouse will never be reopened, Kelsey is looking at unemployment and the loss of her best memories of her grandmother. 

But Kelsey isn't about to let the playhouse go so easily. It draws visitors to Victoria and is a center point of the community. Determined to do all she can to save the playhouse, she seeks out Levi Ross for help.

Levi has hardly spoken since he was fifteen years old when his father left, but not before breaking something inside him. Levi is willing to do whatever he can to help Kelsey. Something about her makes him want to do more, be more than what his father's words shaped him into. But to save the playhouse could cost him his dream. Or it could very well give him a new dream to pursue.

A Summer in the Spotlight is a book about discovery - who or what determines our worth? Kelsey and Levi have let the past shape them into who they are today. They've both developed strengths, but there is always that niggling fear, that voice that whispers that all the efforts they make will never allow them to be enough. This is a summer to silence the voices, to remold what the past has shaped, and a chance at finding love if they are brave enough to accept it. 

This is the third book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is an engaging book from the first page as a hurricane bears down on them. From there, it never lets up, slowly revealing the layers that make Kelsey and Levi who they are. I have to admit, I really connected with Levi's character as he struggled to make his voice be heard, not just to others but to his own self. I highly recommend this book - it would make an excellent choice for a book club selection.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she's determined to save her community


Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it's not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there's more to the quiet man than meets the eye.

For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can't seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in towlln to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up--or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.

Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.

8.04.2023

The All-American ~ Review

 
The All-American
Susie Finkbeiner

Bertha Harding has resigned herself to knowing she'll never master domestic skills. Her attempts at making a light, flaky pie crust - well, let's just say it is better off uneaten and untouched. Kitchen Queen in the making, she is not. Rather her skills lie in a more athletic pursuit - GASP, a girl playing baseball! 

The All-American is told in alternating chapters from Bertha's perspective and that of her little sister Flossie (aka Florence). Bertha has a passion for baseball while Flossie's is reading. Flossie finds friends in her books and actually has trouble making living, breathing friends. (I can relate). 

Though they don't really fit the expected mold of young ladies in the early 1950s, their lives are fairly happy and content. Until everything changes when their father is accused of being a Communist. They face the hate that he is now taunted with. Forced to leave their lives behind, Bertha and Flossie cling to what has brought them their greatest joys baseball and books. 

This book is an interesting read. I've read books set in the 1950s before, but I have never read one in which the characters are subjected to the judgment of the House Un-American Activities Committee. This was always just a small blurb in school when American history was discussed. I love books that can entertain me with a story while imparting a piece of knowledge. Overall a good read and one that I think is well suited to a book club.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.




About the Book:
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 Peas, she packs her bags for an adventure she'll never forget.

Join award-winning author Susie Finkbeiner for a summer of chasing down your dreams and discovering the place you truly belong.

7.04.2023

With Every Memory ~ Review

With Every Memory
By Janine Rosche

Ten months ago, Lori Mendenhall's life stopped, she didn't die, but she was in an accident that put her in a coma and stole years of memories from her. And it cost her the life of her son Austin. When she awakes, she struggles to make sense of the life she now lives from the one she remembers.

But as her memories slowly return in small pieces that are out of order, she begins to realize that the life she lost might not have been the one she was expecting. Worse, she senses that a lie has made its way into her family. A lie that could rip them apart if she remembers it. But when one's mind, one's brain has been damaged, how do you know which memories you can trust? 

With Every Memory is an exploration of family, love, and commitment. When one's life has been drastically altered, how does one deal with it? And when one has been betrayed by the very person you've given your heart to, what do you do next?   

Ten months ago, Lori Mendenhall's life stopped, she didn't die, but she was in an accident that put her in a coma and stole years of memories from her. And it cost her the life of her son Austin. When she awakes, she struggles to make sense of the life she now lives from the one she remembers.

But as her memories slowly return in small random pieces, she begins to realize that the life she lost might not have been the one she was expecting. Worse, she senses that a lie has made its way into her family. A lie that could rip them apart if she remembers it. But when one's mind, one's brain has been damaged, how do you know which memories you can trust? 

As Lori deals with everything, her husband Michael and daughter Avery are also dealing with all that has changed over the last year. Can they all come together again and become the family that they need to be? Or have the losses been too drastic? 

This is a book that deals with difficult issues, ones that could be triggers. Considering this, I feel the author did a good job in presenting them while allowing the characters to deal with the emotions each could elicit. Overall this was a good read that tackled everyday life.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Is the Life She Can't Remember One She'd Rather Forget?

One year after her family was in a tragic car accident that killed her teenage son, Lori Mendenhall returns home with a traumatic brain injury that has stolen the last eight years of memories from her. She is shocked that the life she led before the accident is unrecognizable. Her once-loving husband, Michael, is a distant workaholic she isn't sure she can trust, and her once-bubbly daughter, Avery, has spent the last year hidden away in her room.

For Avery, life stopped when she lost her twin. If she wants to graduate high school, she'll have to accept help from Xander Dixon, her brother's best friend and the boy who relentlessly teased her for years. And if Lori wants to reconnect with her husband, she'll have to grapple with information her brain is trying to keep secret. With every memory that returns, she can't help but wonder if the life she can't remember is one she'd rather forget.

6.30.2023

Her Only Wish ~ Review

Her Only Wish
A Season in Pinecraft #2
By Shelley Shepard Gray

Her Only Wish follows Betsy Detweiler, whom we were introduced to in Her Heart's Desire. Betsy has decided to return to Pinecraft, Florida, in an attempt to get out from under the excessive hovering of her family. As a young girl Betsy's asthma more than once led to her being hospitalized, and her parents have never gotten over the fear of nearly losing her. But Betsy needs to break out on her own, to convince her parents that she can handle life. She has a life list and has given herself a month to fulfill as much of it as possible.

First up on Betsy's list taking golf lessons so that she can play a round of golf. Her first foray into the world of golf finds her in the middle of the green at Snow Bird Golf Course, which isn't the safest place to be. Fortunately for her, she is spotted by August Troyer, who just so happens to be who she needs to talk to when it comes to playing golf and taking lessons. Meeting August just might be the best thing to happen to her as they both connect and quickly form a friendship that could become something more with time.

Soon Betsy meets Annie, who, with her sister Danielle has the means to help Betsy mark another item off her life list. Learning to swim is up next. But we are also given a chance to get to know Annie, who is rediscovering her sister. Where Annie and Danielle are concerned, it is interesting how Annie's observations about Danielle differed from what was taking place in her life. 

This is an excellent read. There are emotional highs and lows as the various characters work through the issues they are each facing. I enjoyed getting to know each character, and revisiting some of the characters from the first book in the series was fun. This is a book that gently pulls one into it. There isn't a sudden drop into the life-shattering action, but rather a pleasant stroll onto the beach. If you want a pleasant read that will help you unwind, I would recommend this. Depending on the character, you will either love them or wish they would log out of Skype. (You'll need to read the book to get it, but yeah, just get off Skype.)

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. 


About the Book:
Return to Pinecraft, Florida, for a Sweet Amish Romance

Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She's got a list--a life list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pinecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for lessons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions--beautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She's like no one he's ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, he's met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they'll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life--and love--requires a fair amount of risk.

6.02.2023

In the Shadow of the River ~ Review

In the Shadow of the River
By Ann H. Gabhart

Jaccu Reed's life is spent aboard a steamboat, hiding the shadows, listening to what others say. And when someone sneaks aboard the steamboat she calls home and tries to steal her away, the unthinkable happens, and she loses her mother. But a new place is made for her aboard the Kingston Floating Palace with her grandfather.

But secrets surround Jacci as she finds a new life among the performers who adopt her into their life. But when the truths of the past are finally revealed, some of Jacci's long-held questions are answered. But danger has drawn close, and someone is targeting Jacci, seemingly intent on killing her.

Set in 1881, this book takes one back to when showboats traveled the rivers, bringing shows to those who lived along its shores. It has been years since I've seen Showboat, but this book brought this to mind. Ann H. Gabhart writes in such a way that the characters have depth. I will admit I wasn't sure who was guilty of targeting Jacci. As the story progressed, it became obvious that events from before Jacci's birth were somehow connected to the current portion of the story. I found it interesting how those aboard the ship referred to the "river having its own brand of justice."

This would be perfect for anyone who loves Historical Fiction and anything dealing with Ameican History. I highly recommend this title for pleasure reading or as a book club selection.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
 

About the Book:
In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded during the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci's actor grandfather tends to her mother and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to lead.

Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and dancers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfather she has come to know and love. Jacci's mother has been gone for years, but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life--and the cryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past--is always there, lurking in the back of her mind.

When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it's clear her questions demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows, and the answers she craves will not come easily. Gabe only hopes they come in time for him and Jacci to have a future together.

5.22.2023

The Swindler's Daughter ~ Review

The Swindler's Daughter
By Stephenia H. McGee

All her life Lillian Doyle thought her father was dead, that is until she was informed by a lawyer that her father had just recently passed away. Worse, her mother may have exaggerated the marital ties between them. Soon Lillian finds herself on her own for the first time in her life to settle her father's estate before returning to Atlanta.

But nothing is ever easy, and the house that her father left to her has been claimed by another. A widowed mother tells Lillian that the property was promised to her son. What's a young lady to do but stay in the middle of nowhere and try to unravel the mess that her life has now become. 

As Lillian works through everything, she is pleased to discover she has family and that she and her mother are no longer alone in the world. But as everything unfolds, Lillian has to wonder whether the family she just discovered is as genuine as they seem or if they are like the society women she's known her whole life, manipulated and back-stabbing. Only time will tell.

Working to discover who her father was, Lillian makes a friend in Jonah, the young man to whom her father's home had been promised. But secrets threaten not only her understanding of her father but all she is hoping to achieve in this new life that is hers for the taking if only she is willing to step into the unknown and the freedom, the friendships, and the love it offers.

The Swindler's Daughter is a lovely book with several interesting threads running throughout it. This is as much Lillian's story as it is Jonah's. Both are seeking a new beginning, a chance at something more. It is a story of courage and determination. Embracing the unknown is always frightening, but it is often the only way to become our true selves, and this is their chance!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
A surprise inheritance. 
A cache of family secrets. 
A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

5.11.2023

The Secret to Happiness ~ Review

The Secret to Happiness
Cape Cod Creamery #2
By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Callie Dixon has always been a thorn in her cousin Dawn's side, and now she is coming to Cape Cod. Dawn is less than pleased to have her cousin staying with them at the Creamery. But her mother, Marnie, won't hear any differently. She knows Callie needs her family, and they'll welcome her as long as she needs them.

Dawn knows something is wrong with Callie and is determined to fix her, despite Marnie and Kevin's advice to let her be. But all of Dawn's efforts seem useless. Callie just doesn't appreciate her efforts. 

Concern is weighing on Callie, and the pressure from her Dad to get another job is just adding to it. But Callie refuses to let anyone see the cracks in her life. But when Dawn drags her to a happiness class, Callie is challenged by the teacher, Bruno Bianco. How do you find happiness in the everyday, every single day? 

The Secret to Happiness is a journey of self-discovery as Callie learns to let the pressures and grief of the past go. But it is more than that as she learns the simple things in life can give the greatest joy. I really liked Callie from the first. What I found interesting was that Dawn, who had improved as the first book went along, seemed to reverse when Callie came to the Creamery. So this book is as much Callie's story as it is a continuation of Dawn's. Overall this is a good read and provides a satisfying continuation of what started with The Sweet Life. I mean, who wouldn't find reviving an old ice cream shop interesting? Especially when you combine it with finding a new focus in life. This is a lovely series and should be enjoyed in order, but this book can be read as a standalone title.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion, all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
Escape to Cape Cod--where you just might find the secret to happiness

Callie Dixon had the world by the tail . . . until it all slipped away. Fired from her dream job after making a colossal mistake, she's escaped to her aunt's home on Cape Cod for time to bounce back. Except it isn't a home, it's an ice cream shop. And time isn't going to help, because Callie's bounce has up and left. There's a reason she made that mistake at work, and she's struggling to come to terms with it.

Things go from bad to worse when Callie's cousin Dawn drags her to a community class about the secret to happiness. Happiness is the last thing Callie wants to think about right now, but instructor Bruno Bianco--a curiously gloomy fellow--is relentless. He has a way of turning Callie's thoughts upside down. Her feelings, too.

Bruno insists that hitting rock bottom is the very best place to be. But if that's true, how is it supposed to help her figure out what--or who--has been missing from her life all along?

4.13.2023

After the Shadows ~ Review

After the Shadows
Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing  #1
By Amanda Cabot

A year ago, Emily Leland left Sweetwater Crossing as a newlywed bride. Today she is returning as a widow, one with a secret. But the home she left is filled with sorrow following the death of her mother. And then there is her sister's anger - anger and resentment at the situation. 

Emily's homecoming is anything but happy when her father is found dead. Emily alone feels that someone took her father's life, but anyone with any authority thinks it is just her grief speaking. But in the midst of her grief, Emily continues to honor her father's memory by opening her family's home to those in need of housing, including the newly arrived school teacher.    

This is an excellent book that touches on several serious topics, including suicide and abuse. These are approached both delicately and thoughtfully, presented as they were handled at the time this book is set. There are concerns that Emily raises that, for the most part, are ignored by all except the new school teacher Craig Ferguson. I think Craig is more open to Emily's assertions because he has recently lost his own wife in tragic circumstances, and his less humiliating disciplinary measures have marked him as possibly unsuitable too. But whatever the reasons Craig has for believing Emily, they work to solve the mystery that Emily feels needs to be answered. 

What they uncover is rather shocking, and would be interesting to discover why it happened. What was the triggering event that made this course of action seem acceptable? This is the question that so many times we all ask after an event, "Why did they do this?" This is the first book in the Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing series, and if this book is any indication, it should prove to be an excellent series. Amanda Cabot presented a well-spun story with characters who had depth as they dealt with difficult situations, a testament to her skills.                                                                                                                                                                         

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                           
About the Book:
A brighter future awaits--if she can escape the shadows of the past

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First, she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the new schoolteacher and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father's death--and to aid Craig Ferguson, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. Together they must work to unmask a killer and escape the shadows of their own pasts in order to forge a brighter future.

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot transports you to 1880s Texas Hill Country for a brand-new series that will have you flipping pages to solve the mystery and get to the happily-ever-after you long for.