The Secret of Hummingbird Cake ~ Review

The Secret of Hummingbird Cake
By Celeste Fletcher McHale

They've been friends forever.  Seen one another through the hard times and Hummingbird Cake has been the favorite comfort offering Laine has always given. Carrigan, Ella Rae, and Laine are as close as three friends can be.  They'll tell it like it is and offer a shoulder to cry on when needed.  But these three friends are about to face a foe they've never before had to face.

Life isn't always good but there are moments that make the pain worth it.  This is a story about friendship, secrets, and life.  And through it all is the sharing of a well-loved cake ~ one whose secret is a well guarded secret, or maybe not.

Life and friendship is a series of choices, both good and bad.  And the choices that we make today will be with us for all our tomorrows.  If we are blessed those closest to us will see past the bad ones and stick with us through it all.

I have to admit the cover of this book is quite lovely and yet deceptively simple much like the synopsis of this book.  There is more to this book than one would first suppose from the back cover description.  If you are looking for a perfect life you won't find it between these covers, but you will find a friendship I think we would all love to call our own. And the secret to hummingbird cake, well you'll just need to read the book to find out.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest opinion and thoughts.

About the Book:

“Why won’t you just tell me what’s in that cake?” I’d been trying to get Laine’s recipe for years. We all had.

 When all else fails, turn to the divine taste of hummingbird cake.

In the South you always say “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am.” You know everybody’s business. Football is a lifestyle not a pastime. Food—especially dessert— is almost a religious experience. And you protect your friends as fiercely as you protect your family— even if the threat is something you cannot see.

 In this spot-on Southern novel brimming with wit and authenticity, you’ll laugh alongside lifelong friends, navigate the sometimes rocky path of marriage, and roll through the outrageous curveballs that life sometimes throws . . . from devastating pain to absolute joy. And if you’re lucky, you just may discover the secret to hummingbird cake along the way.

Siren's Song ~ Review

Siren's Song
The Storm Siren Trilogy 3
By Mary Weber

Nym and Eogan have barely survived their latest confrontation with Draewulf - but Princess Rasha is now in the enemy's hands.  Lord Myles has absorbed all but a remnant of the darkness that Nym had taken into herself and it is consuming him.  War has truly come to the Hidden Lands and no one may be able to survive the power of Draewulf.

The fate of their world, their lives lies with a girl who was not suppose to exist, who was never suppose to survive.  But how is Nym suppose to stop this ancient foe who is slowly gathering the collective powers of the Uathuils into himself?  Sacrifices will be made in this almost hopeless endeavor. The only question is who will be left to experience victory or defeat? Change is coming and Nym will help usher it in.

This is the third and final book in the Storm Siren series.  We will be given a glimpse into Nym's past that we haven't yet been privy to.  Siren's Song has threads of both hope and despair running throughout though it is not as dark as Siren's Fury.  Overall I really liked this book especially Kel, the child captain of one of the Bron airships.  I love his comments when he gets disgusted at Nym and Eogan's kissing (slobbering is his preferred reference to Nym).

I think this book and series is appropriate for older teens, though as a teen reader I would have been of a mind with Kel and been put off by Eogan and Nym at times.  Nym's growth through the series from slave to leader is impressive and as are those who helped to her find herself.  

I have to admit I really like the covers for these books which is what drew me to them in the first place.  Fans of fantasy ya fiction will have something new to engage their minds.

            

              

I was provided a copy of this book by BookLook and the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review,



About the Book:

“The realization hits: 

We’re not going to win. 

It’s why I couldn’t defeat Draewulf in Bron - 

because this power was never mine anyway. 

I drop my arms and let the energy die off. 

And turn around to face Eogan.”

After a fierce battle with Draewulf, Nym barely escaped with her life. Now, fleeing the scorched landscape of Tulla, her storm-summoning abilities are returning; only . . . the dark power is still inside her.

Broken and bloodied, Nym needs time to recover, but when the full scope of the shapeshifter’s horrific plot is revealed, the strong-willed Elemental must race across the Hidden Lands and warn the other kingdoms before Draewulf ’s final attack.

From the crystalline palaces of Cashlin to the legendary Valley of Origin, Nym scrambles to gather an army. But even if she can, will she be able to uncover the secret to defeating Draewulf that has eluded her people for generations? With a legion of monsters approaching, and the Hidden Lands standing on the brink of destruction, the stage is set for a battle that will decide the fate of the world.

This time, will the Siren’s Song have the power to save it?

The Mountain Midwife ~ Review

The Mountain Midwife
By Laurie Alice Eakes

Ashley Tolliver is the local midwife, as have generations of Tolliver women.  But she has dreams of taking her skills and training to the next level with medical school.  But if she leaves who will care for those she leaves behind?

Hunter McDermott thought he knew who he was, until he received a message in his voicemail.  An unknown caller claims to be his mother and she needs his help.  Suddenly his life as he knew it is in chaos and he is determined to track down the truth.  But to find out the truth he needs to find the midwife how delivered him over 30 years ago.

But what he finds is Ashley Tolliver a young woman too young to be who he is searching for. Ashley is on her own search - a young woman, in desperate need of medical attention, has disappeared along with her newborn.  Finding this young woman soon is imperative.

But the Appalachians are a dangerous region to venture if you don't know what you are heading into. And neither Ashley nor Hunter fully know just what they are getting themselves into.  And venturing into the unknown can be deadly.

It is interesting to compare this book with Laurie's previous books about midwives and how the occupation changed over the generations and yet didn't change.  There are some many today who are turning to midwives rather than doctors and yet it wasn't that long ago that midwives were the only option.

This is an intriguing book that will be sure to keep you reading and be prepared for some twists that will keep you guessing as to the ultimate outcome.  I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone in search of a well-written story.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

For nearly two hundred years, women in Ashley Tolliver’s family have practiced the art of midwifery in their mountain community. Now she wants to take her skills a step further, but attending medical school means abandoning those women to whom she has dedicated her life, the mountains she loves, and the awakening of her heart.

Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she thinks she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth to a baby at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as she tries to take the dangerously bleeding woman her to the nearest hospital. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby . . . before it’s too late.

Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want for being in the right place at the right time, he receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming to be his mother. Hunter seeks out the aid of the local midwife in the mountain town where the phone call originated—surely she can shed some light on his own family background.

Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams of her own family she has long put aside in favor earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that make her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?

The Feathered Bone ~ Review

The Feathered Bone
By Julie Cantrell

Her world seemed perfect.  Close friends that she had had since childhood.  A loving husband.  A daughter who is pride and joy.  But in an instant her life comes undone.

A class field trip to New Orleans was a perfect day until one student went missing.  Amanda Salassi promised her best friend that she would keep their girls in her sight.  But a few minutes was all it took and Sarah was gone.

Ellie and Sarah had been best friends forever and Sarah's loss propels Ellie into a world of isolation, depression, and guilt.  As her daughter disappears into her pain Amanda's marriage seemingly implodes.

Finding Sarah is their one hope in the midst of their grief and guilt. But when the region is devastated by Katrina hope slowly starts to slip away.

This is a story in which historical events over the last few years are combined in such a way as to create a moving and compelling story.  Depression, abusive situations, trafficking, abduction, and a natural disaster - these events take place over several years so that this book does not read like a disaster movie with everything taking place over a series of hours or days.

Be sure to have a box of tissue nearby as you read through The Feathered Bone.  Tragedy and the triumph of the human spirit are portrayed with a surprising parallel to a bird feather.  This is a book you won't want to miss reading.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

“Feathers—no matter what size or shape or color—are all 

the same, if you think about them. They’re soft. Delicate. But 

the secret thing about feathers is . . . they are very strong.”

In the pre-Katrina glow of New Orleans, Amanda Salassi is anxious about chaperoning her daughter’s sixth grade field trip to the Big Easy during Halloween. And then her worst fears come true. Her daughter’s best friend, Sarah, disappears amid the magic and revelry—gone, without a trace.

Unable to cope with her guilt, Amanda’s daughter sinks in depression. And Amanda’s husband turns destructive as he watches his family succumb to grief. Before long, Amanda’s whole world has collapsed.

Amanda knows she has to save herself before it’s too late. As she continues to search for Sarah, she embarks on a personal journey, seeking hope and purpose in the wake of so much tragedy and loss.

Set amidst the murky parishes of rural Louisiana and told through the eyes of two women who confront the darkest corners of humanity with quiet and unbreakable faith, The Feathered Bone is Julie Cantrell’s master portrait of love in a fallen world.

The Newsmakers ~ Review

The Newsmakers
By Lis Wiehl 
    and Sebastian Stuart

She thought she was finally about to raise above her past - her roots, her mistakes, her secrets.  Erica Sparks has just landed the job of her dreams - a journalist, a field reporter for GNN a rising star in the cable news world.

Erica's first assignment grabbing a quick 5 minute interview with the Duchess of Cambridge.  But before the interview takes place a tragedy strikes.  Right place, right time Erica makes the most of her timely placement scoping all the major networks with her live coverage.  Before the day is over Erica is a star reporter and GNN has become the station.

Knowing that fame is fleeting Erica is determined to keep pushing for stories of importance.  And the tragedy that made her is one that Erica can't let go of.  She's determined to the cause and the NTSB's blanket computer malfunction doesn't cut it as far as Erica is concerned.  But GNN doesn't want follow-ups, they want the next big story.

But when tragedy strikes a second time on Erica's watch, she has to wonder is it pure coincidence or something more sinister.  Is Erica about to become the next live on-air tragedy for GNN?  Or is she merely paranoid?

Get ready to see the world of news and those who report it in a whole new way...  If you have ever felt that news story were manipulated to compel you to see the world their way you are even for an even bigger shock. The news isn't merely being reported or manipulated it is being manufactured in a way one has never suspected.

Lives are in the balance as the ultimate story unfolds and Erica is caught on the front-lines of a story that could potentially bring the country to its knees.

If you like intrigue and conspiracy fiction with romance you will want to pick-up a copy of The Newsmakers.  If you are looking for something different from your normal reading fare this may be what you are looking for.  I had never read one of Lis Wiehl's books before so I went at this one with no expectations other than being intrigued by the cover.  The cover does this book justice, perfectly suiting it.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

What if it turns out that the newsmakers 

are actually making the news happen?

Television reporter Erica Sparks has just landed her dream job at Global News Network. Beautiful, talented, and ambitious, Erica grew up dirt poor, worked her way through Yale, and is carrying a terrible secret. She moves to Manhattan to join GNN, leaving Jenny, her adored 7-year-old daughter, in the custody of her ex-husband. Erica’s producer at the network, Greg Underwood, is handsome and compelling. Scarred by her divorce, Erica is wary of romance, but there’s no denying the mutual attraction.

On one of her first assignments, Erica witnesses a horrific Staten Island ferry crash. Then she lands a coveted interview with presumptive presidential nominee Kay Barrish. During the interview Barrish collapses. Erica valiantly tries to save her with CPR. The footage rivets the world—GNN’s ratings soar and Erica is now a household name.

But she’s troubled. What a strange coincidence that both events should happen on her watch. It’s almost as if they were engineered. Is that possible?

Erica’s relentless pursuit of the truth puts her life and that of her daughter in danger. Her investigation leads her into the heart of darkness—where the future of our democracy is at stake.

The Forgotten Recipe ~ Review

The Forgotten Recipe
An Amish Heirloom Novel #1
By Amy Clipston

When Seth died her future died with him.  Jason only wanted to offer Veronica his sympathy.  He was with Seth when he died and he knew how important Veronica was to his best friend.  But when he came face-to-face with her he couldn't say a word.

A long forgotten recipe has given Veronica something she thought she had forever lost. But her Mammi's raspberry pies have given her a purpose.  And she has attracted a regular customer in Jason Huyard.

He only meant to share in the sorrow that Seth's death caused, but instead he lost his heart.  Can he ever hope to win to Veronica's heart?  Or did Veronica bury her heart with the man she loved?


A delightful book about second chances.  My only complaint with The Forgotten Recipe is I would have liked a glimpse at this recipe that so enchanted all who tasted it.  This is the first book in a series and I hope the hope chest and the maybe mystery surrounding it is further explored in future books.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

After losing her fiancé in a tragic accident, 

 Veronica Fisher finds solace in the old recipes 

stored in her mother’s hope chest—and in a 

special visitor who comes to her bake stand to 

purchase her old fashioned raspberry pies.

Veronica Fisher is devastated when her fiancé, Seth, is killed in an accident at work. Seth’s friend, Jason Huyard, was with him and blames himself for Seth’s death. Although Jason has never met Veronica, he feels as if he knows her because Seth talked about her constantly. After the accident, he can’t seem to get Veronica out of his mind.

Two months later, Veronica is cleaning the attic and comes across her mother’s old hope chest. She finds an old recipe and soon discovers that baking helps her cope with her grief, so she opens a bake stand to sell her pies.

Jason starts visiting the stand weekly and their friendship grows, but Veronica isn’t ready to court again. And Jason harbors his secret regret of not being able to save Seth.

Veronica’s mother must convince her that she can’t completely give up on love. But when the truth is revealed, can she forgive Jason for not telling her he was there on that fateful day?

Whispers in the Reading Room ~ Review

Whispers in the Reading Room

A Chicago World's Fair Mystery #3

By Shelley Gray

Lydia Bancroft loves books and her job in the library is a pure pleasure.  And her favorite patron never checks-out a book, he doesn't have a library card, and Lydia doesn't know his name. He's a perfect gentleman and makes frequent use of the Reading Room and the books.  Who is this person who seemingly loves books as much as her?

Sebastian Marks is not who Lydia thinks him to be.  His mysterious nature is a cloak to hide his past - a past that he has left behind.  A man to be feared if Chicago gossip is to be believed.  But there is a part of him that wants to be something more than what he is and Lydia intrigues him.

When given the opportunity to offer Lydia a service - rescuing her from a most unpleasant situation - the two form a most unusual friendship.  And this friendship will leave a lasting impact on not only Lydia and Sebastian but on those closest to them.

But danger is lurking the streets of Chicago and in the less affluent areas murders are becoming more numerous.  Unfortunately for Lydia her name is linked to the latest one - her reputation is damaged, an advantageous marriage seems unlikely, and her mother is horrified.  What's a young woman with limited means to do?  Lydia is about to embark on the experience of a lifetime.

Are you ready to enter the Reading Room and take a step back in time?

This is the first time I've read any of Shelley Gray's books and I have to admit I'm intrigued with the conclusion of this series so I now have to go back a step further in time and acquaint myself with the first two books in the series, which I'm pleased to say I can pick-up in my own library - though I will check them out.  Unlike Sebastian I do have a library card.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Lydia’s job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World’s Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn’t merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

The Bronte Plot ~ Review

The Brontë Plot
By Katherine Reay

Lucy Alling loves a good story and she loves to tell one on occasion.  Combined this makes her perfect for her preferred career - a seller and procurer of rare books in a Chicago shop.  But Lucy is hiding a secret - a secret that may change everything for her and not necessarily for the better.

Lucy is determined to move past her mistakes, but to do this she must first put her past behind her. But how does one move on from what was to what will be?  Lucy is about to get some unexpected help from Helen Carmichael her ex-boyfriend's grandmother.

Helen has secrets of her own and a past that is linked to Lucy's.  As these two women seek to overcome the past and its mistakes they will discover the strengths that can be found amidst the pages of heroines of old can be discovered even today.

Lucy and Helen are both burdened by the choices that they have made.  And prompted by current circumstances they set out on a journey that will bring healing by reopening old wounds.

Kathleen Reay has a talent for bringing the truths from classic favorites into our world.  The road not traveled is often just as important as the one we chose.  The question we must ask ourselves is why did we chose the path we did?  What was our motivation?

If you are looking for a story that can just take you away for awhile this one can do it.  But be forewarned you may be tempted by that all too common trap of Just one more chapter.  This book is worth the sleep deprivation though.

I was provided a copy of this book through the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

When Lucy’s secret is unearthed, her world begins to crumble. But it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.

Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious liberties to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy’s secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend, James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James’s wealthy grandmother, Helen, hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy’s predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen’s wisdom as Helen confronts ghosts from her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters’ beloved heroines who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of impossible circumstances.

Now Lucy must face her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that’s been waiting for her all along.

The Golden Braid ~ Review

The Golden Braid

By Melanie Dickerson 

Rapunzel and her mother have never stayed in any one village for any length of time.  If Rapunzel starts to form a friendship or attract the attention of any man they leave almost immediately.

When Gothel decides that they need to move yet again, Rapunzel has hopes that by moving to Hagenheim she may get her heart's desire - the chance to learn how to read.  But the several day journey is fraught with dangers that Rapunzel and Gothel must face before they can enter the safety of Hagenheim.  When the women are attacked by a pair of men they are rescued by Sir Gerek, a knight in the service of Duke Wilhelm.  But there is one problem with Sir Gerek he is a man and Rapunzel has been taught from a young age that men are not to be trusted.  But Sir Gerek did come to their aid and insisted on seeing to their safety for the rest of their journey.

What follows is a delightful twist on a well-known fairy tale that takes place during Melanie Dickerson's previous book The Princess Spy, but this time the focus is on some of the background characters from the castle and on Rapunzel, Gerek, and Gothel.  We also learn about the tragedy that Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose experienced over 15 years.  

Melanie Dickerson will draw you into this medieval world she has created with the first word set to page.  Though most of her books deal with Duke Wilhelm and his family if you have not read any of her books before don't worry about pick up The Golden Braid first as you can easily follow the story and get caught up at a later date with the other books.

This is truly a lovely book one that you'll want to read again and again.  I would recommend this book to most readers 13 and up.  Younger readers with greater reading skills and comprehension who aren't scared off by the 300 page length would also enjoy this book. I know I would have devoured a book like this when I was 9.  This book would make a perfect gift or library addition.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Thomas Nelson is exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after.

About the Author:

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama. 

Visit her on-line at melaniedickerson.com
Facebook: MelanieDickersonBooks,
Twitter @melanieauthor.

The Tears of Dark Water ~ Review

The Tears of Dark Water
By Corban Addison

Each choice we make throughout our life is like a pebble tossed into a pond.  The ripples spread out touching and crossing the choices others have made, but how these choices merge is unpredictable.

Three different families are about to discover how the choices they've made throughout their lives are about to forever alter their lives.  In each the decision to take one course rather than another sets them on a path that leads to both tragedy and hope.

In an attempt to help save his son, Quentin from the self-destructive path he finds himself on Daniel Parker has embarked on a sailing trip that will take them around the world.  But an unplanned encounter with Somali pirates is about to reveal a world and a culture that is hidden behind media headlines.

The Tears of Dark Water is a brutal and eye-opening book that peels back the layers of a world held hostage by those who seized power.  What we see is not necessarily what is and this thought is thoroughly explored throughout this book.

The verse "We see through a glass darkly," suits The Tears of Dark Water.  We see the Somali pirates as mercenaries who are motivated by greed.  But why do they want this money? Why do they need this money?

To those who know Ismail, in no way could he be involved in piracy or the violence that followed. But the truth is hidden away in the mind of one young man - a truth that may or may not ever be known.

This book is unlike any previous Thomas Nelson I have before read.  I wouldn't label it Christian, though the publisher is known for its Christian titles.  There is a powerful message tucked within these pages - a message that is timely and may touch each reader's heart in a profound way.

Hope is a powerful weapon, allowing us to face the seemingly impossible.  It allows us to confront the day no matter what troubles we know are coming.  Hope allows us to heal.  To love.  To be willing to sacrifice what we have.  Hope allows those shackled by their life to search for a glimpse of freedom.

Be ready to be moved in both your way of thinking and feeling.  Look beneath the surface to discover the whole truth.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
Daniel and Vanessa Parker are an American success story. He is a Washington, D.C. power broker, and she is a physician with a thriving practice. But behind the gilded fac̦ade, their marriage is a shambles, and their teenage son, Quentin, is self-destructing. In desperation, Daniel dusts off a long-delayed dream of theirs--a sailing trip around the world. Little does he know, the voyage he hopes will save them may destroy them instead.

Half a world away, on the lawless coast of Somalia, Ismail Adan Ibrahim is living a life of crime in violation of everything he was raised to believe--except this: the love and loyalty driving him to hijack ships for ransom and to plot the rescue of his sister, Yasmin, from the man who murdered their father. There is nothing he will not do to save her, even if it means taking innocent life. 

Paul Derrick is the FBI's top hostage negotiator. His twin sister, Megan, is a celebrated defense attorney. They have reached the summit of their careers by savvy, grit, and a secret determination to escape the memory of the day their family died. When Paul is dispatched to handle a hostage crisis at sea, he has no idea how far it will take Megan and him into the past--or the chance it will give them to redeem the future. 

Across continents and oceans, through storms and civil wars, their paths converge in a single, explosive moment. It is a moment that will test them, and break them, but that will also leave behind an unexpected glimmer of hope--that out of the ashes of tragedy and misfortune the seeds of justice and reconciliation can grow.

All is Calm, All is Bright ~ Review

All is Calm, All is Bright
by Colleen Coble

I have read Colleen Coble's books in the past, but somehow I missed the two series that these two Christmas novellas are part of.  Well, guess what I just added to my ever growing To Be Read (TBR) list.  Did I feel at a disadvantage having not read the previous books in these two series?  Quick answer no.  Did these two stories make me want to read the other books? Yes.

Now on to the stories themselves...

All is Calm at Bluebird Ranch is not quite accurate once Lauren Everman's presence there becomes known.  Lauren has decided that Bluebird Ranch is the perfect place to hideaway from those who don't believe her. Lauren is convinced that she witnessed a murder - but she's the one whom the police suspect thanks to her cousin.  

But Brendan Waddell is suspicious of Lauren Everman, he senses that she is hiding something. His main concern is that she is a danger to those who are calling Bluebird Ranch home.  But he is also concerned that Lauren may herself be in danger as is his heart.

In All is Bright Delilah Carter's life is in danger and Sheriff Tom Bourne is determined to keep her safe.  But to do this means bringing Delilah's past into the present.  Could Delilah have an enemy from her past who has tracked her down?

Delilah doesn't have time for all the fuss and bother, she has wedding to pull together at Tidewater Inn and weddings don't wait for troublesome crank phone calls or potential murder attempts.  But planning this wedding may be the last thing she ever does.

You will be kept in suspense trying to guess who has made Delilah enemy number 1.  I know I was misdirected in who the guilty party was.  Which in my opinion is so much better than when one figures it out right at the beginning.

These two novellas were a quick read and were enjoyed in an afternoon.  Would be a perfect early Christmas gift for anyone who gets caught up in the stresses of the season rather than the joys. Nothing better to unwind with than a well written seasonal mystery with a dash of romance thrown in.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the Book:

Return to two of Colleen Coble’s most beloved settings

~ Bluebird Ranch and Hope Beach ~

for holiday romance and mystery!

All Is Calm

It’s going to be an unexpectedly romantic Christmas at Bluebird Ranch.

Brendan Waddell has always considered Bluebird Ranch a little piece of heaven: an idyllic ranch that pairs abused children with abused horses, run by one of his Marine buddies. Now, it seems just the place to spend Christmas recovering from an on-the-job injury.

Lauren Everman first came to the ranch as a foster kid, but now knows it’s the perfect hideout. As the witness to a murder, Lauren needs somewhere to lie low. Her beauty immediately catches Brendan’s attention—but so does her secretive behavior. This Special Ops Intel man knows a woman on the run when he sees one. Can he trust her, or is she putting the ranch at risk? One thing is certain: he’s going to do everything he can to keep her safe so he can see what magic Christmas brings.

All Is Bright

A romantic Christmas wedding at Tidewater Inn gives Delilah’s unique gifts a chance to shine. But will her light be snuffed out before the bride and groom say “I do”?

As manager of the Tidewater Inn, Delilah Carter has been planning a spectacular Christmas wedding for her friend, Elin Summerall. But when Delilah’s car is forced off the road and into the ocean, she finally has to admit that the strange phone calls she’s been receiving lately may be more than just pranks.

Sheriff Tom Bourne has always had a soft spot for Delilah, and he’s determined to protect her. He hopes to win her heart by giving her the surprise gift of a lifetime . . . but first he has to make sure nothing happens to her before Christmas Day.

It’s the season of miracles. But will both Elin and Delilah get the ones they need this holiday season?

Excerpt:

She scrambled out of bed and stepped to the door. Was that breathing on the other side? Her heart thumped hard in her chest. Someone was there, she just knew it. She glanced around for a weapon. Once upon a time, she'd had a gun—until she pawned it. Now all she had were her cuticle scissors, but she was strong. If she jabbed the point into someone, it might be enough to allow her to get away.

She held up the scissors and flung open the door.

A Respectable Actress ~ Review

A Respectable Actress
by Dorothy Love

India Hartley's whole life has been the theater.  Traveling both abroad in Europe and at home in the United States.  She has just launched a tour of theaters across the South when, in Savannah, the unthinkable happens.  A last minute change in the play ends in the lead actor's death and India's arrest for murder.

As single woman, in a less than respected profession, what chance does India have at a fair trial? When a benefactor arranges for India to be represented by Philip Sinclair, she at least has hope that she may survive her visit to Savannah.  But all the evidence and witness testimony, though circumstantial, seems to point directly at India. 

While awaiting her trial India is allowed to travel to St. Simons Island under the protection of her lawyer.  But the Sinclair estate on Indigo Point seems to be guarding a secret - a secret which India seems determined to understand.  But Indigo Point guards its past carefully against outsiders and India is an outsider.  

The more India discovers the more she is convinced this has something to do with her own situation. But how a tragedy 5 years old could have a bearing on a recent murder is something India must determine before she is found guilty of murder.

I haven't read Dorothy Love's work before, so I was pleasantly surprised when I received this book from the Fiction Guild.  The cover, which is stunning, does this book proud and is the perfect introduction into what the reader is about to partake.  The writing style is exquisite, the story tantalizing, and the characters are real.  

Set after the Civil War Savannah is a city that is still in pain.  Lose of the life to which they were accustomed - wealth was gone, lives had been lost - had resulted in suspicion of any who weren't a native.  I find it interesting that many wanted to go to the theater, to be seen there and yet they held a high disdain for those who acted. 

My favorite line in the book comes from page 47 Anybody who collects books can't be all bad. Want to know more?  Read the book and add to your own collection.

I was provided a copy of this book through the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.   
 

About the Book:

When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the 

deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

"Gunfire exploded to the right of the stage, a burst of sound that temporarily deafened her. When the ringing in her ears subsided she was aware of the screams, of shouts for policemen and for a doctor, of the ensuing chaos as officers arrived and began ushering patrons out of the packed theater. Two burly officers leapt onto the stage, seized her by both arms, and manhandled her into a police wagon parked in the alley, the officers with their weapons at the ready, the horses stamping impatiently in the cold."

An Amish Christmas Gift ~ Review

An Amish Christmas Gift

Three Amish Novellas
By Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid, and Kelly Irvin

If you love a Christmas romance and Amish fiction you will delight in this new Christmas collection of three novellas.

In all three stories our main character feels love, marriage, and a family of her own has passed her by. She is destined to be an old maid, at least that's what she is trying to convince herself.

First up is Naomi's Gift - Naomi King has twice been rejected in love.  Her mother frowns upon her previous behavior, her anticipation of becoming a wife, a mother.  Some say Naomi is too eager for marriage.  But those who truly know her know the truth.  Is it too late for love when gossiping tongues wag?

When a chance meeting with young Susie Schmucker introduces Naomi to widower Caleb, Naomi is determined to guard her heart though a friendship only with this young girl and her father may prove problematic.  

But Christmas miracles can involve the heart... Will Naomi finally receive the gift her heart has been seeking?

The second gift found within this wrapping is An Unexpected Gift.  Abigail Kemp has in her words the "gift of talking."  Unfortunately for her future prospects her gift is not appreciated by the young men in her community.  In fact her gift may keep her single.

But when an act of "defiance" means Abigail has to find a job, she finds a short term one caring for Micah Zook's grandmother.  Now if she can just keep her keep her chatter from ending her job early Abigail just may be able to buy her horse.  

But Abigail has more than just her gift of talk she has a caring heart - a heart that just may get her into trouble or may finally lead her to love just in time for Christmas.

A Christmas Visitor is the final story to delight your Christmas reading.  Frannie Mast has been sent to her aunt and uncle's home to get her away from Rocky Sanders an Englischer who has found a way into her heart.  Frannie is determined to stay in her faith, separation from her family is not something she wants.

But when Rocky shows up in Bee County, Texas, following Frannie all the way from Missouri pushing him out of her heart just became a lot harder.  But Rocky only wants what's best for the woman he loves.  Can he give her up if she decides family and faith have more of her heart than Rocky does?  Or will this be the Christmas that brings these two people a true gift of the heart?

An Amish Christmas Gift is a gift that you will want to share with your fellow book friends.  Looking for a December book club selection that won't disappoint - you've found it.  And if you want to steal away for a few moments of quiet time during the holiday rush this book may be what you are looking for.

I was provided a copy of this book through the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.  

About the Book:

Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston

Naomi has started to think that she isn't meant to find love, but she might receive more than she ever hoped for this Christmas.

Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love, has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches-a time of family, faith, and hope for many others-Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down.

An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid

Abigail has driven other suitors away, but can Micah find a way to show her he cares?

Abigail Kemp has managed to frighten off every bu who's ever driven her home from a singing. Sure she will live to be an old maid, Abigail starts saving her money to buy a horse so she can at least have some independence.

Micah Zook is looking for a caregiver for his grandmother, and Abigail needs a new job. He never expected that Abigail would talk so much . . . or that his grandmother would keep finding ways to set the two of them up.

Despite Abigail's constant chatter, she and Micah become friends-until Micah makes a decision that leaves Abigail feeling betrayed. With Christmas in their midst, can Micah find a way to reconcile with Abigail and to reveal what's on his heart?

A Christmas Visitor by Kelly Irvin

Frannie Mast returns to Bee County for Christmas, but her heart stays back in Missouri with an Englisch farm boy.

Frannie knows her parents have the best of intentions when they send her back to Bee County, Texas, to live with her aunt Abigail and her husband Mordecai. After all, she knows nothing can come of a relationship with Rocky, the handsome but Englisch farmer boy back in Missouri. It's best to put those feelings aside, no matter how hard it is. But all bets are off when Rocky follows Frannie to Texas to plead his case. Could he be the Christmas gift to end all gifts?

The Girl From the Train ~ Review

The Girl From the Train
By Irma Joubert

If I was asked to describe this book in just a few words I would use the following:

Haunting

Beautiful

Heartbreaking

Triumphant

This is a story that will leave a lasting and profound impression on you.  This is a story you need to read.

Gretl Schmidt is just 6 years old when war takes everything from her - everything but her dream. The dream that wakes her from her sleep.  The dream that haunts her.

A young girl hated among her own people - a Protestant German Jew.  Sent away with what remained of her family to Auschwitz, Gretl managed to escape into the unknown regions of Poland.  Here she meets the man who will change her life forever.

Jakob Kowalski is fighting to free his people, his country, from the German invasion when a mistake is made - a mistake which he will have to live with.  While dealing with his guilt he offers to aid a young girl who has escaped from the very people he is fighting.  But Gretl's fair Germanic features and Protestant roots are a problem in a country that is both Catholic and Polish.  

As the war concludes an opportunity is presented that may provide Gretl with both a proper home and a family who will love her.  But to do this she must leave behind Jakob and all that she has known and learned over the last four years.  She must be silent on her Polish experience, her Catholic ties, and her Jewish grandmother.  She must be a pure Aryan and a Protestant if she is to find a family that will take her into their home and their hearts, if she is to be one of the few chosen to become a child of South Africa.

As Jakob tells her before they part, ...always remember you're Gretl... If you don't allow others to influence who you are, you'll have something no one can take away from you.  It doesn't matter what other people are like, or even what they call you.  You must continue to be Gretl.  Gretchen....

The Girl from the Train covers approximately a 15 year period of time - the time needed to transform the young child Gretl into the young woman Grietjie.  The time needed to reunite two people who were necessary to one another.  This is a story of the triumph of the human spirit, a story of love - a love that spans the years, and a story of perseverance in the face of prejudice.  

If you need a suggestion for a book club this is one you should read.  There are many books that are chosen as a selection for a book club  and they are awful - there is no hope, leaving the reader in a state of despair and depression - offering nothing to make the experience worthy of your time.  This book is not one of those books - yes there is tragedy, there is loss but throughout there is hope and hope is a powerful draw.

I was provided an advance uncorrected copy of this book by the publisher through the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

A sweeping international love story that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over the inhumanities of war and prejudice.

Six-year-old Gretl and her sister jump from a train bound for Auschwitz, her mother and grandmother unable to squeeze between the bars covering the windows. The daughter of a German soldier, Gretl understands very little about how her grandmother's Jewishness brought her first to the ghetto, then to the train, and now, to the Polish countryside where she wanders, searching for food and water for her dying sister.

Soon, Gretl finds refuge with Jakob, a Polish freedom fighter, and his family, where she is sheltered until the end of the war. Gretl is then sent away to a new life, a new name, and a new faith in Apartheid-era South Africa. As she comes of age in this strange place, she confronts its prejudices as she hides the truth of her past from her new family.

When Jakob makes his way to South Africa many years later, Gretl and Jakob are reunited in a love story that transcends time and distance and survives the ravages of hatred and war.

About the Author:

International bestselling author Irma Joubert was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She's the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels. Facebook: irmajoubertpage