The Fruitcake Challenge ~ Review

The Fruitcake Challenge

Christy Lumber Camp #1

By Carrie Fancett Pagels

Narrated by Virginia Gray

Jo Christy has no desire to spend the rest of her days in her family's lumber camp, and she certainly has no intention of marrying a lumberjack. So when Tom Jefferies joins up with the camp, she is less than thrilled with his attentions. 

Tom Jefferies has left behind the life he has known for the lumber camps of Michigan. Working as a lumberjack pays better than his previous job as a teacher. It is hard work, but he needs the pay to help support his mother. He never expected to meet someone like Miss Josephine Christy working at the Christy Family Lumber Camp. 

Jo Christy seems determined to ignore all of Tom's flattery and attempts at courting. But when Tom issues his Fruitcake Challenge, she sees this as the perfect opportunity to put him in his place. But as the fruitcake challenge progresses, she has a chance to get to know Tom better - if only he wasn't a lumberjack.

I experienced this book in the audio format, and it was well presented. The narration by Virginia Gray fits well with the story. I did listen to the book at 1.2 speed (or faster), but I always listen to my audiobooks faster than the default speed - I listen at the pace I read. But even at the regular speed, the pacing is good. 

If you want an enjoyable escape to 1890s Michigan's lumber camps, this is the perfect way to do so. This is a clean read. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Historical Fiction, are fascinated by America's logging past, or have a thing for fruitcake. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Title: The Fruitcake Challenge
By: Dr. Carrie Fancett Pagels
Narrated by: Virginia Gray
Series: Christy Lumber Camp, Book 1
Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-24-20
Language: English
Publisher: Carrie Fancett Pagels

When new lumberjack Tom Jeffries tells the camp cook, Jo Christy, that he’ll marry her if she can make a fruitcake “as good as the one my mother makes,” she rises to the occasion. After all, he’s the handsomest, smartest, and strongest axman her camp-boss father has ever had in his camp - and the cockiest. And she intends to bring this lumberjack down a notch or three by refusing his proposal. The fruitcake wars are on! All the shanty boys and Jo’s cooking helpers chip in with their recipes, but Jo finds she’ll have to enlist more help - and begins corresponding with Tom’s mother. 

Step back in time to 1890, in beautiful Northern Michigan, near the sapphire straits of Mackinac, when the white pines were “white gold,” and lumber camps were a way of life. Jo is ready to find another life outside of the camps and plans that don’t include any shanty boys. But will a lumberjack keep her in the very place she’s sworn to leave?

Legacy of Love ~ Review

Legacy of Love
Haven Manor #1.5
By Kristi Ann Hunter

Sometimes one just needs to escape into a book and this novella was just what I needed. This sweet Christmas story finds Sarah Gooding in service to the Dowager Countess of Densbury, as her companion. But the Countess is in failing health, something her family doesn't seem to realize but Sarah sees it as the woman, who has become more than an employer, becomes frailer as Christmas approaches.

Randall Everard is more than a little shocked at his grandmother's deterioration since his last visit. And when he hears his family's plans to put her aside he is more than a little surprised at his grandmother's companion speaking out so forcefully against their lack of regard for her comfort. Sarah's championing of his grandmother allows Randall to see her as something other than a mousy, silent shadow. 

As the Countess sets plans in motion for her final Christmas she brings Randall and Sarah together in her own special way allowing them to get to know one another for who they truly are rather than their societal station. And her final gift is a legacy of love.

This novella is part of the Haven Manor series but it can be read as a standalone title. A perfect introduction to the series or Kristi Ann Hunter's work if you have never before read her.

About the Book:

When Sarah Gooding returned a valuable brooch to the elderly Dowager Countess of Densbury, she had no idea it would lead to a job as the lively woman's companion. Nor did she expect to admire the Dowager's youngest grandson so much, even though the difference in their stations means nothing will ever come of her daydreams.

A Cowboy for Keeps ~ Review

A Cowboy for Keeps 

Colorado Cowboys #1

By Jody Hedlund

Greta Nilsson will do anything to save her little sister's life. With the promise that the mountain air of Colorado will cure Astrid's consumption, Greta agrees to become a mail-order bride. But the final stage of her trip to Fairplay, Colorado, is one disaster upon another.  Her expected groom has died, stagecoach robbers took all her savings. With nothing to her name, Greta has few options in a town that is comprised almost entirely of miners and ranchers. So when a rancher claiming to be a friend of the man she expected to wed offers her a proposal of marriage, Greta quickly realizes that is her only choice.

Wyatt McQuaid has been working to get his ranch profitable so that he can send for his ma, brothers, and sister. But starting a ranch in this new land isn't easy. He doesn't have time or the funds to even think about marriage. But when the latest stagecoach arrives in Fairplay after a holdup the mayor offers him a deal - marry Miss Nilsson and, in return, Wyatt will get the funds he needs to expand his herd. But marrying a complete stranger who was set to marry his friend is something that will take some thinking. But Mayor Steel needs the town to grow, to add families of good repute if he hopes to convince his wife to leave the civilization of the East behind.

As Wyatt and Greta deal with their new situation they both have to deal with their pasts. But the past has a way of marking a person and Wyatt and Greta are no exception. Can they see past the hurts to a future of promise or will they allow their insecurities to tear them apart before they even begin?

Without giving away anything - I will say there are a couple of interesting twists that occur that add an interesting element to the story. So be sure you don't jump ahead while reading (I have a family member who does this and then ruins the element of surprise or shock from her books), seriously don't do it. If I had known of these elements before their proper placement in the story it just won't have had the same impact that it did. 

A Cowboy for Keeps is the first book in Jody Hedlund's new Colorado Cowboys series and it is another enjoyable read from a skilled writer. Greta is a character with whom one can empathize, basically kicked out by her family along with an ill younger sister, she is willing to do almost anything to save. But Greta has to learn that going it alone isn't the best way. With her plans crumbling around her she needs to learn in who to place her trust and concerns. Not an easy lesson for any of us to learn. Wyatt on the other hand has a plan to rescue his family from the very situation that he left behind years ago. But he is dealing with the guilt of leaving his family behind, of failing them. Then there is Judd who we learn very little about but what we do learn gives a glimpse into his past. I really like Judd who helps Wyatt see what he needs to see. He is just what Wyatt, Greta, and Astrid need as they live and work together. I'm looking forward to the second book in this series - if the final chapter is any indication of what is to come it should prove most interesting.

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

About the Book:

Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revelations arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus ~ Review

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus

By Jaime Jo Wright

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus takes the reader to 1928 and the present day as a mystery surrounding the Bonaventure Circus is slowly revealed. In 1928 we are introduced to Pippa Riley, daughter of the family who owns the circus. But Pippa has a special connection to the circus, a connection that has her venturing into a world that a proper lady would never venture into. When an accident threatens the future of the circus Pippa may be the only one who can help out. But there is a darkness surrounding the Bonaventure Circus and it could very well destroy her.

In the present day, Chandler Faulk has come to Bluff River, Wisconsin, seeking to restore what had been the winter home of the Bonaventure Circus. But the grounds are linked to a murder and rumors of ghostly hauntings. But Chandler is dealing with her own personal demons, demons that include a health issue that demands more attention than she is willing to give especially given her potential restoration project and her young son Peter. But as Chandler digs into the history of Bonaventure she finds herself drawn to the mysteries surrounding the circus, but the ghostly speculation has her more than a little wary. And then there is her landlord and his nephew who seem determined to be part of her temporary life in Bluff River. But the darkness of the past isn't ready to reveal its secrets.

I have read Jaime Jo Wright's books in the past and have to date not been disappointed in them and The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is no exception. The books all have a mystery that tends to be on the slightly creepy side. Not a good book to try to go to sleep go to sleep with as it most definitely will be one that you will tell yourself just one more chapter - but one more just isn't enough once you get into the book.

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Books:

Welcome to Bonaventure Circus, where misfits go to hide.

In 1928, the Bonaventure Circus has become a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner circle as a baby and is no longer content to leave the reason for that rejection unquestioned. When she receives mysterious messages from someone called the "Watchman," she is determined to find him and the connection to her birth. As Pippa's search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of the killer.

Decades later, an old circus train depot's future hangs in the balance--it will either be torn down or preserved for historical importance, and its fate rests on Realtor Chandler Faulk's shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot's history, she's also balancing a newly diagnosed disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers clues to unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an abandoned train depot could portend.

The Amish Baker's Rival ~ Review

The Amish Baker's Rival

By Marie E. Bast

He's more than just

her competition...

Mary Brenneman's life is the bakery she's taken over from her stepmother. When a new shop opens up across the street that threatens the Amish Sweet Delights' Bakery she is determined to meet and defeat her rival.  But Noah Miller's shop has it all and it is sure to take some of the Sweet Delights' customers, customers they can't afford to lose if they hope to stay open. Mary only sees one way to recapture her customers' attention, win the upcoming Kalona Fall Apple Festival baking contest. Not only would it get the bakery more regional attention the prize money could be used for the improvements Mary wants to implement. 

Noah Miller's move to Kalona was more than just opening his new business but to also connect with the family he's never met. What he didn't count on was the competing bakery across the street and the feisty Amish baker who runs it. A baker who is more than a little competitive for Kalona's clientele. As Mary and Noah vie for the bake-off and Kalona they find they are drawn to one another, but Amish and Englisch just won't work. 

The Amish Baker's Rival is a meet-cute read that is perfect for your favorite cozy corner (with a cookie or two) and a long afternoon of reading. At just a little more than 200 pages, this is an easy book in which to escape for a few hours. But be forewarned with all the tasty treats these two are offering you just may want to make an excursion into the kitchen for your own baking experience. And there is a recipe in the back of the book to enjoy. This book most definitely fits the Love Inspired Inspirational Romance brand and it is a clean, gentle read perfect for any age.

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.

This exciting new Amish romance is from Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Amish Baker and The Amish Marriage Bargain.

About the Book:

She’ll do anything to protect her bakery… 
no matter the cost to her heart.

Small-town, Amish baker Mary Brenneman is devastated when handsome Englischer Noah Miller opens up a bakery right across from hers. Now she must win a local baking contest just to stay in business. But somewhere along the way, Noah and Mary’s kitchen wars are quickly warming into something more…

Still mourning the death of his parents, Mary helps Noah search for the Amish grandparents he has never met. And when a crisis hits Mary’s bakery, Noah volunteers his assistance.

After Mary’s now ex-fiancé broke their engagement so he could go live in the Englisch world, she vows to stay away from men…especially Englisch men. Even though she likes Noah more each day, she keeps her distance.

With her heart packed with distrust, Noah hopes to soften her resolve and convince Mary of their undeniable love. But trouble brews at the baking contest when Mary thinks Noah has stolen her recipe. After the surprising result of the contest, Noah and Mary must face their feelings and decide what road God has set them upon.

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Covert Amish Christmas ~ Review

Covert Amish Christmas

By Mary Alford

Victoria Kauffman has spent the last year running for her life. Since her partner and unit were killed on an operation gone horribly wrong she's been trying to stay one step ahead of rogue CIA operatives whom she believes are behind everything. She just needs to find the proof-there is just one problem she has no idea what she is looking for. And worse is the guilt over the life she has led as a CIA agent, the things she has done eat at her, stealing any hope for peace. 

Aaron Shelter has been living with his guilt over his wife's death, no matter what anyone thinks he knows it is his fault she didn't seek the help she needed sooner. When he finds a woman in need of his help he isn't about to repeat the mistakes of the past. But this time offering help could get him and those he loves killed.

As Victoria, Aaron, and his family spend Christmas trying to elude ruthless killers, Victoria's only hope lies with contacting her former commander. But when you are in the heart of Amish country communication is not easily accomplished. 

If you are a fan of Amish suspense that is a clean read you will enjoy this offering from the Love Inspired Suspense brand. At times Victoria and Aaron's dwelling on their guilt can be a little much but overall this was a good read. All the action takes place in approximately a day so there is a lot crammed into this time period but that is to be expected with these books. I will admit I had a few suspicions as to who was the guilty party so don't be surprised if you aren't surprised at the reveal of the mastermind.  

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:

Fleeing to Amish country

might be the only way to survive Christmas…

Hiding in Amish country, former CIA agent Victoria Kauffman’s determined to find evidence to catch the corrupt agents who killed her partner. But when her Christmas refuge is discovered, the sole person she can trust is Amish widower Aaron Shetler. With ruthless—and dangerously powerful—enemies after them, Victoria must use all her training to make sure they live through the holidays.

To Read or Not to Read ~ Review

To Read or Not to Read

A Literary Journal for the Lover's Soul

From Ink & Willow

This is a lovely book that is perfect for keeping track of your reading. You may want more than one if you are a reader who reads a lot during a year. Or if you only want to track those books that you want to reread (or avoid forevermore) this is the way to go. 

To journal your books one is given two pages in which to record all the important information. On the left side, there is a column to record the pub date, your read date, your rating (1-5 books - not stars), the reason you read it (book club, friend suggestion, etc.), what it inspired you to do after reading, and to whom you recommended it. Then you can record the book title, author, genre and subject matter, notes about the book, your review of the book, and your final takeaway. And even better the table of contents allows you to record the book title so you can easily find what you are looking for at a later date.

This book is soft-covered and has a pretty blue cover that is on the green-side of blue (at least to my eyes), the lettering has a gold-hue and would look lovely on any table or shelf (unlike a lined notebook, which I have used in the past to journal my book reading). 

I also think this would be a lovely way to share your favorite books with a loved one or a close friend. Think book exchange kind of like a cookie exchange where you share recipes with friends. Overall I think no matter how you use this book, it would be a perfect gift to share (or to keep). 

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:

To Read or Not to Read...

How is that a question?

Keep track of the books you read, record thoughts on your favorite books, get inspired for your next read, and reflect on your literary spiritual journey with this beautifully designed journal for readers.

The perfect addition to any personal library, To Read or Not to Read encourages readers of all genres to immerse themselves in a classically illustrated reading journal complete with DIY book review pages and inspirational reading lists. To Read or Not to Read allows readers to step into the book critic role and determine which books to recommend, and which ones to skip based on their reflections throughout the journal. It includes a "How Bookish Are You?" quiz and spotlights on authors such as Flannery O'Connor and Frederick Douglass, whose published works have greatly influenced the combined spheres of faith and literature.

With additional fun facts and helpful conversation starters for literary discussions, this journal will become the signature accessory at book clubs, on nightstands, and on every book lover's shelf.