Life, Love and Books

                            Her Secret Hope                                 By Shelley Shepard Gray In book 3 of A Season in Pinecraft, we find Lilly Kurtz returning to live at Pinecraft to be closer to her friends and their families. Wanting to start afresh as a new and improved, Lilly accepts an position as a housekeeper at the inn. Excited to spend time with her friends, she does not expect to make a new friend along the way.  Eddie Byler came to Pinecraft with his eccentric grandmother for a long awaited vacation. One day he runs into Lilly and is very intrigued by this newcomer to the inn. Her personality and love of life brings a breath of fresh air to him. Lilly's struggle with being adopted has held her back all of her life, now its something she has to face down as she may have found the love of her life in Eddie. But Eddie i...

                         The Warsaw Sisters                    A Novel of WWII Poland                                       By Amanda Barrett In this novel set in World War II Poland we meet sisters, Antonia and Helena whose lives are uprooted by the war. Within days th e world they know is shattered by the bombs, causing the sisters to take a second look at their lives. When confronted with  the reality  Antonia makes a hard choice to help the precious little ones that have been forced behind the walls of the Ghetto. But it means losing an relationship with her sister to protect those who are also risking their lives to save the children. With her sister following a different path in life, Helena finds herself drawn into the  underground secret army. Finding h...

  Shadows at Dusk                                        By Elizabeth Goddard In the second book in the Missing in Alaska series, we meet  Montana detective Trevor James who travels to Alaska in search of his missing sister. Armed with a few photographs as the only clues to help him find his beloved sister, Trevor arrives in Alaska seeking the help of an experienced bush pilot, Carrie James.  Having found a place in the middle of the wilds of Alaska where she could heal from the wounds of her past, Carrie has created a new life and meaning for herself. Suddenly she is feeling like someone in her past has come back to harm her, causing her to turn to the handsome detective for help.  Not wanting to put Carrie into harms way more than he has to, Trevor just wants her assistance to locate the landmarks in the photos. Then he can pursue clues to help him find out what...

  Letters From My Sister                                  by Valerie Fraser Luesse This is the first book I have read by Valerie Fraser Luesse, the title drew me in and I was hooked from page one. This is one book I would recommend to anyone who loves to read an historical read.  As we open the book we meet the Bullock sisters Emmy and Callie who live a very rich and fulfilled life. One day their lives are turned upside down, when their family opens their home up to the granddaughter of one of their servants. Lily McGee was born with an exotic beauty and has a secret of her own she is trying to protect; her unborn baby.  Shortly after Lily has her little girl, terror visits the Bullock household and Callie suffers from short memory loss. The only image she can remember is an image of her sister Emmy standing on the riverbank holding Lilys baby girl in her arms. Having to take the steps to...

                              Countdown  Countdown                                     By Lynette Eason In book 4 of the Extreme Series we get to find out the story that flight paramedic Raina Price has been hiding from all of her friends. To escape the danger that was facing her and her family, Raina took steps to disappear and build a new life for herself with the help of a dear friend from juvie. Raina found hope and encouragement  in using her abilities to help others in their time of need.   But when Riana's life is threatened, she has to face down the fear that she has kept at bay for years and trust those close in her life to help her thru this difficult time. One of those friends is  Vincent Covelli. As US Marshall Vincent Covelli  has made it his job to hunt down fugitives and protect t...

  Hopefully Ever After  by Beth Wiseman In the third book in the An Amish Bookstore series, we find Yvonne and Abraham opening their humble home up to Yvonne's sixteen year old cousin. Eden Hale is looking forward to starting anew and overcoming her past circumstances. Her hopes of being seen as who she is, comes true when she meets Samuel a young amish guy.  Samuel has grown up in  a very strict home and is looking forward to seeing what is out there in the "Englisch" world. So when he meets Eden, Samuel is excited to learn more about what's out there from her. But Samuel's parents are not very thrilled to have their son spending time with an outsider. As Samuel's and Eden's friendship grows, so does the disapproval of Samuels parent's.  Eden and Samuel start to share their dreams and struggles with each other, which brings to light Samuel's slipping away from his faith. Will Eden and Samuel be able to make the decisions  that will lead them down ...

The Story of Love  by Beth Wiseman We return to Montgomery Indiana in the An Amish Bookstore series, where we find Yvonne Wilson starting a new chapter in her life. Her dear friends have offered her a job at their little bookstore, a place where Yvonne can start to heal after the loss of her fiancé. Her return stirs up feelings for the handsome police officer Abraham Byler. Abraham is in the middle of a dilemma himself, he is dating the vibrant Brianna, but his heart belongs to another.  Beth Wiseman writes some very delightful reads, she weaves faith and family all into a beautiful story. If you love reading amish books this series is a must read.  I was provided a complimentary copy of this book the publisher and did not receive anything in return  for  my honest opinion of the book. The opinions expressed here are completely of my own are without any influence.

  Counter Attack  by Patricia Bradley In the latest series by Patricia Bradley we are taken to Pearl River, an quaint little town in Russell County, Tennessee. Alexis Stone has other plans than coming back home to fill in as interim chief deputy after  her grandfather collapses. But when the Queens Gambit Killer follows her to her hometown, Alexis has to join forces with Pearl Springs Chief of Police Nathan Landry to solve this case. Nathan is surprised to see his high school sweetheart back in his life, but now has has to protect her from the danger that has come to their beloved hometown. If you are looking for an book that not just checks all the boxes, but also keeps you turning the pages to the end this the one for you. I have to say I was not able to put this book down, without wanting to know what was going to happen next. I truly cant wait for the next book in this series comes out. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book the publisher and did not receive...

  The Swindler's Daughter  by Stephenia H. McGee This is the second book that I have read by Stephenia H. McGee and I have to say that her  books are very much a delight to read. In The Swindlers Daughter we meet a precious young lady,  Lillian Doyle who has just  learned the truth about her father. Her journey to see the inheritance left behind, turns into a path of  finding her freedom and following her dreams. Along the way she finds the love of family and the hope of having a future with Jonah. But there is some obstacles in Lillian and Jonahs path that they each have to face down. Wil they each be able to place their hope in God as they face down what is in front of them? Oh my, I loved reading this book!! It has a mix of romance, mystery and action all rolled into one. I didn't want to put it down, before I got to the last page. I would recommend this book to all who loved reading a mix of romance with a dash of mystery. I  was provided a complim...

Under Fire  By Lynn H Blackburn Under Fire is the third book in the Defend And Protect series and it does not disappoint at all.  We get to see Special Agent Zane Thacker  and Tessa Reed face down danger and romance, along with several glimpses of characters from the first two books in the series. I love that this book touches on the struggle with alcohol that our heroine Tessa dealt with and the healing that she walked thru. Also how the hero Zane  had to work thru some issues with his feelings for Tessa. Will Zane be able to stand by Tessa and still do the job of protecting the president from the threats of danger? I was provided a complimentary copy of this book the publisher and did not receive anything in return  for  my honest opinion of the book. The opinions expressed here are completely of my own are without any influence.

  Sundown By Susan May Warren In Book three of Sky King Ranch Cole Kingston, an former Delta Operative; has an instinct of knowing when someone is lying. When it comes to the mysterious woman that was rescued by his family, Cole is not sure if he can trust her. Tae is a brilliant scientist, who is being chased by the Russian  mafia. But she is hiding the truth from those around her, even from the handsome Colt.  When his family is endangered by the men who are looking for Tae, Colt demands that she tells them the truth. But when the truth coms out, they discover that the danger that Tae is running from also involves Ranger's Father in law.  Tae makes the choice to face down the danger, Colt decides that he is going to stay by her side to protect her. Colt also has to work to earn Tae's trust, will he be able to do this in time to help Tae. This time the danger they face will take the whole Kingston family coming together to face it down.  I was provided a compli...

Targeted By Lynette Eason, Lynn Blackburn and Natalie Walters Three suspense authors come together with three novellas that are very much filled with romance and intrigue. Each author brings their own distinct style to this novel. This novel did not disappoint me at all.  In On the Run, introduces us to the very highly skilled Dari Nevsky, who is trained as an IT Specialist. When she is attacked, Daria goes on the run to get away from whoever is trying to kill her. when she stops to get checked out at an hospital, she runs into Dr Ryker Donahue. When Ryker realizes that Daria is being chased by someone, he chooses to stay by her side and help her thru this difficult situation. Will Daria realize that she can trust others and allow Ryker to help her thru this. In Deadly Objective, we meet Emily Dixon; an physical therapist assigned to work with the vice presidents son. During her assignment Emily meets Secret Service Agent Liam Harper, their attraction to each other grows over time....

Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon  In the third installment of the Triple Threat Series, we find Grace Reilly working as a Forensic Pathologist in rural Missouri. She has had her share of very unusual cases, but when  she finds a pattern in the deaths of several elderly residents it makes her question her findings. With the help of the very skeptical Sheriff Nathan Cox, Grace runs with her theory that there is someone out there killing the elderly.  Nathan Cox is very intrigued by Grace that decides to take another look at the recent deaths of several elderly residents.  With very little clues to go on they start digging to find out what happened to these dear residents. As they start to put the pieces of the puzzle together, Grace and Nathan get closer to finding out who the killer  The killer turns their sights on taking out Grace before she discovers who they are.  Will Nathan realize that the answer to the case is right under his nose and get help to Gra...

Anything But Plain by Suzanne Woods Fisher In Anything But Plain, Suzanne Woods Fisher takes the reader back to our dearly loved Stony Ridge. We meet the bishops daughter Lydie Stolzfus; a delightful young lady who has struggled with understanding where she belongs. She does not feel like she fits in with the other Amish girls and secretly plans to leave. When Lydie is given an opportunity to work for the local doctor for  few months, she sees it as chance to form her goodbye to a dear friend. Nathan Yoder has been more than just an next door  neighbor to  Lydie; their friendship has grown over the years until recently. Nathan is confused by Lydies actions and has started to believe that his childhood friend is in love with his brother. After spending time with her niece, Dok has come to a realization that Lydie may have a rare disorder. Will her brother allow her to take the steps to help Lydie or will he reject her assistance. Will Lydie come to see that her home is wit...

Dangerous Beauty  By Melissa Koslin  Fighting for her life was what Liliana knew she had to do, so when she found a way of escape she took it. But she did not expect to run into the arms of someone who could give her an a way to find her freedom. Meric Toledan has been an man of mystery for years, marrying the beauty that  ran into his arms is a daring move for him. But Meric felt like it was the best move to provide for this young woman. As time passes them  danger seems to be  around every turn, can Meric protect Liliana from the mysterious buyer. Or is he going to put her right in the arms of the man that funded her capture? Will Meric and Liliana realize that their marriage of protection has turned into a marriage of love? Oh my..... this book hits on a very heavy topic for this day. But I love that an author chose to dive deep into this topic with a storyline like this. I can say this is the first book I have read by Melissa Koslin and it truly was very fre...

Honor Bound By Hallee Bridgeman Honor Bound is the first book in the newest series by Hallee Bridgeman. In it we meet a elite team, that has been sent deep in the jungles of Africa. When their paths cross with a medical missionary team, they find themselves facing danger at all sides. Dr Cynthia Myers had found an escape from the shallowness of wealth and fame as the daughter of the vice president of the United States. When the Special Forces A Team stumbled into the village she was serving as an OB-Gyn, she did not expect to be providing medical care to the injured team members.   Captain Rick Norton's mission is to find a doctor for his injured team members, but what he did not expect was to also escort the alluring Dr Cynthia Myers back to the United States. This mission is made much harder with having two of his team members needing further medical care that cant be found in the jungle. But with the help of Cynthia, he will do his best to get his team members safely back home....

Sunburst By Susan May Warren  In the second novel of the Sky ranch Series we find Ranger Kingston on a mission to rescue his brother Colt. To his surprise he recognizes one of his brother's fellow hostages; the one woman he has not been able to forget. Noemi Sutton is on a mission of her own, she was taking her young charge back to be reunited with ther family. But then they was captured by a group of terroiusts that very dark plans for their captives.  Putting the skills that her father drilled into her over the years, Noemi  puts together a plan to escape to get help. But unbeknownst to her, there is a team out  there that is working towards rescuing the captives. Ranger and his fellow team members are able to rescue the captives, but in the midst of the chaos someone falls behind. Noemi is not willing to let her charge fall prey to the terrorist's, so she fights Ranger to go back and help her. This causes them to miss their  pickup time and sends them on a jo...

Critical Alliance By Elizabeth Goddard When she receives an cryptic message from her past warning her of trouble for her family's tech company, Mackenzie Hanson heads home for the first time in many years. But it seems that trouble has arrived before her when her brother is found dead. Also her sister is refusing to speak her about what is going on. Mackenzie has to figure out another way to investigate what is going on in her families company.  Returning to Montana, Alex Knight is looking forward to some time of decompressing from his last mission. But when he starts to relax,  Alex is drawn into a mystery full of threats, suspicious deaths and hints of espionage. All of them have one thing in common, the beautiful Mackenzie who is trying to figure out things on her own. When things turn deadly, can Alex and Mackenzie piece the clues together; before danger catches them off guard?   The third book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series is as nail biting as the first two bo...

The Booksellers Promise By Beth Wiseman In the newest series by Beth Wiseman we meet three very unique characters; Yvonne Wilson, Jake Lantz and Eva Garber. Sent on a trip by a collector to obtain a very rare book, Yvonne travels to Indiana; where she meets the owner of the bookstore and his assistant. Jake Lantz has inherited the rare book from his grandfather, who he promised to never sell the book. But when Yvonne Wilson comes from Texas to asking about the book, Jake starts to wonder what is in this book that makes it  so valuable. Eva Garber has worked for Jake for years and has loved him from day one. But when the beautiful Englisher walks in the bookstore, it seems that she might have caught Jake's eyes.  Eva has to think of a different way to spend time with Jake. So she suggests that they read the book that has caused a big stir recently. To the trios surprise  the book leads them on a journey of discovery,  healing and love.  This book leads you on a j...

Where The Road Bends  Rachel Fordham As her wedding day gets closer Norah King is struggling with the decision to marry a man she barely knows.  As she is out surveying her families land she finds a injured stranger. Her act of kindness in nursing the injured man in her home ends up turning into a bad situation. Realizing that his being around Norah is damaging to her reputation, Quincy Barnes makes a decision to move on.  After being nursed back to health, Quincy chooses to turn his life  around and make something of himself.  He devotes his life to helping others in their time of need, while becoming a very successful businessman. When he decides to go back and repay Norah for her kindness, he finds that her life is very different than when he left her.  Norah's life has taken a drastic turn and she has had to make a  dire choice to be able to keep living. One day her rescue comes in the form of the same man that she nursed back to health. Will Norah...