Life, Love and Books

                              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...

Nine by Rachelle Dekker A secret organization with alternative agenda and a young girl with missing memories make for an very intriguing  read. From the first page to the last page in this book, will leave you wanting to know what is going to happen next. We meet Zoe, a young woman who has created a different life for herself, then one day in a young girl walks into the small town café. All this dazed young teenager can say is that she has to find a woman in Corpus Christi. Faced with a decision Zoe has to choose does she help this lost girl or just walk away. But deep down inside Zoe sees herself in this teenager. now she has to face  the things she has left behind. As they go on the run from the enemy, they have to make choices of who they can trust and who not to trust. I truly love reading books written by Rachelle Dekker, she writes a story that has twists and turns that will leave you breathless. I was given a complimentary copy of...

Two Steps Forward By Suzanne Woods Fisher In the third installment of the Deacons family, we return to Stoney Ridge to meet prodigal son Jimmy Fisher. His return stirs up an old family feud for his family, but Jimmy has no longing to be part of this. When Jimmy  is offered a job by his mothers rival, the pretty violet eyed Sylvie; he jumps at the chance to train her Arabian horse. Sylvie Schrock King has a dream to build Rising Star farm into a breeding farm for buggy horse for the Amish around her. When she finds out that the grown son of her next door neighbor is a expert at working with horses, it seems that she has hope on the horizon. As Jimmy's lazy smile and teasing ways work their way into Sylvie's heart, but is she being wooed so he can have the land that his mother has been claiming belongs to her family. Will Sylvie and Jimmy find the hope that come from above and the love that is growing between them? Suzanne Woods Fisher has done...

An Uncommon Woman  by Laura Frantz I am a big fan of historical reads and this one from Laura Frantz did not disappoint me. Also I was even surprised to find some areas mentioned that seemed very familiar to me. So it was very interesting to find that the area was being written about is now part of Pennsylvania.  It takes place the mountains of western Virginia territory in 1770, we meet the heroine  Tessa Swan, who was raised with 5 brothers. So she has learned to be tough and face the challenges straight on. One day into her life walks Clay Tygart, the one man that can truly intrigue her like no other has. But he brings back into her life her long lost friend, Keturah. This adds a little confusion to their lives, the stigma of being an Indian captive can cause a lot of issues for her friend. But Tessa is willing to help her dear friend to acclimate back to living in her old life.  As a former Lenape Indian captive himself, Clay ...

. Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard In the second installment to the Uncommon Justice series, we return to the wilderness of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  It opens with a bear, a camera and a eyewitness to a murder! Harper Reynolds is on a sabbatical from her job, when in the midst of getting a award worthy shot  movement catches her eye. Now she is running from the killer that she just witnessed shooting a unknown woman. Heath McCade is now a reserve sheriff deputy in his home county, but he did not expect to have a witness fall right into his path. While he is out with a wilderness group from his ranch retreat;  something catches his attention in the woods. His dear childhood friend, Harper; was back in his life as fast as she had disappeared years before. Harper is devastated to hear that all the evidence of  the crime that she has witnessed has  disappeared. Now she is determined to ...

                  Until The Mountains Fall (Cities of Refuge Book 3) by Connilyn Cossette In the third installment of the Cities of Refuge series we revisit Kedesh, where Malakhi is now faced with marrying the one woman he has loved since he was a child. The only thing is she had been  his older brothers wife, who was now a widow and being commanded by the law to marry the younger brother of her deceased husband. Rivkah has no interest in marrying her deceased beloveds  younger brother and makes a decision to flee the city of her childhood. With plans of using her talents as a scribe to provide for herself, she escapes what she thinks is going to be her worst nightmare. There is a price for leaving the protection of her father and the safety of the city of refuge, this price takes a toll on Rivkah. After the disappearance of the one woman he has ever loved, Malakhi throws himself into t...

               Cross My Heart By Robin Lee Hatcher In Cross My Heart, we meet Ashley, the owner of a horse rescue farm and Ben, who is starting up a equine therapy farm. When Ashley and Ben first  meet, they find they have several things in common. Having been both raised by single mom's and sharing a passion for helping those who are hurting. While Ashley and Ben work together to bring forth Ben's dream, they both feel drawn toward a deeper relationship. But there is a big issue that is standing in their road toward this. Being that they both have very broken pasts that have affected their choice's in life. Carrying these burden's  can also drive them apart instead of bringing healing to their lives if they do not face the truth. Will they choose to hand these burdens over to the one who can handle them or walk away from a beautiful thing in each of their lives? This is a beautifully written story about he...

  The Women Who Met Jesus By Dorothy Valcarcel We as women all struggle with heartaches and desires in our lives, it was no different with the women of the New Testament. Jesus reached out and touched each of these women in different ways. Twenty stories of women whose lives was changed by the words that was spoken to them. These same words that can touch our lives to bring healing to the wounds in our lives. Each of the chapters come with a "Time of Reflection", exploration, inspiration and affirmation at the end of the chapter. I really like how the stories are shared from another women's perspective on things that happened in her life. It helps to see how we are not alone in life's struggles. I would recommend this book to other women as a study. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions stated are my own.

A Rebel Heart(Daughtry House series) Beth White In the new series by Beth White, we are introduced to the time period after the Civil War. A time when our country was still healing from the devastation that had been left behind.  She introduces the Daughtry sisters; three young women raised in the deep south that is trying to salvage what is left of their beloved home. The eldest sister Selah meets Levi, a northerner; who offers her a solution to their money struggle. Selah's family has been hurt by the Yankees, so she has to keep her guard up around this one. But she never thought she would ever fall in love with one.  This is the third book I have read that was written by Beth White and each time she has written a story that draws the reader in to it. This is what I love about her books, they touch the readers and we learn about the time period of struggles and healing.   I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell. ...

Isaiah's Daughter by Mesu Andrews  The prophet Isaiah is a well-known prophet that is part of the old testament history. This book draws on the history of Israel during a time of division. Israel in the North has bowed to pagan worship, while in Judah a small remnant of Yahweh's faithful is clinging to the one true God.  In the middle of this war-torn country is a young orphan girl Ishma, who all she has known in her young life is desolation. Her life turns around when she finds a place as a servant in the home of the prophet Isaiah. A  kinship is created between the little servant girl and the young crown prince Hezekiah. As the years pass these two young ones their friendship grows, creating a bond that is forged from the pain in their lives.  As Isaiah watches the relationship between these two young ones mature over the years, he sees what he needs to do in the time ahead of him. He makes a bold move in adopting Ishma making her his da...

Becoming Resilient  by Donna Gibbs Resilience is something we all long for in our lives, each of us have faced some kind of difficulty at some time. Disappointment, rejection, injustice, loss and grief is part of our lives. This suffering can leave us broken inside, while going thru the motions on the outside. We can remain stuck in negative patterns or choose to move forward toward healing.  Donna Gibbs brings to the table twenty years of experience as a professional counselor. Drawing from that experience, she shares the secrets of building your resilience to change your experience of suffering. By offering practical tools and effective coping strategies to with whatever life throws at us. Using these tools and coping strategies can help you move through suffering and come out on the other side stronger. Grief and loss is part of our life, at some point we all have had to face this.  This book helps us deal with all of this in our lives. I would r...

Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli This book was one of the best books that I have ever read, it grabbed my attention from the first page. It is written in two very different time periods that at the same time connect thru the struggles that face each of the female characters. We meet Annie David in 2015 and Liberty Caldwell in 1770, both living in Boston in two different time periods.  Still dealing with the aftermath of the Boston Masscare, Anne is struggling to find healing in her life. The guilt that weighs her down, over the injuries that her niece has suffered with from the bombing. When she learns the identity of the person who rescued her during the bombing, her life is turned upside down. She starts searching for the history of the original owner of the ring that has been in her possession since her accident. When Liberty is rescued by a very unlikely rescuer, her life takes a different turn. Under the protection of a British Lieutenant, she finds herself...

Peace in the Valley  by Ruth Logan Herne Ruth Logan Herne has brought another heartwarming cowboy story to us. The Stafford Family is made of three brothers with all different lifes, that is connected by their rancher father and the town. Trey the youngest brother is the famous musical singer, Lucy is the distrustful neighbor that has suffered from the greed of his adopted father. Each of these characters are very well developed that they draw us each into their story. It is a story that touches the heart and makes us fall in love with Ruth Logan Herne's writings. The third novel in the Double S Ranch series, brings back home to the ranch the youngest of the Stafford sons. Knowing he owes his life to the legendary rancher Sam Stafford, Trey Walker Stafford returns to save Sam's life. Having left the ranch to pursue a musical career against the advice of his adopted father. Now Trey returns home with fame and success on his heels, still struggling to get over the tra...

Bread of Angels  by Tessa Afshar There is a brief passage in the Bible about Lydia the seller of purple, so I jumped at the chance to review this book. Also, I have read another book by Tessa Afshar and I loved it. She does a wonderful job of writing about biblical stories and brings them to life in her books. Her newest novel takes place during the time of Paul's travels through Roman empire. We find Lydia learning the trade of making purple dye from her father.  Her life is filled with spending her days with her father making the dye that provides for their needs. One  day her father has an accident causing him to be unable to perform his job, Lydia takes over the everyday duties of making the dye. The young man that rescued her dad makes an offer to both of them seems too good to be true. As time passes by,  Lydia's life is overturned by false accusations against her father, Running from the disgrace, she finds a home in Phillippi. Doing t...