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.

  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.

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...

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...

          The Lady of Galoway Manor by Jennifer Deibel In this novel we go back to the 1920's Ireland; where we meet Annabeth DeLacy, a young lady whose family moved from Britain. Having an interest in working with craftsman, her father gets her an apprenticeship with the family who descended from the creator the famed Claddagh ring. Stephen Jennings has grown up with the shadow of romance and love all around him. After having his heart broken he no longer want to follow in his fathers footsteps of creating jewelry.   When Annabeth walks into his family's workshop, Stephen  is not happy take on a privileged young lady as others in his village are struggling to survive. After being appointed by his father to teach the jewelry making to Annabeth, Stephen choses to do his best to see that she is bored of it. But what he did not realize is that Annabeth is thrilled with a challenge. The more time Stephen spends with Annabeth, he starts to se...

Obession  by Patricia Bradley  The title to this book is so correct, I could not put this book down!!! Every page I turned just made me want to keep reading on to the end. Patricia  Bradley creates a storyline that keeps you wanting to know what is going to happen next. This is a must read for anyone is who loves suspense.  In the 2nd installment to the Natchez Trace Park Rangers, Emma Winters is in her own element working on a historical site in the park. But what she did not count on was seeing her ex-fiancé Sam Ryker again. One night after Emma was finishing up for the day and getting ready to leave for the night, when danger find her at the park. The one person she can trust in a situation like this is Sam, who has returned as a Natchez Trace Law Enforcement district ranger.  Sam Ryker has returned to Natchez Trace to be near his sister and her son, but along comes all the memories of the past. The one woman he loved is back in his life and now he has to fig...

Her Secret Song by Mary Conneally        In the third installment of the Brides of Hope Mountain, we find Ursula Nordegren living on top of the mountain in isolation from her sisters. Her time alone has been spent pondering the things she had been taught growing up by her grandmother. When Ursula makes a big decision to brave the strange world out there, she finds a stranger that is needing help. Wax Mosby spent years being a hired gun for many, but time has gotten him to wondering if he needs to rethink things. The past winter has been spent trying to figure out how he can atone for his bad choices. But when Wax starts to climb the mountain, he is badly wounded and left for the wolves. Along comes an angel that encourages him to push thru to make it to safety. An unlikely bond brings these two lonely ones together, but can they find the strength that is needed to fight the battle that is to come ahead of them? I was given a complimentary copy of this book by th...

The Price of Valor by Susan May Warren   In the third installment of the Global Search and Rescue Series, we find Hamilton still trying to figure out what happened to the love his life, Signe. But when a young girl walks into his life, reminding him of the loss and pain that he carried deep inside Hamilton has to face his past.     Signe Kincaid has spent years hiding many secrets from the one that held her heart.  Her work as humanitarian aid worker had lead her into a dangerous situation, where she had to make choices that kept her alive. One of them was to protect her daughter from the ones she was running from. But she didn't realize that her decision would bring the one person she did not want too see back in her life. Hamilton is surprised to find the love of his life was alive and well, but also that she is the one that his team has been sent to rescue. Would Hamilton be able to face down the truth and  forgive Signe? W...

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...

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot The Mesquite Springs Series is a delight to read and Amanda Cabot spins a storyline that keeps us turning the pages. Evelyn Radcliffe has lost her home for the second time in 10 years, Her worst fears are confirmed that the watcher has found her, when the orphanage she was living in is burned to the ground. The only thing she knew to do was to keep moving to protect herself and her little charge. When they are found by horse rancher Wyatt Clark, it seems they have found refuge from the demons that was chasing them. Wyatt Clark has plans to set money aside for his sister and his mother to live on, while he goes out to explore the world around him. But he did not have any plans on falling in love and running for the mayor of Mesquite Springs. When Evelyn chooses to settle down and open restaurant like her parents owned, she did not expect it to take off like it does.  Even though she has felt like she has found a safe haven, da...

The Runaway Bride By Jody Hedlund In the second installment to The Bride Ship series, we return to the colony of British Columbia. With the shortage of women to men, the bride ships brought over eligible women that would marry the men in the colony. We meet wealthy Arabella Lawrence, who has ran away on her wedding day from the man she does not love. Her hope is she will find a  gentleman in her social circles, who will provide for her and love her. But she does not want to rush into a marriage and make the same mistakes she did before. As the town baker, Peter Kelly has put his all into building his business, now he has his eyes set on finding a bride from the newly arrived bride ship. When he meets Arabella for the first time, he is taken by her inner beauty. Peter than resolves to pursue Arabella and woo her, but his pursuit for her is thwarted by the savvy Lieutenant Richard Drummond. When the Navy Lieutenant Richard Drummond starts sh...

  Yes Sisters by Angelia White Friendships are amazing, the people we surround ourselves with can build us and at times they can pull us down. That one time that someone says something negative or we hear the word no, can send us deep into a dark place in our lives. Maybe someone has crushed a dream that you have had since you was a little girl. Or maybe it was a dream to start your own business and someone told you that you would not be good at that. For me it was teacher who said to me that I was not going to be able to pursue a dream in the medical field if I was not able to understand Math. But I had several women who was placed in my life in very strategic times that pushed me to pursue my dreams. Angelia helps us to see how building friendships with women who become our YES Sisters can help us to pursue our dreams. She shares personal stories that give us hope to keep moving forward. Also she shows we can overcome the negativity that has been thrown...