Tuesday, December 29, 2020

The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston

 




Bethany Gingerich is an Amish young adult who runs a Coffee Shop in the Amish Marketplace.  Her cousins also have various types of stands in the Marketplace.  Bethany has appeared in their stories in this series but now this is her story.  Amy Clipston has made all these characters good friends to her readers and I have enjoyed every book in the series.  In this one, Micah Zook, who runs a business with his grandfather, makes Bethany’s acquaintance and they being to explore their pasts and their current relationship.

 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion

To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette

 



This is one of Connilyn Cossette's beautiful historical novels dealing with the Old Testament.  In this one we have Eliora and Ronen. Eliora was a Philistine but had been adopted by a Jewish elder.  This elder was the guardian of the Ark of the Covenant.  It had been stolen by the Philistines and then returned and he was hiding it.  Ronen is a Levite that is trying to find the Ark of the Covenant and get it back into Levite hands.  What ensues is a rich and colorful tale that brings us much information that enriches our study of the Bible. 

 

I highly recommend this to anyone who like good OT historical fiction.  This author is one of the best. 

 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.



Friday, October 16, 2020

To Steal a Heart (The Bleaker Street Inquiry Agency #1) by Jen Turano


 

Gabriella Goodhue works for a dressmaker and lives in a boarding house.  When she was a child she and her housemates at the time were street thieves managed by a man who gave a home to them. When she decides to help out a friend at the boarding house who is being framed, she uses her street knowledge to do some investigative work.  In the process, she comes across Nicholas Quinn, one of her former accomplices.  He seems to have done alright for himself but now is engaged in much the same pursuit that she is and they are instantly suspicious of each other.  This is the story of how they solved the case, resolved some issues from their childhood and helped many people in the process.  This is a fun story.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Price of Valor (Global Search and Rescue #3)


 


Hamilton Jones is a former Navy SEAL who now does special missions for the US government. His wife was pressed into service by the CIA years earlier when he was deployed.  He thought she had been killed until his daughter is dropped off by his wife who then disappears. Now he is determined to find her and rescue her and she is determined to protect him by not being found. This story takes them all over the globe facing mortal danger and internal government intrigue that seem impossible to avoid or sort through.  


This is a very intricate story  that kept me enthralled throughout.  I highly recommend this author and this series.  


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


The Escape (US Marshals #1) by Lisa Harris


 


US Marshal Madison James and her partner Jonas Quinn are sent to bring a prisoner back via plane.  The plane crashes in a remote area and the only survivors are the marshalls and the prisoner. It becomes a nightmare full of injuries, cat and mouse with the prisoner as they try to recapture him and complete their mission, and finding their way out of the wilderness on foot. 


This story was a nail biter and I think I plowed through it in record time.  I couldn't put it down.  I really enjoyed this story and will continue to look for books by this author.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


Thursday, October 15, 2020

The Mockingbird's Song (Amish Greenhouse Mystery #2) by Wanda E. Brunstetter


 



Sylvia's husband, her older brother and her father were all killed in an accident when a car hit their buggy almost a year earlier.  Sylvia and her two children have moved back into her mother's house and shares it with her grieving mother, sister and younger brother.  The family business, a greenhouse, has been struggling since her father died.  Someone is trying to sabotage the business and things keep happening.  Meanwhile, Sylvia has developed an interest in her younger's brothers favorite hobby -- bird watching.   As they prepare for her sister's wedding, a lot of situations arise that require them to move past their grief and deal with family and neighborhood issues.  This was a good read.  It kind of left me hanging so I'm guessing theres another book in the series on the way, but I am disappointed that I didn't get a few more answers in this book.  Patience is not one of my higher virtues. 

 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.



Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides, #3) by Tracie Peterson

 







This story has everything: mystery, intrigue, old flames, you name it.  Constance Browning returns to Oregon Territory to do a job for the Bureau of Ethnoloogy.  She grew up on the Indian reservation there where her parents are missionaries.  This is an interesting 1880s frontier story and another well researched book by Tracie Peterson.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


Burden of Proof by Davis Bunn

 




Ethan is an old spent man who is rapidly dying of cancer. His sister in law suddenly arrives to visit him.  They don't have a good relationship.  Ever since his brother was murdered years ago they have avoided each other.  His sister in law is a brilliant scientist.  She has been working on time and quantum physics experiments for years. She wants Ethan to be her human guinea pig and be sent back to before her husband was murdered to see if he can change things.  He will die eventually but he will be able to live for a certain period of time after he gets there and try to change things.  I'm not going to expand further on the story.  That's just the kick off.  It is actually a very good story.  It sounds bizarre and science fiction-like, but trust me its a very plausible story.  I was pleasantly surprised when I got all caught up in it and couldn't put it down.  I highly recommend this book.  The character studies alone are worth the read. However, it is much more interesting than that.  


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


 

An Ivy Hill Christmas (Tales from Ivy Hill) by Julie Klassen


 


Richard Brockwell is the spoiled youngest son of his family.  His brother is the head of the family and lives with his family and his mother in the family mansion back in the small village of Ivy Hill where they are the local gentry.  Richard has been living in their London townhouse and is living the bachelor dandy lifestyle.  Richard's mama is tired of him staying away at the holidays and has summoned him home for Christmas.  They are hosting a houseparty.  Reluctantly, Richard travels there, bringing his lap dog and his best friend and his valet to liven it up for him.  His reputation proceeds him to Ivy Hill.  People there know of his escapades in London but they also remember him from his childhood. 


I love this story.  It's a perfect picture of the holiday season in an English village 100+ years ago. And the picture of their faith and values is heartwarming. I can't wait to read more about Ivy Hill.  


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer


 


Kim Vogel Sawyer has been a favorite author of mine for years. She is the queen of historical romance in my opinion but I just developed a new fascination with her. This book is set in the modern day and is about two detectives with the cold case unit. This is my 2nd favorite type of fiction / stories. It's like finding a new author. I find myself daydreaming about this book having a sequel or two. I fell in love with these characters and want to know more about them. What happened after this?


This is the story of Meghan and her husband, Seth, who are Cold Case detectives. Meghan was raised by a single mother and never knew her father. But then we learn the story of Meghan's mother Diane and Kevin, Meghan's birthfather. And thrown in there is the story of Seth's childhood and Kevin's childhood and Diane's mother, Hazel and her sister, and Kevin's life thus far including his adopted son. In addition, we have the history behind the two cold cases the detectives are working on and even the lives of the other detectives and their chief. It sound like a lot but it is all part of a wonderous story! I want to give it more than 5 stars. I want to give it five stars and five exclamation points. I might even reread it, which is something I rarely do because there are so many new books to read. Kudos, Kim Vogel Sawyer. You hit this one out of the ballpark. Please write a few more of this genre.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


Monday, September 14, 2020

First Light in Morning Star (Maidels of Morning Star #2) by Charlotte Hubbard


 

This book carries on the story of the group of maidels in the first Morning Star book.  The one featured this time is  Lydianne Christner. She is the new teacher at the newly built schoolhouse.  She used to work in the local furniture shop but recently applied for the open teaching position. Bishop Jeremiah Shetler, a widower, is taking a special interest in her.  All the maidels got together and came up with the idea of turning an old barn into a marketplace.  Now they all have stalls in the market as well as other local craftsman.  The proceeds go to the fund their church uses to help members that have medical bills or other needs and also finance projects such as the new schoolhouse.  Lydianne is also the bookkeeper for the market.  This is a fun story that takes up the tale of the basically the whole village of Morning Star.  I’m sure there will be more to the series.  Charlotte Hubbard has a knack for making these characters real and interesting and making the reader feel part of the whole group. 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


Point of Danger (Triple Threat #1) by Irene Hannon


 

Eve Reilly is a radio personality with a big following. She is an activist for conservative causes and has a large fan base but also have a crowd of people that detest her. When one of them leave a fake bomb on her porch and the police are called in to secure the neighborhood she meets detective Brent Lange who is the lead on her case.  As more threats come in and Detective Lange works to find some clues that will help solve the case, Eve starts to fall for the detective and vice versa. This is a real whodunnit with surprising twists and turns. I read it in record time and pretty much didn’t put it down from beginning to end. 


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion. 

The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer


 


As I was finishing this story I couldn’t wait to tell my daughter about it. This is what I wrote: “You have to read Kim Vogel Sawyer’s new book. It’s called The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow.  It takes place in 1936 (the year my parents got married) in Kentucky. It’s about the Carnegie libraries and the WPA program (Works Progress Administration) that created jobs for people during the Great Depression.”  

 

This story touched my heart. Some people in the story were nursing old grudges and superstitions. Others loved God and their neighbors and showed love no matter what they were faced with. It’s a lesson a lot of folks still need to learn in our day and time. 

 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.


Friday, September 4, 2020

The Blended Qult by Jean Brunstetter and Wanda E. Brunstetter


 


This book is essentially about Sadie and Wyman’s long and sometimes stalled courtship.

 

I found this book a little hard to read. There were a lot of unconnected things that didn’t add to the story and the male love interest, Wyman, was pretty boring and much like a large child that wanted everything his way. There wasn’t much of anything likable about him.   The most interesting character in the book was Grace, Sadie’s mother.  She had a very good outlook on life and seemed content with her life and truly loved her family. 

 

I read every word, hoping it would get interesting at some point but the main thing I found interesting was the quilting references. 

 

I like Wanda Brunstetter’s books but just found this one to be a little less compelling than most of her books

 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

 



Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber


 


This is a fun book.  Everly (Daisy) is a partner in an up and coming real estate agency in Chicago.  When her partner’s niece, who is working at the agency, sets Everly up for a cruise to take some time off, instead of the luxury cruise Everly was expecting she found her self on a tour down the Amazon river exploring the rain forest with a naturalist (Asher) in charge of the tours.  Everly falls head over heels for Asher and he falls head over heels for her but they cannot see their lives meshing over time due to the fact that she loves the fast paced city life and he loves his job in the Amazon.   It’s fun watching them work it all out and finding a happy solution.

This is one of those feel good stories that has some fun twists and turns included.  And a Christmas theme makes its way in as well.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion. 



Saturday, August 29, 2020

What You Said to Me (Tree of Life #4) by Olivia Newport


 



I previously read book 3 in this series and met Jillian Duffy, whose business is to do genealogical research for others, including estate lawyers.  Her father Nolan, is an attorney and amateur chef who is quite the celebrity in their little mountain town in Colorado.  In this story Nolan is working to help Tisha Crowder, a troubled teen facing community service for a shoplifting charge.  Nolan is to keep an eye on the process and he asks Jillian to let Tisha work for her doing filing etc.  Jillian is researching a situation where in the early 1900s many babies were stolen from their families and adopted out.  Even though most of the parents were now deceased, families were wanting to find their missing family members still and some of those children that were kidnapped are still alive and searching for their family history. Jillian is working with others to try to find as many of these histories as she can.  The problem is the girl doesn’t want to be here and doesn’t do a good job of sorting and filing, causing Jillian a lot of checking and redoing at night.   Meanwhile, this story goes back and forth with the story of a merchant from their town in the late 1800s whose silver mines were closed because of the price dropping out on silver.  The story of this family becomes part of some research Jillian is doing and is very interesting. 

 The previous book I read started out a little confusing, but this time I fully understood what was happening and was immediately drawn into the characters and the subject.  This one was a page turner.  I recommend it to anyone who is interested in genealogy, Colorado history, or just a good read. 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

 


The Shepherd’s Wife (Jerusalem Road #2) by Angela Hunt


 


The first book in the Jerusalem Road series was about Jesus’ brother Jude and the twin sister of Jesus’ disciple Thomas.  Both want their brothers to return home so they set out together to persuade them.  This book concerns Jesus’ two sisters, Damaris who lives in Nazareth with her husband who is the son of a wealthy merchant and aspires to become a Pharisee.  Pheodora is married to a lowly Shepherd and lives in Bethlehem but comes to Nazareth to stay with her brothers when her husband is thrown in prison by an unscrupulous tax collector.  This story runs concurrent with the first story and tells the story of Jesus’ family during this time.  Rumor is that the next story may be about Mary, the mother of Jesus, but we will have to wait and see.  There are 3 other brothers as well.

I love all of Angela Hunt’s stories but this series is so wonderful because it gives you a feel of what was going on during Jesus’ ministry and before and after the crucifixion.  She does a lot of research and really fleshes out the Bible account and helps give a feel for the way of life at that time, Jewish traditions, cultural mores and the lay of the land. 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion. 

Backlash (Capital Intrigue #2) by Rachel Dylan


 

Layla Karam, CIA field agent just got back from a black op in South America, dealing with a drug cartel. She and her team accomplished the mission but the Kingpin’s younger brother was killed in the operation.  Someone is now stalking everyone on the team including Layla and in addition, someone on the inside is trying to destroy her career.  Much to her dismay, the only one who can help her is her ex-boyfriend, Hunter, who is now a private investigator and works with the agencies in D.C. doing undercover work.  As the situation gets more involved and frightening, Layla gets very dependent on Hunter’s help and support and begins to forgive him a little for the past.  When she finds out what happened in the past was not what it seemed at the time, she wonders if they can repair their relationship.

This is another one of those books that I had to stay up till I finished.  I love this author’s books and always get excited when there is a new one out for review.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

 



Her Secret Song (Brides of Hope Mountain #3) by Mary Connealy


 

Ursula Nordegren  has been snowed in all winter in her mountain retreat where she isolated herself from the rest of her family.  She is now going stir crazy and decides to try to make her way down the mountain.  On the way down, she finds the injured Wax Mosby trying to claw his way up the mountain and takes pity on him and somehow manages to get him back to her hideaway and nurse him back to health.  Wax is a hired gun who wants a different life but Ursula doesn’t know any of that.  Ursula sings all the time and Wax is quite taken with her.  We learned about Ursula and her sisters in the first two books of this series.  They were raised on the mountain with their grandparents and then fended for themselves after they died.  The girls had never been off the mountain or had any contact with other people until the cattle rancher from the bottom of the mountain showed up one day with a herd of cattle to range up there. 

I have enjoyed this series so much.  I have read all of Mary Connealy’s books as they came out and loved them all.  She writes some funny lines like this one from this story: “The two sisters rushed forward and threw their arms around each other.  After enough squealing to humble a herd of hogs, they drew apart.”  Where else could you get such delicious dialogue?

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

 


An Amish Cookie Club Courtship by Sarah Price


 


Edna Esh and her friends have a Cookie Club where they bake cookies to sell to fund the Amish Aid Society.  Edna also runs a business on her farm where she prepares an Amish meal for tourists brought out by a tour company a couple of times a week.  This is her busy season and she reluctantly hires one of her friends’ twin daughters to help her.  These two Rachel and Ella Mae are very outspoken and having grown up together find nothing wrong with arguing with each other all day long.  Their mother is despairing of every finding husbands for them as they have a reputation for their attitudes.  Edna happens to have two eligible sons, Jeremiah and Jonas.  She doesn’t think either of them will be interested.  However, they each take a shine to one of the twins.  Just as soon as she starts trying to help the process along she finds out that the situation has changed and the boys are not interested in the same twin they first showed an interest in and have switched interest.  Everyone is in suspense as to who is really interested in who till almost the end.  There are many interesting mishaps and misunderstandings throughout and it is really quite comical.  I will look forward to more stories from this author about the busy ladies of the Cookie Club.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

 


Two Reasons to Run (Pelican Harbor #2) by Colleen Coble

 



Jane Hardy is the Police Chief of Pelican Harbor, a position she acquired when her father retired. She just recently located her son Will (story in Pelican Harbor #1) and his birth father Reid Bechtol, who does documentaries.  They are all trying to form bonds that were interrupted when Will was born and Jane’s father told her the baby had died and gave Will to his teenaged father. 

Now there is something going on at the oil platform in the harbor again.  Someone has died and it looks like murder.  As they investigate the murder, it becomes dangerous for all of them as people try to cover up the crime. 

This is a great suspense / law enforcement tale and I have enjoyed both books in the series so far.  I hope there’s another one on the way.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion. 

Everywhere to Hide by Siri Mitchell

 




Whitney Garrison is a law student who is studying for the bar exam, coaching kids for their SAT / ACT test and working in a coffee shop to survive and pay her college debt until she passes the exam and secures a job with a prestigious law firm.  To make matters worse she is trying to avoid her ex-boyfriend, a congressman’s son and rich elite who she has a restraining order against.  Someone is murdered in the alley by the coffeeshop right as she is clocking out to go to her tutoring gig.  The problem is Whitney is face blind.  Her mind doesn’t map the faces of individuals so she doesn’t recognize anyone by their face only by their other features and manner of dress and their hair.  She is therefore unable to describe the shooter or recognize the victim.  Detective Leo Baroni is on the case and once he finds out about her face blindness he is determined to look out for her and keep her safe.  There is a killer on the loose and a stalking ex-boyfriend and she is definitely in danger.

I loved how this played out and I learned a lot about the issue of face blindness.  This is full of Chinese espionage, corrupt government officials and partner abuse.  All of it is intermingled and makes for a very good story that keeps you guessing.  I definitely had to stay up till I finished it in the wee hours.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion. 

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Sisters of War by Lana Kortchik

 





Sister’s Natasha and Lisa and their family are in the Ukraine in Kiev where they have lived all their lives in 1941 when Hitler’s troops marched in to occupy the city.   The Red Army was pushed back and suddenly the enemy was in charge of the city.  The family endured much suffering and hardship over the next couple of years and some losses.  By the time the Red Army pushed back the Germans and came back to Kiev, much of the city had been burned and what was left had been stripped bare.  Food was almost non-existent.  People were starved and traumatized and very happy to see their soldiers returning.  The things Natasha and Lisa and their family had endured had changed their lives forever.

 

Lots of history here and this is a WWII story from a different perspective than most other stories we read.  The people in Kiev were part of the Soviet Union and part of the communist party.  Stalin was the leader of the USSR and Hitler was the leader of Germany.  There are no Americans or British people as part of this story.  I really enjoyed this although there were a lot of sad events I can reecommend this book to all history lovers. 


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion. 

The Last Piece by Imogen Clark

 



This is an interesting story about Cecily, who suddenly drops everything and goes to Greece for a week.  Her three daughters are incredulous that she would do something so unlike her and without telling them first.  Their father is not ruffled about it, nor will he share any information with his daughters.  Cecily is looking for someone from her past in Greece and she’s not ready to share any information with her daughters.  This is a look at the dynamics of a family, the individual angst of its members.  I’m not sure I agree with the conclusion but this is, after all, the author’s story to tell.

 

I think anyone would find this story interesting.

 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley.  All views expressed are only my honest opinion.  

Thursday, August 6, 2020

The Heart of the Midwife by Darlene Franklin, Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Marilyn Turk




This book contained 4 short stories about midwives. They took place in different settings and were all historical. It was fun to see the midwives in the different locations and pretty much the same time period (1868 – 1890) basically having the same issues with their work and different issues with their personal lives. All were interesting and enthralling. I enjoyed every segment. The first was in the Ozarks of Missouri serving the mountain folk. She was a big city girl and had to learn the ways of the folks in the backwoods region she chose to serve in. The following one was in Colorado where the brothel owners didn’t want interference in their working girls’ lives and wanted abortions performed against the beliefs of the midwife.. The next one was in New York City where doctors and housing among other things were hard to obtain in the section of the city where the midwife was working and she had to battle the slumlord of her neighborhood.. The final one was in New Orleans where they were up against the voodoo practices commonly used. All the midwives were strong Christians who were paving the way with their values and principles. 

 I recommend this book. It was hard to put down. I was disappointed at the end when I ran out of stories. 

 I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Monday, August 3, 2020

The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman






This book is set at the ending of WWI and the beginning of the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918.


Pia Lange is a German Immigrant girl whose father is deployed to Europe for WWI and she lives in Philadelphia where the flu breaks out big time after a parade. She is responsible for her twin baby brothers and she needs to find food for them. While she is looking for it she collapses with the flu. Her baby brothers are no longer there when she gets out of the hospital and goes to look. She is transported to an orphan asylum where she cannot leave. She is determined to find her baby brothers. It becomes a long quest with many clues but no solution until the end. I loved this story because of all of the elements (prejudice and pandemics) that remind us of this year (2020) and the historical part which gives more insight into the problems them were facing during this flu outbreak.


I read this story in one day because I couldn’t bear to put it down. My to do list is still to be done. I highly recommend this to all historical fiction lovers.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.



Friday, July 31, 2020

The Peasant’s Dream (Hagenheim #11) by Melanie Dickerson



I loved this book. Some of the newer historic authors are coming up with a unique perspective. It makes for fun stories. This is number 11 in a series do now I will need to find the others. I wonder if there will be a number 12.


I read this story in one day (well technically till 4:30 a.m. the next day. I couldn’t put it down.


Frederick is the son of a farmer whose real passion is wood carving. He has to do all the work for the farm since his father is disabled and also abusive. On a trip to town he meets Adela, the youngest daughter of the Duke. She has disguised herself as a maidservant in order to go to the Marketplatz by herself without guards. Frederick is unaware of her social status and they strike up a friendship. She loves painting and so their Artistic inclinations strike a chord for each of them. The problem is that the daughter of a Duke can’t marry a peasant but Frederick is unaware of that problem while Adela is plagued by it.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Twice As Nice Amish Romance Collection by Jean Brunstetter, Wanda E. Brunstetter





This is two segments in the story of twins, Elma and Thelma Hochstetler. The twins are in their 30s and are unmarried. When their grandparents die in an accident they are surprised to find out that they left their house and business to them instead of their father (her grandparents’ only son). Their father and mother also run a general store. The twins decide to move to the small town where their grandparents lived and look over their new property. The house and the store are run down but they forge ahead to make a living on their own. In the first story Thelma, the outgoing twin, meets her match and in the second one Elma, the more businesslike twin finds hers. Any more about that would ruin the stories.


This was highly enjoyable and I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy this genre and especially are fans of the Brunstetters (Wanda and her daughter-in-law Jean).


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Amish Christmas Twins by Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, Loree Lough



This is a wonderful collection of three short stories. I enjoyed reading each one. The first is about foster parents who want to adopt two small children who lost their parents. The kids have been in previous foster placements that were not happy. They want to be adopted. But when the Kurtz’ find out they are expecting twins at Christmas, the children start to wonder if they will be sent to another foster home after the twins are born. The second one is about a widow who has just lost her child and her neighbor who is starting to fall in love with her. She is still broken up over losing the baby but she decides to start healing by donating her baby’s things to a home for teen moms. One of the teen moms is pregnant with twins . . . And the third one is about a couple of sets of twins boys that are cousins and are at that age when they are getting into mischief. A couple of neighbors team up with the two sets of parents to help the boys learn responsibility after an accident caused by their mischief.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories and wish there were more. Highly recommended!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

An Amish Husband for Tillie (Amish of Pontotoc #4) by Amy Lillard




Tillie Gingerich finds herself in a bad situation. She left the Amish with her childhood sweetheart Melvin Yoder who wanted to live in the English world. But now she is back for Christmas with her family and she is pregnant. She and Melvin are not married. She will have to leave very soon if Melvin does not come back and join the church and marry her. Meanwhile she meets Levi Yoder (no relation to Melvin), who has recently lost his wife and infant son. They become friends and help each other out. It’s quite a conundrum and is resolved in an interesting way.


I really enjoyed this book and will look for previous books in this series to read. I recommend this book to friends who like this genre.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Holding Out for Christmas by Janet Dailey









Conner Branch is an ex-rodeo bullrider who is now a partner in a Christmas Tree Ranch in Branding Iron, TX. This follows some other stories I’ve read about Conner’s partners Travis and Rush in the Ranch but it is not listed as part of a series. Conner was fascinated with Lacy Leatherwood who he saw at the Cowboy Christmas Ball the previous year but he never got to make her acquaintance. He’s hoping to actually meet her this year. A few days prior to the ball he rescues Megan, a cute kindergarten teacher from Nashville, when her car runs off the road in a snowstorm. He is entranced with Megan but still plans to seek out Lacy.



This is a fun story and the characters are likable and interesting. I recommend this to anyone who just wants to read a happy Christmas romance.



I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Morning Star (Maidels of Morning Star #1) by Charlotte Hubbard





This is the first book in a new series by Charlotte Hubbard! I love Charlotte’s books and this series looks to be an enjoyable one. This books is about 5 friends who are around 30 and not yet married. They concoct an idea about starting a marketplace in an old stable and their congregation votes to get involved.


Regina Miller works for Gabe Flaud in his family’s furniture factory putting stain on newly made furniture. She puts her secret artwork in her own stall in the marketplace and it is a smashing success! But Regina can’t tell anyone she is the artist because the Old Order Amish do not allow members to do art. And her uncle is just looking for an excuse to make her move out of her house and under his roof so he can keep an eye on her. Gabe comes to her defense and reveals a secret of his own.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

An Amish Christmas Wedding by Amy Clipston; Kelly Irvin; Kathleen Fuller; Vannetta Chapman



This is a collection of 4 short stories about Amish couples around Christmas time. One is about a Ryan and Lorene that had planned to get married but never did. Now her younger sister is marrying his brother and they are attending all sorts of family get-togethers prior to the wedding. Both are still attracted to each other but wonder if they can forget the past and go forward. The next is about Henry who ends up being the guardian of a young boy whose father was a good friend of Henry’s. The little boy is having a hard time adjusting and Henry is relying on the boy’s teacher Leesa to help him figure it all out. The next story is about Mary and Jakob who have been best friends since childhood but when family and friends pushed them into courting they both felt awkward about the relationship and broke it off. Now they are both attracted to each other but wonder if there is anyway to renew their relationship. And the last story is about two older folks, Micah who was a widower living with his children and grandchildren runs the Amish Tour Company just to get himself out of the house. He partners with Rachel King, an old maid whose parents have died and left her alone. She offers tea to his tour clients in her home.


I enjoyed all these stories and it was great having a short story I could read in one evening and then another the next evening until I had read them all.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I'm Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug by Caroline B. Cooney




This is a cute book for toddlers. My g-g-daughter loves hugs and she loves books about hugs The pictures are cute and this is a perfect bedtime (or anytime) story.


I recommend this to grandmas and mamas who want to add some books to their collection for their smallest ones.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Truth and Justice (Sisterhood book 31) by Fern Michaels




The Sisterhood is a vigilante group who goes all over righting wrongs. They are a group of women who are mostly rich and well educated and like to help the law along a little and make sure justice is served. I’ve been reading these books just for entertainment for several years. I don’t agree with their methods but I find the whole thing amusing.


This story deals with a soldier who had a whirlwind impromptu wedding and honeymoon days before he had to deploy. Soon after he leaves his wife stops getting contacted by him and none of her military benefits kick in. She is very discouraged and thinks she made a mistake with this man. She discovers, too late, that her husband had left the paperwork with a friend to pass on to his sister to take care of. And then other things come up missing too and the Sisterhood has to track everyone down and get it all straightened out for this wife.


It’s an involved story, but fascinating and fun to read. I’m not sure I’m happy with the conclusion but it is interesting, all the same.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Minutes to Die (Homeland Heroes #2) by Susan Sleeman




This is a fast paced suspense novel about an FBI agent and an ICE agent who with other members of their special team are tasked with finding out before it’s too late where to find terrorists that were smuggled into this country and tasked with an attack that would kill thousands of people. Kiley is the FBI agent in charge and this is the first time she has been team leader. Evan, the ICE agent, is new to the team, but has worked with Kiley before. Each member of the team has an area of expertise and Kiley and Evan work closely together because of Evan’s experience with terrorists of all sorts.


I really enjoyed this book. Even though some of the terrorist plots were scary for our country if they come to fruition at some point, it was an interesting peek into some of the intrigue being played out in today’s culture. I am recommending this to anyone who wants a good read that will totally involve them and keep them glued to the story until the very last page.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes




Lucy and Dashel grew up together. Dashel was raised by his aunt who was seldom there so he gravitated to Lucy’s family. Lucy’s father loved to tell stories of the past shrouded in mystery. Both children grew up with these stories. Years later Lucy is doing research and applying for a grant about one mystery – a seaman who allegedly turned traitor. Dashel has read about Lucy’s quest and comes to offer his services. He is now a famous astronomer. Together they go to a farm near an old fishing village that is tied into the tale of this seaman. They discover many interesting things here and local lore plays into the research. Dashel and Lucy discover that all their years apart they were both remembering their childhood and each other with fondness.

This is a wonderful mystery story and has many elements – all fun to explore. I highly recommend this book.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Watcher (a Kateri Fisher Novel) by Jennifer Pashley



Pearl Jenkins is missing. Blood is found in her house and there is evidence of foul play but no body has been found. Pearl’s son has been left behind. He is a teenager that holds some of Pearl’ secrets and is considered a suspect.

Kateri Fisher is a detective on the police force that has recently transferred into the area. She is given the case to look into and keeps running up against blank walls because people don’t know much about Pearl since she was a recluse and some just aren’t willing to talk.

This was a fascinating story. I enjoyed watching the story unravel.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Piecing it All Together (Plain Patterns #1) by Leslie Gould



Savannah Mast finds herself adrift when her fiancé cancels the wedding at the last minute. She closes up everything in California and goes to stay with her Amish grandmother in Indiana. She discovers that her childhood friend Tommy Yoder is back in town but the sheriff suspects him of drug trafficking and other crimes. The story is more complicated than that however and Savannah is determined to get to the bottom of it.


Meanwhile, a friend of her grandmother’s, the local quilt shop owner, starts telling Savannah a tale about one of their ancestors and keeps her (and kept me) fascinated throughout.


This is a wonderful story. It is more of a regular novel than an Amish story as the cover portrays it to be. Yes, it has some characters that are Amish but others as well. I recommend this one to all my reading friends.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Other Sister (Family Secret #2) by Donna Hill




I did not read book 1 but this story stands alone.


Kimberly Maitland grew up in Louisiana with parents with some stature in the town. They were the local “gentry.” She married well and also became an attorney and had beautiful twin daughters. She was running for office but abruptly closed her campaign. Her husband was very angry about it but he didn’t know Kimberly had just learned something astounding about her life. Her parents were actually her grandparents and her brother was her father. Her mother was the daughter of a family servant and was black. Her half sister Zoie was the reporter that researched out that information and passed it on to Kimberly. Kimberly knew Zoie only as a relentless reporter and knew that when this was reported it would destroy her. The story gets even more twisted as she reveals what she knows to her husband and her parents. This is a poignant story that explores how people view others based on race, economic backgrounds, culture etc. It is well worth the read.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Hard Target (Jon Reznick #8) by J.B. Turner



Jon Reznick has been asked by a hacker he has used on other cases to help him because his life is in danger due to a secret government document that has been sent to him to decode. Soon government officials are involved and also other hackers. They all have a price on their heads. The deeper they go, the more danger they are in but they are pursuing criminals at the highest levels of the Pentagon and other top government offices. Someone is desperate to get hold of all the information and destroy it and anyone else who knows anything about it.

This is one of those great government intrigue mysteries / suspense stories that features a super detective who has special ops background or other “super powers” and gets in and out of very sticky situations. I loved it!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The Crushing Depths ( Coastal Guardians #2) by Dani Pettrey



Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers, Coast Guard investigators, are sent to investigate a death on an offshore oil rig. Mason has just recently joined the team and he is a childhood friend of Rissi’s. On the oil rig they find all kinds of troubling things happening and have multiple possible suspects. There is a nearby environmentalist group that is hanging around and protesting and also trying to sabotage the operation. There are also strained relationships among the crew. All of this makes for a satisfying mystery and as usual Dani Pettrey delivers. I enjoyed the back story and also the characters on the Coast Guard team. I’m looking forward to a book #3!


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A Bride of Convenience (The Bride Ships #3) by Jody Hedlund



This bride is Zoe Hart who arrived on the bride ship in a quest to find her twin brother Zeke who had some to this area a couple of years earlier to escape an untrue belief in his being the cause of a local calamity. Zoe now has proof that someone else did it and he has been cleared back home She wants to take that information to him but she has to find him first.
Zoe meets Pastor Abe Merivale, who we met in the previous Bride Ship story, a man who ministers to the miners and the Indians in the high country. They almost immediately get an orphan half Indian baby girl dropped off and Zoe wants to keep her and take care of her. Pastor Abe is struggling to help her keep the child over the strenuous objections of his Bishop. They hastily marry to make it easier to provide a home for the baby and make matters even worse with the Bishop.

This is such a fun story, just like the previous ones in the series. I can’t wait to see who comes along next.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Hanging Falls (Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #6) by Margaret Mizushima




This is another installment in the story of Mattie Cobb, a police officer in the Colorado mountains, who with her K-9 Robo hunts for clues when they are searching for people or bodies. This is a story of one of their cases but also added to the mix is a visit from some of her birth family that have a lot of missing information from Mattie’s childhood. These stories are wonderful and I’m always waiting anxiously for the next one to come out. This is one of my favorite series!

The storyline is interesting as well because this installment contains a cultish religious group that has settled nearby to try to escape persecution and be accepted.
I recommend this book to all along with the first 5 books of the series. You will not regret it.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

At Love's Command (Hanger's Horsemen #1) by Karen Witemeyer



In 1890s Texas, Hanger’s Horsemen are a legend. Matt Hanger is the former cavalry officer who leads the band of 4. They go around taking care of situations that local lawmen either can’t or won’t. When one of the horsemen gets injured they take him to the nearest small town to be fixed up. The doctor there is Dr. Josephine Burkett. As they spend a couple of days in her infirmary, Matt becomes intrigued with the lady doctor. Dr. Jo has a problem of her own though. Her brother has been kidnapped by an outlaw gang and she asks them to take her case and she insists on tagging along.


This is a fun story. There is nothing more satisfying than reading a story of a tough man and a tough woman meeting up in Texas when it was just getting settled again after the Civil War. This book is historical romance fiction at its best.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Cold to the Bone A Nicole Cobain Mystery by Emery Hayes




Nicole Cobain, a former police officer and now sheriff of Toole County, Montana, is investigating the death of a young girl at a lake in the middle of winter. Nicole and her young son live here in hopes that Nicole’s ex and the father of her child, stays away from them. The young girl that died was involved in a medical test that her father was conducting and big pharma execs are competing for the rights to the research. Somehow Ben, Nicole’s ex-husband, is involved in the bidding and shows up on the scene. What follows is a harrowing rush to solve the crime and protect Nicole and her son from Ben. This was a page turner.


If you like a good Whodunit you will enjoy this book.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A Tangled Web by Leslie Rule





This is a true story written by the daughter of the famous author of True Crime books, Ann Rule. Leslie is truly following in her mother’s footsteps. This is the story of a cyberstalker, a love triangle and a murder. It takes place in Omaha NE and surrounds around 2012. It is a true story that was all over the newspapers and has been dramatized by several true crime programs on TV.


The author gives great details of all the happenings and subsequent investigations. She did her research well and that makes this a very intriguing story and will be a must read for all True Crime readers.


I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas



I loved this book. It was improbable but funny and entertaining. Piper Mackenzie is the mayor of her small hometown in Texas. Her father is the governor and her brothers are Texas Rangers. When her sometimes friend claims to be engaged to her and then disappears, the family sends an undercover lawman, Colby McBride to snoop around and find out what is going on. Piper is drawn in by Colby to pretend that she knows him and that he is someone who has always wanted to date her.


Mix into the story Sam, a preacher who comes to town to fill the pulpit at the local church for a while and all the complications of the parish.


I would love to see more stories like this. I would recommend them to my friends who love feel good fiction.

Daughter of Cana (Jerusalem Road #1) by Angela Hunt



This is the story of Tasmin, the twin sister of Thomas the Apostle. When Jesus passes through their neighborhood (attending the wedding where he performed a miracle), Thomas decides to follow him. Tasmin is not pleased by him leaving all the work to her. And she doesn’t trust Jesus of Nazareth. Neither does his brother Jude and so they embark on a journey to try to persuade their brothers to come home.

This story goes all the way to the time of the ascension. I would recommend this story to anyone who likes Biblical historical.fiction. Angela Hunt is the best author out there of this genre. I see by the title that this is the start of a series and I am eagerly awaiting the sequels.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.