Searching for You by Jody Hedlund

This novel is 3^rd in a series about the Orphan Train from New York City to rural America in the 1800s. Sophie Neumann takes her two young charges (age 3 and 5) and lies about her age to qualify herself and boards the Orphan Train to flee New York City after she becomes the target of one of the street gangs.  She ends up in a small town in the heartland where Reinhold Weiss, a friend from her past, has bought a farm and is making a life for himself and his siblings.  The previous two novels are about Sophie’s older sisters who are now desperately searching for her.

This is full of historical understanding and just a good story.  I read through most of this book in one day.  I read a few chapters the first day and the next day I didn’t put it down much because I was so engrossed in the story. I love how Jody Hedlund brings out each characters faith in God and their personal theology as she weaves her tale.  It is all real and uplifting and so much a part of the story you don’t feel like you are reading a sermon.

I received a digital copy of this book from Bethany House through Net Galley for the purpose of writing my own observations into a review.  If you love historical romance, you will love this book!

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl

This is another great suspense / mystery / FBI story from Nancy Mehl.  Kaely Quinn is a profiler for the FBI in St. Louis. She is looking for a serial killer with her partner Noah Hunter. The killer appears to be targeting Kaely. Kaely’s father was a serial killer and despite her changing her name and moving the story follows her.

I loved all the twists and turns in this book. Kaely’s method of profiling was unusual and that made for some fascinating reading as well. I would highly recommend this if you would like a very intriguing read (but don’t expect to put the book down – just read right through).

I was given a digital copy of this book by Bethany House in exchange for a review.

A Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin

This book carries on the story that begun in Waves of Mercy.  In this story Anna Nicholson, Geesje de Jonge's granddaughter, is preparing for a society marriage to a wealthy young banker in Chicago. Meanwhile, back in Holland, Michigan, Geesje has an unexpected houseguest -- a troubled young girl from the Netherlands that doesn't speak any English.  Her grandfather, her only surviving relative, is boarding next door.  Anna longs for the simpler life in Michigan and also for Geesje's neighbor, Derk who is a seminary student.  She also longs to fulfill God's calling on her life to help those less fortunate but feels bound to her engagement in order to help her parents through financial difficulties.


Many unexpected things occur that affect the lives of the young refugee, Anna, Derk and Geesje. These are such caring, well-developed characters that the reader feels like they are family or at the very least dear friends. This was one of those books that I couldn't stop reading until the very last page. Lynn Austin always has a wonderful tale to tell. This one is chock full of historical details.


Bethany House provided me with a digital copy of this book for the purpose of a review.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who just wants a riveting story. 

Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette

I loved this book!  I had previously read  A Light on the Hill (Cities of Refuge Book #1) so this was a continuation of that story.  Sofea and her cousin are abducted from their island after all their family and village were murdered by pirates. They escaped and were left on the beach in Tyre. There Daryk and his soldiers from Kadesh find them and take them back to Daryk's wife Moriyah in Kadesh.  These were the people from book 1. The oldest son, Eitan, is attracted to Sofea but first Sofea needs to learn Hebrew and get accustomed to the new culture and the new God.  Conflict from the story in book 1 continues in this book and some of it is resolved.  I love learning the Jewish culture of this time (Joshua is still alive and some of the High Priests still remember coming into the Promised Land as small children).

I read this book rather quickly because the characters were so real I needed to help them find their happy place.  I am now anxious for the next book in the series to come out.  This is only the 2^nd book I have read by this author but  I assure you I will choose more of her books in future.  I highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction of biblical times.  Bethany House provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for posting my opinion in a review. 

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd

Eleanor Sheffield is taking care of the family business as her elderly uncle is having health issues.   Women are not trusted in business in England in the Victorian Era (1866). She had hopes of becoming engaged to Harry, now Lord Lydney, but he has just returned from an extended visit to the continent where he had been with his father when he passed away and Eleanor is feeling uncertain about his affections. Meanwhile, the late Lord Lydney’s will states that Eleanor is to determine whether his extensive collection of antiquities will be passed on to his only heir (Harry) or donated to a museum.

This book was very interesting.  I could tell that the author had done her research well. I loved all the collections alluded to and the lengths people were willing to go to obtain something unique to add to their personal collections. I find this era of British history fascinating and this book provided a slice of that life – even including a sojourn in debtors prison.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves 1) Christian fiction, 2) Historical novels set in Victorian England, 3) and interesting read.  I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher Tyndale in exchange for my own opinion on the book expressed in a posted review.

FBI Special Agent and hostage negotiator April Ramo finds herself in a hostage situation of her own when a stranger puts a baby into her arms and flees. April is soon confronted by the baby's pursuing father, Jason Snyder, who takes April hostage to help him solve the case of who kidnapped his daughter and who killed his best friend and business partner. April begins to believe Jason's side of the story and risks her job to help Jason solve the case. Local law enforcement is suspect in the case, which further complicates the situation.


Diann Mills writes great FBI stories and keeps me guessing to the end about who is involved and who is not. I believe I have read every book she has written since the beginning and I keep anxiously awaiting the next book to be published.


These are the kind of stories I like to read and I love that Diann puts the Christian faith of the characters in the forefront of the story.


I received a copy of this book from Tyndale in exchange for a review and I can recommend this book to anyone who likes a good suspense tale and I can also recommend Tyndale's whole line of fiction, as well as non-fiction.








Diann Mill's website

Jerusalem's Queen: A Novel of Salome Alexandra (The Silent Years) by Angela Hunt

Jerusalem's Queen is about Salome Alexandra who became the queen of Judah when her husband died. This story takes us from her early childhood to her reign as queen in her 60s. It sheds light on a lot of the scriptures in the Old Testament leading up to the New Testament when Messiah arrived on the scene. Like the book before this one in the series, the research has been done well and the story is well crafted -- so much so that I could not put this book down.  I read it through over two days time.


The story is not only about Salome Alexandra but also about her slave that was with her from childhood and throughout the rest of her life. Kissa, the slave, was sold into slavery in Egypt by her parents and brought to Judah and sold to the High Priest at that time (Salome Alexandra's uncle and guardian). The two girls became good friends and both benefited from the association.


Angela Hunt has always been one of my favorite Christian authors, but with the latest series of historical novels about the Jewish High Priests / Kings / Prophets she has really stepped up her game and I can't wait for the next installment.


I received a copy of this story from Bethany House through NetGalley.