Blessing - Quaker Brides 2 - by Lyn Cote

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Blessing - Quaker Brides 2 - by Lyn Cote

This was an amazing story about a Quaker woman and the difference she was striving to make for women.  After Blessing fell for a non-Quaker man and married him, she realized what kind of man he really was.  He was a drunk and would frequent brothels.  He made the choices to do these things, but a Mr. Smith would help him along.  He soon dies and luckily, wills everything to Blessing, which was not common in those days.  She can now use her wealth to help women and children.  She started an orphanage and fights for women's rights and for abolition.  She also vows never to marry again and give up her freedom.  When she meets Gerard Ramsay, she's attracted to him, but thinks he's similar to her husband and doesn't want to get trapped again.

Gerard Ramsay meets Blessing when he tries to convince his cousin to stay away from her friend.  They had come to attend a women's rights meeting and Gerard is taken aback by the outspoken, direct Quaker.  She challenges him as no other woman ever has, but frustrates him, too.  He's trying to escape his father's iron will by leaving Boston and relocating to Cincinnati and needs to find a job.  He falls in with Mr. Smith and Blessing tries to warn him.  Their paths continually cross and they each discover secrets and truths about the other's character.

This was a wonderful story!  The history was incredible, with what it was like in Ohio as women and African-Americans fought for equal rights and to abolish slavery.  Blessing did amazing work caring for prostitutes, unwanted children and slaves.  Faith was a very important part of her life and was why she did what she did.  Gerard starts out selfish and arrogant, but changes as he sees all she does and why.  The romance is sweet and there's some suspense as tensions run high over the slavery and women's rights issues.  This story worked well as a stand-alone.  I highly recommend this well-written story!

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Direct Hit - The Blitz Detective 1 - by Mike Hollow

This was an interesting story with a unique plot.  It's a mystery set during World War II.  London is being bombed by the Nazis, but a body is discovered and it looks like murder.  However, before it can truly be examined, a bomb lands and destroys all of the evidence.  Luckily, Detective Inspector John Jago was able to identify the body before that happened.  The deceased was a magistrate and also owned a printing business.  As Jago and his partner Cradock question relatives and acquaintances of the magistrate, it becomes clear that he wasn't well liked.

The stress of the continued bombings and interrupted sleep, along with an assignment to guide a nosy American reporter around London, starts to wear on Jago.  He remembers what the
first World War was like when he fought over there and this brings it all back.  He has to sort fact from fiction from more than one person he interviews and it doesn't help that the deceased man had secrets that might or might not be related to his death.

I think my favorite part of this story was the time period.  It was fascinating to imagine what it would have been like living in London when the Blitz was going on.   The details really made me feel like I was in the story.  Adding in the mystery made it even more interesting. Jago was an intriguing character.  He was very good at his job and was always thinking.  There were some interesting discussions about God, truth and chance, though it seems Jago isn't too sure about what he believes.  There were a few uses of the word, "damn," which I would have preferred not to have been in the book, but otherwise it was clean.  I liked the varied viewpoints in the story.  I would recommend this book if you like historical or mystery fiction.

I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Take it to the Beach with Colleen Coble’s ‘A Heart’s Promise’ and Tote Giveaway + Review!

About the book:
A Heart's Promise (Thomas Nelson, July 2015)

Emmie makes a promise to her friend that, if fulfilled, could mean the end to her dreams of a future with Isaac.

Emmie Croftner let Isaac Liddle go to avoid telling him about her past. But Isaac remains determined to win Emmie's heart and hand. Though Emmie resolves to keep her heart in check, it hurts when she sees that another woman has set
her bonnet for Isaac.

Then Emmie's dear friend extracts a costly promise: if anything happens to her in childbirth, Emmie will marry her widower and raise the baby herself. And it seems Emmie may have to fulfill that promise. But can she live happily without Isaac?

My review:

I'm enjoying where this series is taking me.  I'm intrigued to see how the truth will come out about Emmie and it was interesting to learn that some "enemies" I thought were long gone are back!  Added to the suspense as her friend's pregnancy gets difficult and the childbirth takes a bad turn. There were a few cute moments in the romance.  Emmie's learning more about who God is and that He does care about her.   I also wondered when Emmie and Isaac would ever get together and was a little frustrated she didn't talk to Isaac right away about her past, especially when she knows someone else is going to.  This is part of a six part serial novel that you should definitely read in order.  They were originally the first two books she wrote that they decided to re-release in this new format.  I like the story, but I don't feel it's nearly as good as some of her later work.  I'm interested to see how the next book will wrap everything up.  If you like historical fiction, you might like this.

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Gc4QeO

About the author:

Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Will the promise Emmie makes to her friend mean the end to her dreams of a future with Isaac? Find out in book five, A Heart's Promise, of Colleen Coble's A Journey of the Heart series. Emmie Croftner let Isaac Liddle go to avoid telling him about her past. But Isaac remains determined to win Emmie’s heart and hand. Can she live happily without Isaac?

Take a day off and head to the beach with a new giveaway from Colleen: five books (books one–five in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series) and a beach bag to tote your new books in!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Heart's Promise
• A Lands' End beach tote
• A copy of A Heart's Betrayal
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of A Heart's Danger

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 31st. Winner will be announced August 3rd on Colleen's website.

The Curiosity Keeper - Treasures of Surrey Novel 1 - by Sarah E. Ladd

About the book:
The Curiosity Keeper (Thomas Nelson, July 2015)

"It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail's egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whoever possesses it."

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She's done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille must allow a mysterious stranger to come to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content to work as the village apothecary. But when his brother's death made him heir just as his father's foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession---a ruby called the Bevoy---can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop---and the beautiful shop girl who may be the answer to his many questions.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, these two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, they will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

My review:

This was a wonderful story set in one of my favorite time periods!  I found the idea of working in a curiosity shop to be fascinating.  I'd love to explore all of the wonderful treasures.  I admired Camille and her courage to not only deal with some rough people at the shop, but to make a new way for herself and stand up for what she believed.  I also really liked Jonathan and how much he cared about people.  He was an amazing person and very unlike his father and sister.  The plot was interesting and exciting and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  There's a Scripture reference quoted about all things working together for good to them that love God and I liked how Camille came to see that in her own life.  It's hard when you're going through difficult things to think that good can come out of it and this was a good reminder.  There's a little bit more to the faith element in the story, but it was fairly light overall.  There's a little bit of romance and it moved quickly.  I would highly recommend this if you like historical fiction, especially regency.

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1CGUeKn

About the author:

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Visit Sarah online:  website, Facebook, Twitter

Melissa Jagears’ ‘A Bride at Last’ Review and a $100 Memory-Making Giveaway

About the book:
A Bride at Last (Bethany House, July 2015)

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony-until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father.

Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

My review:

This was a very enjoyable, well-written story!  There were a few twists, too, that I didn't see coming when romances are usually more predictable.  I really liked Kate and Silas.  They were written very well, with flaws and good qualities.  They felt very much like real people.  I also thought it was more unique that Silas seemed to have a harder time trusting and risking his heart than Kate.  Silas seemed to have a deep faith in God and he often prayed and asked for help.  It didn't seem like Kate's faith was as strong or that she grew much in the story.  There were a lot of cute romantic moments.  There's a bit of a mystery, too, where Silas wants to find out what happened to his birth family as he was sent to an orphanage as a child.  Sometimes I thought the story lagged a bit or that something was taking too long to get resolved.  Some of the characters in Melissa's previous books make an appearance or are featured prominently, but this book worked fine as a stand-alone.  I hadn't read anything by Melissa before this book, but I definitely plan to read her others!  I highly recommend this book if you like historical romances!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1M44A97

About the author:

Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade and the author of A Bride for Keeps and A Bride in Store, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She's a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly.

Find Melissa online: website, Facebook

Can Silas and Kate overcome their rocky start and experience healing—and possibly love? Discover the answer in Melissa Jagears' new book, A Bride at Last. Neither Kate nor Silas is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light as they attempt to prove nine-year-old Anthony's paternity to the court. Can their wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Celebrate the release of A Bride at Last by entering to win a $100 Memory-Making giveaway and RSVPing to Melissa's August 4th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 gift card to Netflix (for a family movie night), Shutterfly (to create a family memory book), or TablePlayGames (for a family game night)
• One copy of A Bride at Last

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4. The winner will be announced at Melissa's 8/4 A Bride at Last Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Melissa and fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor - by Melanie Dobson

About the book:
Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor (Howard, June 2015)

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents' cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can't be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver's death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family's cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She's mourning her father's passing but can't let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family's belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family's history.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.

Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

My review:

I loved this fascinating story!  The interweaving of the past and present stories was done so well.  It was interesting to see how the choices of one generation affect the next.  The characters were done so well and really made me feel what they were going through.  I loved the mystery of trying to figure out how Libby and Heather connected and discovering what happened to Oliver all those years ago.  There were multiple romances and a focus on reconciliation, truth and forgiveness.  There was some talk of faith with a couple of the characters.  The setting was gorgeous and definitely made me want to visit!  This was a well-written story I highly recommend!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1HuCCkT

About the author:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Find Melanie online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Heaven Help Heidi - Family of the Heart 2 - by Sally John

About the book:

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.

Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.

Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.

The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.

My review:

I loved this book!  The multiple story lines were great and equally fascinating.  Both women went through incredibly hard things and it was inspiring to see them learn to live again.  I also liked that we got multiple perspectives, including Heidi's brother Hud, friend Adam, and landlady Liv.  It was wonderful to see Heidi's faith journey as she went from only depending on herself to wondering if there could be Someone out there.  Liv McAlister was such a wonderful character, so peaceful and loving as she mothers all of the tenants at Casa de Vida.  She truly lived the love of Jesus to everyone.  She had such a welcoming way about her, as did all of the tenants.  They were all wonderful characters.  It really felt like a cozy and safe place;  I would love to live there!  The romances were sweet, from the new ones just blooming to ones continued from the previous book.  I haven't read the first book yet, and the story did mostly work as a stand-alone, but I definitely want to find out more about the secondary characters and where their stories began.  This was my first Sally John book, but it definitely won't be my last!  I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Meet the author

Sally John

Sally John is the author of the popular The Other Way Home and In a Heartbeat series, including A Journey by Chance and In a Heartbeart. A three-time finalist for the Christy Award and a former teacher, she lives in Southern California with her husband, Tim. Writing fiction takes a backseat only to her cherished...

Read More >

- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Meet the author

Sally John

Sally John is the author of the popular The Other Way Home and In a Heartbeat series, including A Journey by Chance and In a Heartbeart. A three-time finalist for the Christy Award and a former teacher, she lives in Southern California with her husband, Tim. Writing fiction takes a backseat only to her cherished...

Read More >

- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Meet the author

Sally John

Sally John is the author of the popular The Other Way Home and In a Heartbeat series, including A Journey by Chance and In a Heartbeart. A three-time finalist for the Christy Award and a former teacher, she lives in Southern California with her husband, Tim. Writing fiction takes a backseat only to her cherished...

Read More >

- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Welcome to the Casa de Vida—eleven quaint bungalows located three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in tiny Seaside Village, California. Owner Liv McAlister never advertises vacancies beyond a small hand-lettered sign out front, preferring to trust that God will send the right tenant at just the right time. And He always does.
Heidi Hathaway’s life has been turned upside down. After an accident leaves her injured, unable to work, and incapable of negotiating the stairs in her multilevel oceanfront condo, she leases her home and moves into a cozy little cottage in the charming garden complex where her friend Piper lives. There she finds so much more than a place to rest and recover.
Piper Keyes knows Jared is not coming back from Afghanistan. After making it through the fifth anniversary of his death, she wonders if she’s at last ready to get on with life. She gingerly explores new avenues—photography, cooking, and buying her own boutique—and learns to open her heart again.
The most comforting thing about living at the Casa is that the women there become each other’s mentors and confidantes, learning from their own mistakes and arriving at new, healed places in their lives.
- See more at: https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/heaven-help-heidi#sthash.p30fAEpw.dpuf

Summer's List - by Anita Higman

About the book:
Summer's List (River North, June 2015)

A dying wish alters the course of a young woman's life.

Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness---caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore---she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love . . . didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something---or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

My review:

I really enjoyed this unique love story about reconnecting with your best friend from childhood and fulfilling a wish list.  Martin was an awesome character, a little socially awkward but a man of God who put others ahead of himself.  It was inspiring to see how he treated his brothers nicely even though they treated him like dirt.  There's a bit of a mystery there that he and Summer try to unravel.  Martin's adoptive parents had divorced and left the 3 men years ago and not kept in contact.  They never understood what had happened.  The whole family dynamic had caused problems between the brothers and some truths came to light.  Summer was getting over a break-up and dealing with her fear and grief over her granny not having long.  I liked Summer and thought they were both amusing.  There were some cute romantic moments.  I thought the idea of completing a list was fun and I loved the items on it.  I really liked that faith was such an important element in the story.  The three main characters were believers and that was a huge influence on how they treated others and the hope they had for where Granny was going.  It was beautiful how she looked forward to Heaven and the way she talked about her journey nearing its end.  It was wonderful to see how Martin's faith influenced one of his brothers.  I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for romance or something a little more unique.

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1GKqprL

About the author:

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find Anita online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Gone Without a Trace - Logan Point 3 - by Patricia Bradley

About the book:

The past is repeating itself--and time is running out
It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator's missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she's finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she'll have to find a way to work with Alex--before it's too late.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley keeps you on the edge of your seat with a case--and a relationship--that is anything but certain.

My review:

I really enjoyed this suspenseful story with a touch of romance.  I thought the plot was very intriguing, with Livy and Alex trying to figure out if her cousin's disappearance had anything to do with the girl who's missing now.  There were some twists as the story went where I wasn't expecting it to.  I liked seeing some of the characters from the previous books show up, though this works well as a stand-alone.  There's some talk of faith, as Livy was struggling with a shooting she'd been involved in and wondering why God hadn't stopped it.  It doesn't feel like that really got resolved.  Alex wondered at how Livy's aunt talked to easily to God and I got the impression that he wasn't a believer, but later he seemed to talk as if he was.  I thought that was somewhat confusing and I also thought they should have discussed that a bit more before letting any romance develop.  There was a little bit of romance to the story and this takes place over the course of a week, so it does seem like they get serious pretty quickly.  The investigation was interesting and it was hard to figure out who was behind the disappearances.  I would highly recommend this book if you like suspense.

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

 The Author

1. 

   Patricia Bradley

   Patricia Bradley is the author of Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, and Gone without a Trace. Bradley has been a finalist for the Genesis Award, winner of a Daphne du Maurier Award, and winner of a Touched by Love Award. Bradley...
   

   Continue reading about Patricia Bradley 

Beyond the Ashes - The Golden Gate Chronicles 2 - by Karen Barnett

About the book:
Beyond the Ashes (Abingdon Press, June 2015)

Where better to rebuild and face one's fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes?

Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she'll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn't anticipate finding new love.

Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he'd always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert's widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed.

Ruby and Gerald's fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they're striving to cure. Together they must ask---is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?

My review:

This was a very enjoyable story set right after San Francisco's huge earthquake in the early 1900's.  It was fascinating to learn more about what was going on in the city during that time, not only the makeshift homes and camps many people lived in because theirs were destroyed, but also the research being done on the use of x-rays on cancer.  It was interesting to learn about their work.  I liked revisiting the characters I enjoyed from book one and it was fun getting to know Gerald better and meeting Ruby.  I liked both of them and could relate to Ruby's struggle to let God be in control.  She'd already lost a husband and didn't know if she could trust God for her future.  I admired how both of them were so selfless in caring for people, especially Gerald.  I did get frustrated with how he wouldn't take care of himself, though.  There were quite a few sweet romantic moments, including some humorous ones.  This was a well-written story with a good mixture of history and romance.  I'm looking forward to book three.  I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!
Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1IGu1bg

About the author:

Karen Barnett is the author of Beyond the Ashes, Out of the Ruins, and Mistaken. Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she's not writing novels, she loves speaking at women's events, libraries, and book clubs.

Find Karen online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Picture Perfect Love - A Year of Weddings Novella - by Melissa McClone

About the book:
Picture Perfect Love (Zondervan, May 2015)

When image becomes everything, it's up to love to refocus the heart.

Photographer Jenna Harrison wants every bride and groom to look picture perfect on their special day, putting her heart into every wedding to give the couple memorable images of their love. But her own heart is still broken, the unworn wedding dress hanging in her closet a reminder that relationships aren't always as perfect as they look through her camera lens. But Jenna has faith that she will find true love. Until then, she must be patient and trust in God's plan and His perfect timing.

Attorney Ashton Vance is the one that got away. When an embarrassing Photoshopped picture of put an end to his political aspirations, he blamed Jenna. So what if the photo led to his being offered a dream job and changing his life for the better? Jenna betrayed his trust, and two years later, Ashton's heart still hasn't recovered.

It was me. His younger sister's three words turn Ashton's world upside down. He must ask Jenna's forgiveness, but can he risk his heart a second time? Even if Jenna can forgive him, dare he hope for a second chance at her love?

My review:

I enjoyed this story about second chances!  I really liked Jenna and admired the changes she had made since being engaged to Ash.  I loved that she put her faith first and depended on God to get her through.  it was also inspiring to see her make a difference with the teens at her church.  I was a little annoyed with Ash and his lack of faith in her.  It seemed like he didn't really learn. There were some cute romantic moments in the story.  It was interesting to see a little behind the scenes of what it would be like to be a photographer.  It was a fun romance that kept my interest throughout.  I recommend it if you like romance.

I received a free kindle copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

This is only available as an e-book or an audio.

More reviews at Litfuse!
Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1JJZY8s

About the author:

Melissa McClone has published more than thirty novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group. She has also been nominated for Romance Writers of America's RITA® award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house.

Find Melissa online: website, Twitter, Facebook

The Innocent - by Ann H. Gabhart

About the book:

She longs for peace--for her land and her heart--but can it truly be found at Harmony Hill?
Carlyn Kearney has spent two lonely years not knowing whether to mourn or to hope after she receives word from the Union Army that her husband is missing. When the war ends without further word, Carlyn finds herself penniless, in debt, and forced from her home. With nowhere else to go, she seeks refuge at the Shaker village of Harmony Hill.

The Shakers profess peace through simple living, but to Carlyn, the Shaker life seems anything but simple. When mysterious deaths disturb the peace of the village, Carlyn falls under intense scrutiny. Can a kind sheriff help her expose the true culprit?

Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart invites fans back to Harmony Hill for a story laced with intrigue, romance, and heart.

My review:

I actually had a hard time getting through this story.  It felt like it took a while to get to the action.  I liked Carlyn and the sheriff and a couple of secondary characters, but I had a hard time liking the Shaker people, especially Edna.  They took the Bible and added to it or twisted it.  They were so focused on Mother Ann, the founder of the Shakers and what she taught, which apparently was more about works and being perfect.  They also didn't believe in marriage and any couples or families that came to them were split up, even the children cared for by others.  It was interesting to learn more about them.  It felt like their rules and Edna's chastisements of Carlyn got very repetitive.  She also thought about what her mother had taught her quite a bit, including "pray anyway," which I agree is good advice, but it was mentioned a lot.  There's a little bit of suspense as you're not sure who's behind the bad things happening and I thought it was interesting who it turned out to be.  There's also a bit of romance as the sheriff can't stop thinking about Carlyn.  I liked Carlyn's focus on trying to find the good about her life even when it seemed like everything was going wrong.  Carlyn and the sheriff both had to think about what they truly believed and whether they were going to turn back to God or not.  I've liked other books of Ann Gabhart's a lot, so I think it was mainly the subject matter I couldn't get into.  If you like books about the Shakers, you would probably like this.

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

 The Author

1. 

   © Memories by Chris

   Ann H. Gabhart

   Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True, as well as several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--and...
   

   Continue reading about Ann H. Gabhart 

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