Lady of a Thousand Treasures ~ Sandra Byrd ~ Reviewed

Lady of a Thousand Treasures (The Victorian Ladies Series) Paperback
by Sandra Byrd

• Series: The Victorian Ladies Series (Book 1)
• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 9, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781496426833

Description:
Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

Review: 

Sandra Byrd creates stories that are full of fascinating history and mysterious details. If a cover has her name on it I'm certain I'm going to find that I'm cancelling plans or leaving chores undone so I can spend free time reading. 

She doesn't disappoint in Lady of a Thousand Treasures. Characters who are or are not whom they seem to be. Situations are twisted and mysteries unravel as the heroine finds herself between cliffs and jagged valleys. Eleanor Sheffield is gifted with a skill set best suited for men, or rarely, a married woman, valuing and finding antiquities for clients. Unfortunately, her father has passed leaving her with an uncle who seems to be losing his skill and mind. The male clerk/assistant sends mixed and confusing signals, and his behavior feels anything but safe. Eleanor is tasked with evaluating a treasure trove and deciding the fate of the wealth and antiquities of the estate. Will her work shows the treasure belongs to the son of the deceased? Or in the museum? One minor complication is that the son of the deceased is her childhood best friend and the very man who recently crushed her heart. 

If the plot sounds intriguing you owe it to yourself to get a copy. And don't make any social plans around delivery because you won't want to do much more than curl up with a warm beverage and the Lady of a Thousand Treasures for the next couple of days.

*An advanced reader copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. The provided copy did not require a positive review. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Jane of Austin Hillary Manton Lodge ~ Reviewed

Jane of Austin
Hillary Manton Lodge
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook (June 13, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601429347

Description:

“Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience - or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.” ― Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

Just a few years after their father’s business scandal shatters their lives, Jane and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop. The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street, but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their kid sister Margot and Jane’s tea plants, determined to start over yet again.

But life in Austin isn’t all sweet tea and breakfast tacos. Their unusual living situation is challenging and unspoken words begin to fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper.

While Sean seems to charm everyone in his path, one person is immune – retired Marine Captain Callum Beckett. Callum never meant to leave the military, but the twin losses of his father and his left leg have returned him to the place he least expected—Texas.

In this modern spin on the Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility, the Woodward sisters must contend with new ingredients in unfamiliar kitchens, a dash of heartbreak, and the fragile hope that maybe home isn't so far away.

 Review:

I love Jane Austen. And I tend to enjoy the creative tweaks her ideas have spawned. Traditionalist, classic Austen lovers who don't want her stories trifled with might not find this novel as endearing as I did.

Hillary Manton Lodge stays close to the story but builds it into a believable modern twist. Jane, Celia and Margot are displaced after a family scandal leaves them without a protector of sorts. They move far away from their beloved home to start fresh.

There Jane is rescued (or at least her tea plants are) by a knight in shining armor who then woos Jane's heart. While living in the carriage house on a cousin's property, they rebuild their lives and look for a new, perfect location for a tea shop. They struggle together to make sense of all the difficulties they've faced, in a way. Jane, though distracted by Sean and the search, is concerned that Celia won't even talk about the most important thing she left behind, her love. Distance grows between the sisters. And then a handsome friend of their cousin's enters the picture. Captain Callum Beckett traded his leg for a load of nightmares while serving his country. Burdened and coming home to face a mess his father and brother left behind, he discovers he is concerned about Sean Willis, and the damage he might do to Jane's heart.

The author included quite a few recipes and a satisfying conclusion. I definitely recommend this one.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer


Disclaimer: A review copy of this novel was sent to me for the purpose of reading and reviewing. I was not obligated to give a favorable review. My opinions were not swayed by the free copy. If you purchase a copy through the provided link I will receive a small percentage of the sales.

The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher ~ Reviewed

Back Cover Copy:

The Amish life is all she's ever known--but will it satisfy her soul?
Restless and adventurous, Ruthie Stoltzfus is right on the cusp of leaving her Amish home. Secretly, she's earned her GED, saved her money--but she can't quite set her journey into motion. Just as everything falls into place, along comes Patrick Kelly.

Patrick is a young man on a journey of his own. He's come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to "everything Plain." Time is of the essence and every moment is to be cherished--especially the hours he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

Ruthie's next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock, is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong, defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back--and Patrick Kelly is in his way.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge for a story of dreams deferred--and the promise of hopes fulfilled.

 Review:

The Devoted is book three in the series, The Bishop's Family. In this book, we follow Ruthie Stoltzfus. She is finding that she is restless with the Amish life, and is wondering if she wants to follow in her Aunt Ruth's footsteps to leave the Amish life and become a doctor or some other “worthy” profession. Just as she thinks she has things figured out, a young man named Patrick Kelly arrives in town. He is determined to join the Amish faith, and enlists Ruthie's help to teach him Penn Dutch in 30 days. In the meantime, we are also learning more about her Aunt Ruth, also known as Dok, who has taken over the practice of the town doctor. David, on the other, hand, is still settling into his role as bishop, trying to figure out how to deal with the change in the townspeople since oil was discovered on the town's land. I think my favorite character in this book was Patrick. As an outsider, he came in with all of these ideas of what the Amish life was like, and jumped right in. Not only was he sincere, but he was able to point out some observations from an outsiders point of view that shed light on many issues going on in the town.

Review by Sarah Meyers

DISCLAIMER: A copy of the book was provided for review purposes. A favorable review just means the reviewer liked the book, not that there was expectation of a good review. In addition, if you purchase through our provided link we may get a small percentage of the price paid.

A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti

A Fragile Hope
Cynthia Ruchti 
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (April 4, 2017) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 142679150X 
ISBN-13: 978-1426791505



Back Cover: 

Josiah Chamberlain's life's work revolves around repairing other people's marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife's unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she's unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken.
Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what’s left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?

Review:

Cynthia Ruchti is one of the authors I am compelled to read. She writes deep characters and adds settings that richly paint heart wrenching scenes. A Fragile Hope was the first book I've read of hers that has a male point of view. And what a point of view it is. As a marriage expert Josiah Chamberlain is sought out, his books sell, his wisdom changes lives. But one day he types "the end" on his latest manuscript, emerges from his comfortable home office and discovers that his own life is upside down and inside out. Josiah's "wisdom" turns out to be worthless in light of his new and uncharted territory. His theories leave him empty and his fragile hope only returns when he turns to God and gets real with his responsibility and failures. If you love powerful fiction, Cynthia Ruchti or novels that force you to look inward and assess your own choices and beliefs then grab a copy.

Reviewed by Kelly Klepfer

Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided. My review is not favorable because of this. I honestly liked the book and recommend it. If you click on the Amazon link and purchase this book I may get a portion of the price. 

Shine Like the Dawn by Carrie Turansky ~ Reviewed

  

 Shine Like the Dawn

Carrie Turansky

Cover Copy:

In a quiet corner of northern Edwardian England, Margaret Lounsbury diligently works in her grandmother’s millinery shop, making hats and caring for her young sister. Several years earlier, a terrible event shattered  their idyllic family life and their future prospects. Maggie is resilient and will do what she must to protect her sister Violet. Still, the loss of her parents weighs heavily on her heart as she begins to wonder if what happened that day on the lake…might not have been an accident.

When wealthy inventor and industrialist William Harcourt dies, his son and Maggie’s estranged childhood friend, Nathaniel, returns from his time in the Royal Navy and inherits his father’s vast estate, Morningside Manor. He also assumes partial control of his father’s engineering company and the duty of repaying an old debt to the Lounsbury family. But years of separation between Nate and Maggie have taken a toll, and Maggie struggles to trust her old friend.

Can Maggie let go of the resentment that keeps her from forgiving Nate—and reconciling with God? Will the search for the truth about her parents’ death draw the two friends closer or leave them both with broken hearts?

Review: 


Shine Like the Sky takes place in the northern Edwardian England, and focuses on a young woman named Margaret Lounsbury. Having lost her parents and sister in a tragic accident four years earlier, she now resides with her grandmother and five year old sister in her grandmother's millinary shop. She holds onto a lot of anger and bitterness, not only at the loss of her family, but at the loss and what she saw as abandonment from the family who employed her father, especially young Nathaniel Harcourt. Nathaniel, however, was not notified by his family of the accident until a week after it happened and was kept from young Margaret. Now, they have been brought back together, and other facts about the accident have come to light which could cause further division between the old friends.

This was a great story. Nathaniel has come to know the Lord during his time away, which helps him in dealing with the difficult situations he is encountering. Meanwhile, Maggie has to learn to let go of her anger and put her trust in the Lord for all things. This was a great read.  by Sarah Meyers

Disclaimer: This reviewer was provided a copy of this novel for the purposes of reviewing. This in no way guaranteed a positive review. These are the honest thoughts and review of the reviewer. In addition, clicking and buying on the link will result in a small monetary gain for this blog through Amazon.

Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne ~ Reviewed

BACK IN THE SADDLE
Ruth Logan Herne
Series: Double S Ranch (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Multnomah (March 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0735290652

Back Cover: 

The Prodigal Is Coming Home 

It’s been a long time since Colt Stafford shrugged off his cowboy legacy for shiny Manhattan loafers and a promising career on Wall Street. But when stock market manipulations leave him financially strapped, the oldest son of legendary rancher Sam Stafford decides to return to the sprawling Double S ranch in Gray’s Glen, Washington. He’s broke, but not broken, and it’s time to get his legs back under him by climbing into the saddle again.
 
He doesn’t expect to come home to a stranger pointing a loaded gun at his chest— a tough yet beautiful woman that Sam hired as the house manager. Colt senses there’s more to Angelina Morales than meets the eye, and he’s determined to find out what she’s hiding...and why. 
 
Colt’s return brings new challenges. Younger brother Nick, who’s longbeen Sam’s right-hand man,isn’t thrilled when Colt inserts himself into Double S affairs. And the ranch’s contentious relationship with the town’s people forces  all the Stafford men to reconsider what it truly means to be a neighbor.  As Wall Street recovers, will Colt succumb to the call of the financial district—or stay in the saddle for good?

Review: 

Back in the Saddle tells us about Cole Stafford, who left the “confines” of the Double S Ranch in Gray's Glen, Washington, to make it big on Wall Street, only to have a bad investment ruin his reputation and hurt his pride. After losing most everything, he returns home to the ranch he grew up on to help his ailing father. Their relationship has not always been the best, so Cole does not have high hopes of things going well. He is surprised to find that his father has hired a housekeeper, a beautiful woman named Angelina Morales, who pretty much runs the whole place. While there is an attraction there, Cole is confused about why this woman is here, and what she seems to be hiding from. Angelina suffers from trust issues due to unfortunate circumstances in her past, and while she is becoming more and more attracted to Cole, she is afraid to give into those feelings.

This book started out a tad slow, but soon picked up the pace, and I got pretty invested in it. As with most books, there were communication issues between the two main characters that made you want to grab each of them and tell them what was going on and to talk to each other instead of assuming the worse, but of course, it all worked itself out. I particularly liked the part of Cole's father, Sam. We read a lot about how he was in the past and why Cole doesn't want to be around him, but by the time we meet him, he has already come to know the Lord and he is making changes in his life. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyer

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander ~ Reviewed

To Wager Her Heart

By Tamera Alexander

Publisher by Zondervan

ISBN#978-0310-291084

372 Pages

ABOUT BOOK: Set against the real history of Nashville's Belle Meade Plantation and the original Fisk University Jubilee Singers ensemble, To Wager Her Heart is a powerful love story about seeking justice and restoring honor at a time in American history when both were tenuous and hard-won. 

    

Sylas Rutledge, the new owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, invests everything he has into this venture, partly for the sake of the challenge. But mostly to clear his father's name. One man holds the key to Sy's success--General William Giles Harding of Nashville's Belle Meade Plantation. But Harding is champagne and thoroughbreds, and Sy Rutledge is beer and bullocks. 

REVEW: The author pens a rich historical tale that gives readers a peek into the complex in a post-Civil War America Southern society where they meet Alexandra Jamison, daughter of a wealthy attorney who is part of Nashville’s elite upper-class social order. Her father demands she gets married soon. It’s been a year since the death of her fiancé David, it was time to move on. Her father’s demands shake her to the core and move her into action. Alexandra is ready to risk everything in order to make her dream a reality. She heads to Fisk University; which is the first Freedmen’s University. There was more to life than marrying for money’s sake; David has shown her that.

Sylas Rutledge leaves Colorado to end up near Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation. He’s on a mission …

To Continue Reading Nora’s Review Click Link http://psalm516.blogspot.com/2017/08/to-wager-her-heart-reviewed.html

Life in Chapel Springs by Ane Mulligan ~ Reviewed

Life in Chapel Springs

Ane Mulligan
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (September 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1946016136

Description: 

Is it a midlife pregnancy or ... cancer? Claire will keep her secret until she's sure but it isn't easy. Neither is trying to buy a home pregnancy test without anyone finding out. Between her twins double wedding, the caterer canceling, a looming nationwide art tour and her health, Claire's life is upside down. 

Shy Lacey Dawson was happily writing murder mysteries for the community theater with her eye on Broadway. Then, a freak accident causes her traumatic injuries requiring facial reconstruction. When the bandages come off, Lacey's world is tuned inside out. Will Chapel Springs rally behind its own ... or will life unravel? 

When the mayor announces he has found quartz on his land, the local TV station reports: Where there's quartz, there's gold. Then Mayor Riley discovers Howie Newlander has bought the mineral rights to his land. Howie and his nefarious investors are struck with gold fever and set out to buy all the homes in Chapel Springs and mine the gold. Will life in Chapel Springs become the tailings of a gold mine?

Review: 

Ane Mulligan's little Chapel Springs is a community I want to visit. Maybe for a really long time. Depends on the bugs and snake population. Mulligan has created a group of characters I'd love to spend time with, and a landscape that beckons. 

And the trouble they get into in Chapel Springs. This time, while working on wedding details for the twins and an upcoming art tour and a play, Claire ends up getting intimately involved in the gold fever sweeping the town. Unfortunately, the gold is not what interests the out-of-town big guns, but the quartz. Mining the quartz would nearly destroy the town and an unknown buyer is snatching up mining rights that were somehow not attached to properties, and attempting to get residents or landlords to sell. 

Lacey suffers a painful crisis when she is involved in a freak accident and her life changes radically. The only hope she has is in turning her eyes to God. 

Fortunately, Claire is not responsible for Lacey's accident. The other big crash heard around the hamlet was Claire's fault, but on purpose. She knows what those big ol ceramic pots can do from experience and feels the need to do it. 

Claire and Patsy are friends I'd love to meet with at Dee's. Mulligan sprinkles chuckles on nearly every page as the characters get involved with saving the town, making Lacey's script magical and rocking a wedding and reception. Claire even managed to get through the wedding with both feet on the ground. If you love characters and fun, clean escapism grab this one. If you haven't read the others you should probably buy the whole series.  

Review by Kelly Klepfer

When Love Arrives by Johnnie Alexander ~ Reviewed

WHEN LOVE ARRIVES
Johnnie Alexander
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 20, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800726413

Description:

An Unlikely Couple Struggles to Reconcile the Burdens of Their Past
Dani Prescott came to the children's hospital to spy on Brett Somers--so how did she end up on a date with him? Weeks earlier she'd seen an interview in which he blamed her mother for the plane crash that had killed his parents. But the crash had killed her mother as well, so Dani can't believe the story Brett's trying to sell to the media.

Vowing to find a way to discredit the privileged--and maddeningly handsome--Brett, Dani has been following him and taking photos, hoping to find something she can use against him. But when she catches his eye instead, she quickly finds herself offering up a fake name and agreeing to a date. Brett knows this mystery girl is hiding something--but he's got his own secrets to keep. What will happen when he discovers who she really is? Will Dani and Brett look beyond their own heartaches to discover a love that could heal their deepest pain?

Fresh, flirty, and fast-paced, When Love Arrives is an engaging story that will have readers falling in love with the characters as they navigate the tricky waters between romance and revenge.

Review:

When Love Arrives is book number two in the Misty Willow Series. We learned about Brett Somers in Where She Belongs, and the story continues in this book. At the end of the last book, Brett discovers he has a young son who was in a terrible accident, and it is questionable as to whether he will live. Brett's life has taken quite a turn. He's gone from being a selfish womanizer, to a person who realizes he isn't the only one that exists! In the mean time, a young woman named Dani, has sought him out, initially to hurt him for things he said about her mother. But a chance meeting between Brett and Dani takes a turn for the unexpected, and tensions build for Dani as she begins to develop feelings for Brett.

I was really excited to get his book to see how Brett's character developed. He was a bit annoying in the first book, but became more likable as it went on. You can really see the change in him in this book. Dani's was a great character as well. She was originally out for some sort of vengeance, but was able to allow her feelings to change her attitude. This was a great follow up to the first book. Can't wait for the next one.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Rescue Me by Susan May Warren ~ Reviewed

Rescue Me
by Susan May Warren
Series: Montana Rescue (Book 2)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 31, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800727444

Description: 

When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

Review: 

Reconnecting with the PEAK team and learning more about the way they work and live together in their small community felt like coming home to my home away from home (I love the Pacific Northwest and majestic Glacier National Park is on my bucket list!) The unpredictable forces of nature and untamed wilderness keep throwing the team for a loop. I have a feeling this entire series is going to end up on my all-time favorites list!

Keep reading the review here: http://www.faithfullybookish.com/review/rescue-me-by-susan-may-warren/

Reviewed by: Beth Erin

The Long Highway Home by Elizabeth Musser ~ Reviewed

Nora St. Laurent shares her review of: The Long Highway Home 

Back Cover: Sometimes going home means leaving everything you have ever known.

When the doctor pronounces ‘incurable cancer’ and gives Bobbie Blake one year to live, she agrees to accompany her niece, Tracie, on a trip back to Austria, back to The Oasis, a ministry center for refugees that Bobbie helped start twenty years earlier.  Back to where there are so many memories of love and loss…

Bobbie and Tracie are moved by the plight of the refugees and in particular, the story of the Iranian Hamid, whose young daughter was caught with a New Testament in her possession in Iran, causing Hamid to flee along The Refugee Highway and putting the whole family in danger. Can a network of helpers bring the family to safety in time?  And at what cost?

Filled with action, danger, heartache, and romance, The Long Highway Home is a hymn to freedom in life’s darkest moments.

Review Highlight: 

This novel is absolutely riveting. It’s a beautiful inspiring story of healing, faith and how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It made me look at the world with fresh eyes as things around us quickly change;...

Click to continue to read the review.  THE LONG HIGHWAY HOME by ELIZABETH MUSSER REVIEWED

THE LONG HIGHWAY HOME by ELIZABETH MUSSER REVIEWED Long Highway Home By Elizabeth Musser Published by Create Space ISBN# 978-1542362726 408 Pages Back ...

An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter ~ Reviewed

An Uncommon Courtship (Hawthorne House)
by Kristi Ann Hunter
Series: Hawthorne House
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 3, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764218263

Description: 

"Engaging Regency romance to sweep you away."--USA Today Happy Ever After Blog
Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier if she hid in her older sister's shadow--which worked until her sister got married. Even with thepressure of her socially ambitious mother, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience to save her previously spotless reputation.

Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier that he is not the duke in the family. He's free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, which includes grand plans of wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he doesn't know, his dream of a marriage like his parents' seems lost forever. 

Already starting their marriage on shaky ground, can Adelaide and Trent's relationship survive the pressures of London society?

Review: 

An Uncommon Courtship follows Lord Trent Hawthorne. He is definitely happy not to be the eldest son in the family, as he in no way wants to be a duke, however, he is still having trouble finding out where he fits in society and what he should be doing. When he finds himself forced into a marriage with Lady Adelaide Bell, a woman he hardly knows, he tries to find the positive in the situation, knowing the Lord is in control, yet he can't help wishing the circumstances were different. Adelaide, on the other hand, is caught off guard just as much as him. Being the second daughter, and always overlooked, she has no idea how to be a wife and take care of a home, especially to someone she barely knows.

I love the books in this series, and this one is no exception. I love both Trent and Adelaide's characters. They are forced into a difficult situation, and while they have ups and downs, they are also open to letting the Lord work in their marriage so that, hopefully, love will grow. I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Long Time Gone by Mary Connealy ~ Reviewed

Long Time Gone

Mary Connealy

• Series:The Cimarron Legacy Book 2 
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 28, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076421182X

Description: 

Connealy Combines Western Action and Charming Historical Romance
The Boden clan thought their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they truly uncovered the real plot to take their New Mexico ranch? Rancher Justin Boden is now in charge. He is normally an unshakable and rugged man, but with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn't help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting a woman as Justin ever laid eyes on.

With her and the doc's timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend, and Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the dangers facing them. It's clear now that everything that's occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they uncover all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the threat to the ranch even bigger than any of the Bodens could imagine?

Review: 

Y’all are going to enjoy the ride as the entire Boden clan works together to uncover the truth behind the attacks against their family and their ranch… before it’s too late. Full of fun and excitement, this series is a must read!!!

Continue reading the review here.

http://www.faithfullybookish.com/review/long-time-gone-by-mary-connealy/

Review by: Beth Erin 

Dawn Ford's Knee High Lies ~ Reviewed

Knee High Lies

Dawn Ford

ebook: 289 pages

Publisher: Splickety Publishing Group

Language: English

• ASIN: B072TMXH5X

Back cover text:

What happens when the lies you tell grow so high you can’t see the truth?

To the outside world Avery Denton’s life looks happy, normal even. But it isn’t. Not even close. She believes nothing can make it worse. When her mother skips town with their banker, the small-town gossips focus on her. 

Jaxson Stewart, Avery’s neighbor and friend, has had a crush on her for years. She makes his heart race, which is dangerous for a boy with a heart condition. Unlike their community, he refuses to hold her mother’s actions against her.

Avery’s summer heats up when Jaxson kisses her under a star lit sky. The rest of her life boils over, though, when Avery becomes the target of revenge, her alcoholic father’s anger escalates, and long-hidden family secrets come to light. 

Can Avery find strength in the truth? Or will she continue to struggle through knee-high lies? 

Review:

This book tugged on my heartstrings big-time. Dawn’s dynamic and authentic characters and deep storyline caused me to feel every emotion, sometimes in rapid succession. I laughed, I cried, I got more than a little angry—a few times. Though this novel was written for young adults, the story will draw all readers in. And I believe, in reading about Avery, a teenager living in chaos in a town filled with judgment and, seemingly, perfect families, readers can catch a glimpse into what life may be like for the hurting teens among us.

I loved Avery. I felt for her. She was timid, insecure, and yet incredibly strong. She weathered what would cause many to break. There were times when her situation seemed hopeless, but I loved how Dawn brought it all back around. The ending was perfect, the romance interwoven in the story adorable and sweet, and the message of grace and healing and inner strength came through clear.

In other words, I loved this book and am certain you will to. I can’t wait to read more from this gifted, slightly gritty, utterly authentic writer.   

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery

Butterflies on Breezes by Valerie Comer ~ Reviewed

Butterflies on Breezes 

by Valerie Comer

• Series: Urban Farm Fresh Romance
• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: GreenWords Media (September 28, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1988068150

Description: 

From a USA Today bestselling author!

Like a butterfly on a summer breeze, Love rarely lands where it’s expected. Working for her dad’s landscaping business stifles Linnea Ranta. When she’s invited to design and build a community garden with an intriguing master carpenter, she seizes the chance to unfurl her wings, but at what expense to her heart? 

Logan Dermott eases back his flirting when he senses Linnea’s fragility, but she has more backbone than he suspected. As they work together, Logan finds he’s falling for her, but it may be too late to win her love. 

Will Linnea break free of her chrysalis and fly away before Logan realizes what he almost had?

Review: 

I adore this fictional small town community within the big city of Spokane! United by proximity, a new community center, and a cozy-sized church, this neighborhood is graced with the intimate charm of a matchmaking grandma figure and nonstop 3-on-3 basketball. Keep reading Beth Erin's review http://www.faithfullybookish.com/review/butterflies-on-breezes-by-valerie-comer/ 

Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge ~ Reviewed

Jane of Austin

By Hillary Manton Lodge

Published by Waterbrook

ISBN#978-1-6042-934-6

315 Pages

ABOUT BOOK: Just a few years after their father’s business scandal shatters their lives, Jane and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop. The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street, but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their kid sister Margot and Jane’s tea plants, determined to start over yet again.

But life in Austin isn’t all sweet tea and breakfast tacos. Their unusual living situation is challenging and unspoken words begin to fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper.

While Sean seems to charm everyone in his path, one person is immune – retired Marine Captain Callum Beckett. Callum never meant to leave the military, but the twin losses of his father and his left leg have returned him to the place he least expected—Texas.

In this modern spin on the Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility, the Woodward sisters must contend with new ingredients in unfamiliar kitchens, a dash of heartbreak, and the fragile hope that maybe home isn't so far away

REVIEW: This author beautifully brings together a heartfelt story of three sisters whose lives are suddenly shattered by an unexpected chain of events. News travels fast of their father’s business scandal and they are forever identified with his disgrace. Their lease is up on their tea salon in San Francisco. They are unable to find an affordable place so they seek a new location and move in Austin, Texas. The girls are looking for a fresh start and to reconnect with family members on their mother’s side.

Continue Reading Nora St Laurent’s Review

http://psalm516.blogspot.com/2017/06/jane-austin-fans-will-love-this-modern.html

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook  Publishers.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”