Tag: Romance

A Deep Divide

Kimberley Woodhouse

MY REVIEW

I hadn’t heard anything about Harvey Girls until reading this book. The history of the restaurant chain was fascinating. I also enjoyed the historical characters added into the story. The author really did a great job of making the reader want to visit the restaurant and the Grand Canyon.

I enjoyed the characters in this book. The characters, plot, and storyline were very well done. The suspense keeps the reader turning the pages. The faith theme is a good one, and this read gets a higher rating because of it. The theme of over coming ones fears, and the scripture verses that are in the book do such a marvelous job of showing why we need not fear. The faith theme is an intricate part of the story, and it is so well done.

So take a trip to the Grand Canyon, learn some great history, and read about God’s Grace and love in this beautifully written story.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Carved in Stone

Elizabeth Camden

MY REVIEW

Carved in Stone by Camden is in an interesting time in history. I have watched documentaries on the Rockefeller and Carnegie dynasties so I’m familiar with steel and this time period. I enjoyed the history, plot. And characters. It was predictable but interesting enough to keep me in the book.

I felt more connected to the main female character, but I found myself wishing to know a bit more about her younger years. I liked the main male character, but I didn’t really like all of the rosary mentions that came up in regards to his character. I realize that some of it made it historical as Irish immigrants were Catholic, but it seemed odd in a Christian fiction book.

The history and its background was what really held my attention throughout this book. It was very well done.

I received this book from the publisher.All opinions are my own. 

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A Lady in Attendance

By Rachel Fordham

MY REVIEW

This is my first book by this author. I have wanted to read previous ones just have a TBR that feels like it’s never ending so I hadn’t read one yet. I’m hoping to get her previous ones as I enjoyed this book. I had no idea what “lady in attendance “ meant, but I was quite surprised that was her title. 

I really liked the characters in this book. Gilbert’s shy behavior was something to which I could definitely relate. His career was an interesting one, and I loved reading the author notes as to why she chose his profession.

The main characters were wonderful, the storyline turned out to have several surprises and much suspense. It’s difficult not to give anything away here, but I’ll just say that I was definitely surprised at the turn the book took. It held my attention, and I ended up staying up well into the morning hours to find out what happened.

The faith theme was incredibly strong, and it , in itself, brought about much change. It was incredibly well done.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s writing style and do hope to read more of her books soon. Definitely do not miss this story! It was such a sweet story with much to enjoy.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Along a Storied Trail

By Ann Gabhart

MY REVIEW

This was a lovely story and so well written. I really liked Tansy and her love for books. I had heard about the people who delivered books during the Great Depression, but this story really brought that to life. I didn’t realize that they used materials to make books or that they delivered so many magazines.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book that bring the storyline to life. It had wonderful dialogue between the characters. The story seemed so realistic and true to its time period. There was quite a varied group of characters in the book all adding to a well written story.

I loved the faith theme in the book as well. It was intrinsic to the story and well written. Forgiveness, love, hope, and thankfulness were all woven so well into the plot. The dialogue of spiritual things was intriguing and added much to the novel.

A beautiful cast of characters, wonderful scene and era brought to life, and a realistic and interesting faith theme all made for a novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. This book will make it to my forever shelves-beautifully done!

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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The Nature of a Lady

By Roseanna M. White

MY REVIEW

This was a terrific mystery story with an engaging plot and lovable and despicable characters. It had all the right elements to make an enjoyable story.

I loved the mystery part of the story, and it was a pleasant surprise as this author is not known for mystery necessarily. It was very well done. I love the history in the book, and the setting is beautiful and so interesting with all the islands.

With such a wonderful plot and storyline, such creative characters, and a well done inspirational thread, the reader is kept engaged in the story and quickly turning the pages.
My favorite part is the spiritual mystery that unfolded in Libby. That story is beautifully and masterfully told.

I,too, was fascinated by the author notes. There she tells such an interesting story of how this story came to be. Do not miss reading those! I was so surprised at how the first part of this story was birthed.

Another wonderful novel from this author that will be on my forever shelves.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Network of Deceit

Tom Threadgill

Another terrific suspense novel from Tom Threadgill. I really enjoyed the first in this series…the second was not a letdown. This is definitely an author I want to follow. Pretty much everything comes to a nice close with plenty of surprises for a mystery lover like myself.

The characters are interesting, and I really enjoyed them and their quirks. Many times in a suspense read it’s just the story that keeps the reader turning the pages. Not true with this author. Both the intriguing characters and the suspense kept me in the book. Lots of twists and turns keep coming in this one.

My only complaint is that I’d like to see a stronger faith theme. Other than that, this is a story with wonderful build, terrific storyline, interesting characters, and I really loved the last sentence! 

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Endless Mercy

Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

MY REVIEW

Oh how I enjoyed this well told story. I love stories that involve close family members, and that is so much what the reader gets in this series. They live together, work together, and help each other both physically and spiritually.

I love the characters in this story. Madyson and Daniel are both great as main characters, and who cannot help but like Granny! She adds so much to the story. The family unit as secondary characters really help round out the story so well. The book does have a difficult scene with an attack. It is not at all graphic, but it does affect, in my opinion, what ages should read it. It contains some adult themes in it. It was handled well by the authors, and it didn’t hurt my view of the story. It’s not the focus at all. I love how the family helps each other through the difficult times , sometimes with unwanted advice. However, it is given with love.

This book has a good strong faith theme that is an intricate part and well woven. It seems so needful for the story itself. Redemption, grace, mercy, and forgiveness are all a beautiful part of this story.

With a wonderful setting, lovable and relatable characters, and powerful faith theme, it was a terrific story. I’m so eagerly awaiting the next book! 
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Dreams of Savannah

Roseanna White

MY REVIEW

Dreams of Savannah had a good message in the book, and I enjoy watching characters grow throughout a book-especially as they come of age. The main characters need to grow in this book so that was nice to see. I also liked the morals portrayed in this book…the fact that we are all people that have a story, all equal in wanting freedom to pursue love and dreams.

The leering and untrustworthy men that are in the story…and their stories made for a difficult book to read. It makes it hard to dwell on the book once it is finished. Will the meaning of the message of the book and what the main characters learned throughout the book outweigh the constant difficult subject of untrustworthy, unfaithful men harassing women? I’m honestly not sure. I do know that occurred, but it felt as if that outweighed the love in the story. I’m hoping as I process this book that the good will outweigh the bad…and that perhaps I can put it on my forever shelves to reread or loan.

I did like the way the difficulties were fleshed out as to Confederate verses Union. Not everyone fought for the same purpose. That was a portrait that was well painted in this book. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and I found their stories just as interesting. The plot was well done, and the story very well written and researched.

The faith theme is very strong in this book, and it is probably what I liked most about the book-scriptures quoted, scriptures that affected the characters actions and heart, and scripture that had an effectual change.
The Civil War is something I’ve always seen both sides. My parents are Yankees, and from a place with very strong Union ties. I grew up in a place that has Southern ties and sympathies. The author handled the difficulties of the Civil War very well…I’m still thinking through somethings in the story. Though the back states it’s a “glowing love story” …it is really much more than that…and much that has nothing to do with love at all. It gives the reader much to ponder, but a couple subjects are things that are difficult to ponder. It is not at all graphic, but it is definitely a book with adult themes.

This author produces thought inspiring books. This one is no different.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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All Through the Night

By Tara Johnson

MY REVIEW

This was such a fantastic story! I completely fell in love with Cadence! The story is so well done, the characters are wonderful. They main ones are so easy to like, and I really connected with the cast here. The scenes can be felt, and I love the historical research that was put into the book.

The storyline and plot are thoroughly engaging. Some books written during the Civil War are so incredibly difficult. I felt this one was incredibly well done. The faith and hope message is so strong in this book, and it is intricately woven well into the story.

I read this book at the end of 2020, and it is definitely one of the best of the year. Putting into words the story and message of this book isn’t possible. I highly recommend reading it for yourself.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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A Cowboy for Keeps

By Jody Hedlund

MY REVIEW

I’m not a huge western fan, but I am a Jody Hedlund fan so I wasn’t about to miss out on her latest novel. I could relate to this in some interesting ways. I’m not a sick 11 year old as Astrid is, but I am a disabled and mostly homebound wife and mother. The thoughts of being a burden are frequent. Also, trust me, people do tire of a constant cough. My reactive airway disease causes an awful cough that annoys even myself. The feeling of being a burden and making life more difficult for those I love is definitely not a rare one for me.

The plot and storyline are simple and an easy read for me. It’s message and faith theme were good. It had a bit more romance than I tend to like in my historical fiction books. I love learning history, and I didn’t feel that happened in this book. I am not sure why, but I didn’t feel as if I traveled to Colorado. I’m not a big fan of constant physical attraction being a large part of a story which it was in this one. It’s just my personal preference, but a deeper storyline and historical details are things I find appealing in a book.

I did like the characters. I hope we learn more about Judd as the story continues. He was such a special part of this story with wonderful wisdom and wit. I just fell in love with Astrid! She is so trusting and fun…yet ornery and feisty. I love kids in books! Another aspect I liked was that Greta was very capable on a ranch. Many stories have a wimp of a woman who has a hard time adjusting…not true with this character.

Good characters, faith theme, and an interesting story has me waiting for the next book in the series.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

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