The Preacher's Lady is Like Going Home!!

The Preacher’s Lady
Lori Copeland

Book Summary: It's 1855, and Elly Sullivan works on her family cranberry farm in Wisconsin. She's pledged her unending love to Bo Garrett.At seventeen, Bo rides off for a month--just a month--to see a little of the world before he settles down with Elly. He falls in with the wrong people and the wrong life. His promises to Elly and the Lord are forgotten in a misspent youth. Eight years too late, he returns, having come to the end of himself and having rededicated his life to God. Can Bo convince Elly they were meant to be together despite all the bumps in their path?

Review: I just love the flow that Lori Copeland writes with. She is so gifted, that is why I continue to read her books. They are so real and also they speak to something that is decreasing in Christian Books - Jesus. She is believable with her story telling and even when the topic is hard to deal with she manages to make it empathetic and interesting. I really enjoyed these characters. I did not like Gideon very much and that was OK. I was with Elly about the geese and I have a problem with things like that too. Bo was almost too good true. Although, I did not like him at the very beginning and I really liked the changed Bo. Elly was great, although the work that girl did was overload. I kept thinking that I needed a rest after she rested. While there was great sadness, the overall tone was realistic. The book flowed so smoothly that it was a quick and enjoyable read!

I would like to thank Net Galley and Harvest House Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. 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.

A Fool and His Monet was Not Foolish!!

A Fool and His Monet
Sandra Orchard

Book Summary: Serena Jones has a passion for recovering lost and stolen art--one that's surpassed only by her zeal to uncover the truth about the art thief who murdered her grandfather. She's joined the FBI Art Crime Team with the secret hope that one of her cases will lead to his killer. Now, despite her mother's pleas to do something safer--like get married--Serena's learning how to go undercover to catch thieves and black market traders. When a local museum discovers an irreplaceable Monet missing, Jones leaps into action. The clues point in different directions, and her boss orders her to cease investigating her most promising suspect. But determined to solve the case and perhaps discover another clue in her grandfather's murder, she pushes ahead, regardless of the danger. With spunk, humor, and plenty of heart-stopping moments, Sandra Orchard gives readers an exciting string of cases to crack and a character they'll love to watch solve them.

Review : I loved this book!!! It starts off with a bang and flows from there. Serena is every woman: strong, secure, insecure, attractive, a daughter and a friend! It was a great introduction to a new series. The secondary story to bring the read up to date on who Serena was and the history she had with many of the secondary characters were well written and just enough to leave me wanting more. Serena was complex and had great depth. The story ends with the major current case resolved, but the case involving her grandfather is just starting. This is a double story line and I loved it!!! I want to see more of Tanner, Billy, Zoe, Jax and Nate. I love the picture painted of Serena’s apartment. It is an apartment, yet a home with History! Once her aunt’s place and yet a home. It seems so real I want to visit it!!! This is a must read book in my opinion!

I would like to thank Net Galley and Revell for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. 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.

Dressed for Death was Regency!

Dressed for Death
Julianna Deering

Book Summary: This Traditional British Cozy Mystery gets a Regency Twist: Drew and Madeline Farthering celebrate their six-month anniversary by attending a fancy Regency era costume party. Drew is glad to see Talbot Cummins, an Oxford classmate, and his fiancée, Alice Henley, though many present seem worried about the couple. Everyone's concerns are realized when, at the concluding grand ball, Alice dies of an overdose of cocaine. Tal refuses to believe she took the stuff intentionally, and Drew is determined to find out if her death was an accident or murder. Drew is shocked and disillusioned when the police arrest Tal's father and reveal that the man has been smuggling drugs into the country for the past twenty years. Reeling from the death of his fiancée and the revelation about his father, Tal begs Drew to find out what's going on. Drew, now questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, does so reluctantly, not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover--or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

Review: I really love mysteries. This one starts a little slow for me. It was about 35% in when the story started rolling. So much happens that twists the beginning into a different picture. I found the beginning to be forced to me. I get the Regency part, but all the quoting of Austen was wasted on me. I like a more subtle method. I found the mystery to be interesting and was thinking about who was behind the murders and who was the least obvious. That led me to the real culprit and the how of the second murder was clever. To me the surprise was the undercover agent. That was a nice twits. It is worth reading. The characters were realistically written, this book had a more morose tone and gave a lot of pause for thinking about how fleeting life is. I always love when the truth of the Bible is talked about, although I do not recall as much about Jesus.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. 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.

Raiders of the Lost Bark was Not Lost on Me!!

Raiders of the Lost Bark
Sparkle Abbey

Book Summary: Mel's enemy may be barking up the wrong tree . . . But someone is about to become a killer. Melinda Langston, amateur sleuth and Bow Wow Boutique owner, finds herself "Glamping Under the Stars" with a blackmailer, Orange County's hottest new gourmet pet chef, Addison Rae. But before Mel can put an end to Addison's strong-arming, the chef is found dead. Mel is just one of many suspects who had motive to snuff out the demanding chef. Was it Redmond, the angry sous chef who detested working for Addison? What about rival chef, Pepper Maddox? The glamping chef gig was hers until Addison blackmailed her way into the job. And then there's Asher, a charming fellow camper whose past relationship with Addison isn't the only secret he's guarding. Mel's not one to tuck tail and run, even when it looks like she may be the next victim.

Review: I once again enjoyed this series. I was glued to the book from the start. I will admit that I have missed some of the book since Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, and I was sad that Mel and Grey broke up. I now have to read all the books just to get caught up. I find the stories to have enough suspense to go along with the interactions of Mel and Betty. I always enjoy how the story flows and is easy to read. The characters are well developed and well written. I find that the story line is not gory and there is little cursing. I love how the characters interact and the writing is smooth. Each time I read one of the books the more I like the series. I also believe, since I have done it, that you can jump into the middle of the series without missing a beat.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bell Bridge Books for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. 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.