Sweet and Intriguing

January Bride
Deborah Raney

Book Summary: Part of A Year of Wedding Novella series
In A January Bride by Deborah Raney, what will happen when novelist Madeleine Houser’s “pen pal” friendship with a lonely widower takes an unexpected turn? Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie's never met the innkeeper - but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie's alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn's owner - a man who's likely many years her senior - and who she's never even met.

Review: This is a unique book in that it is debuted as ebooks and will later be published as a book. I like this series. The stories are short and sweet. The main characters are Maddie and Art. The majority of the story is spent with Maddie. You get glimpses of Art - so that makes the story even more intriguing. I liked Ginny a secondary character but the facilitator of events. She knows things about both Maddie and Art that the other does not. It is sweet and for anyone who has spent time apart prior to marriage from their fiancé knows that sweet can be a great start. I hope the rest are as enjoyable as this one.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan Fiction 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.

Imrpoving

Unspoken
Dee Henderson

Book Summary: Charlotte Graham is at the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago history. The task force of FBI and local cops found her two abductors, killed them, rescued her, but it took four very long years. The fact she was found less than three miles from her home, had been there the entire time, haunts them. She's changed her identity, found a profession she loves, and rebuilt her life. She's never said a word--to the cops, to her doctors, to family--about those four years. A family legacy has brought her back to Chicago where a reporter is writing a book about the kidnapping. The cops who worked the case are cooperating with him. Her options are limited: Hope the reporter doesn't find the full truth, or break her silence about what happened. And her silence is what has protected her family for years. Bryce Bishop doesn't know her past, he only knows she has coins to sell from her grandfather's estate--and that the FBI director for the Chicago office made the introduction. The more he gets to know Charlotte, the more interested he becomes, an interest encouraged by those closest to her. But nothing else is working in his favor--she's decided she is single for life, she struggles with her faith, and she's willing to forego a huge inheritance to keep her privacy. She's not giving him much of an opening to work with. Charlotte wants to trust him. She needs to tell him what happened. Because a crime cops thought was solved, has only opened another chapter...

Review: First, I must say I liked this better than Full Disclosure. I even found myself liking Ann better because of Unspoken. I liked Bishop he was the best part of the book. The talk of coins - I have enough of that after 5 pages, yet it never seemed to stop. No wonder the main character was tired with his career. Charlotte and her secrets, the mystery man who was a ‘cop’ which was alluded to for 2/3rd of the book not very exciting. I feel for me that Unspoken made up for Full Disclosure but not enough to rush out to read another book in this line. The suspense was lacking and I found the talk of wealth fanciful. Keep it, give it away whatever the decision is it can not cure what ails the human heart. I was glad to see it end, yet Dee Henderson does a fantastic job of painting a picture with words. The places were vivid. For me the talk of money and coins were not exciting. The horrible things that happened to Charlotte tragic. But as far as human spirit Charlotte was halfway there. She never healed or dealt with those events that resulted from her kidnapping. I could go on about the things I was frustrated with but the bottom line for me is that the characters from Full Disclosure were better written, Bishop and his family (what we saw of them) were realistic and the friends of Bishop & Charlotte were realistic and enjoyable. It was worth the read, but not something I need to reread.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing 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.

A Clown Did It Made It A Must Read

Truth Stained Lies
Terri Blackstock

Book Summary: When truth doesn't make sense, will lies prevail? Cathy Cramer is a former lawyer and investigative blogger who writes commentary on high-profile homicides. When she finds a threatening note warning her that she's about to experience the same kind of judgment and speculation that she dishes out in her blog, Cathy writes it off as mischief . . . until her brother's wife is murdered and all the 'facts' point to him. The killer has staged the crime to make the truth too far-fetched to believe. Working to solve the murder and clear her brother's name, Cathy and her two sisters, Holly and Juliet, moonlight as part-time private investigators. Juliet, a stay-at-home mom of two boys, and Holly, a scattered ne'er-do-well who drives a taxi, put aside their fear to hunt down the real killer. Stakes rise when their brother's grieving five-year-old son is kidnapped. As police focus on the wrong set of clues, the three sisters and their battered detective friend are the only hope for solving this bizarre crime, saving the child, and freeing their brother.


Review: I really enjoyed this opening series. I liked that it was so clever of a plot - A clown shot Jay’s wife. Truly a twisted twist and immediately made this a must read. I liked all of the siblings and can not wait for the next book. The book did not really over use any of the new characters. I found that the mystery did not take up too much of the book and yet it was fast paced and the mystery filled my head with who did it. The only thing that I did not understand is the connection between the murderer and why he wrote to Cathy….. Overall a must read for me and a quick paced mystery.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan 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.

A Truly Enjoyable Compilation

An Amish Miracle
Beth Wiseman, Ruth Reid, and Mary Ellis

Book Summary: Always Beautiful by Beth Wiseman
Becky Byler is eighteen and overweight. She is overwhelmed by the embarrassment she feels when comparing herself to other girls her age. Having lost all hope, she considers taking her own life. As she stands before rushing water, unable to swim, Becky begs God for a miracle. In just several months, Becky sees her prayers answered as food and temptation lose their hold over her. She's finally pleased with how she looks, but does she like the person she has become? And has the man she has dreamed of been right beside her all along, loving her exactly as she is?
Always His Providence by Ruth Reid
Widow Rosa Hostetler has one month to pay her delinquent taxes before the county auctions her farm. She's prepared to sell whatever is necessary to pay the lien, but she isn't willing to request money from the community's widow fund. She's embarrassed and refuses to admit she needs help. Rosa depends on income from selling eggs, but when that income is threatened, only a miracle can help Rosa accept the kindness of a neighbor.
Always in My Heart by Mary Ellis
Hope Bowman believes God is punishing her for giving up her firstborn son when she was a teenager. She's hidden this secret from her husband, who is thankful for their daughters but longs for a son. Hope prays desperately, but the son God sends her isn't a new baby but the fifteen-year-old boy she gave up years ago.
Includes Reading Group Guide and Old-Order Amish Recipes

Book Review: I really love these kind of books. They go by so fast. I really like visiting with all the new characters and as the stories progress you get to know these characters more and more. I really liked the start of this book with Hope. It set a wonderful tone for all the other stories. I could to wait to keep going. I look forward to many more of these stories. The over all tone of this series was so timely for me as a Christian because it is a season of trials and testing. It was especially meaningful to me.
I would like to thank Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson 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.

An Enjoyable Character Study

Lip Reading
Harry Kraus

Book Summary: She Could Save Millions, or Save Herself She just needs a little longer. She’s really close. Dr. Rebecca Jackson, a medical researcher, stands on the verge of a breakthrough that will transform medicine. But she soon discovers the reason behind the miraculous progress in her research, and it leaves her with a nearly impossible choice . . . and little time to decide. More than her research is at stake. And more threatens it than this latest revelation. Something she’s tried hard to cover up. There is a high cost to some things in medicine and it’s not always the patient who pays. Can Rebecca find the faith and wisdom she needs to make the right call? The clock is ticking and the pressure is on.

Review: I liked the characters and the plot. It started out with a bank and was a quick paced novel. I found Becca to be likable and the entire story to be a page turner. The ending was a teary eyed finale. Sean was a great lead character who was honorable and a great example of Christ. The story was full of my favorite thing about reading a fantastic character read. This book was full of empathy and the change that Christ brings to his people. The mysteries were minor, but held the story together and provided a great backdrop to the sacrifice that Becca made. It was well worth reading and great to spend time in the Shenandoah Valley within the pages of this book.
I would like to thank Net Galley and David C. Cook 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.

An Engrossing Mystery

Not By Sight

Kathy Herman

Book Summary: The first in a new series from suspense author Kathy Herman. Set in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Her Sister Couldn’t Be Alive … Could She? It had to be Riley Jo. She was certain. . .wasn’t she? But when Abby Cummings tells her mother she thought she saw her sister at the store, her mother quickly dismisses the idea. After all, Riley Jo and their father had been missing for years. Presumably dead. Yet Abby cannot ignore her intuition. Telling her friend J. D., they investigate. But J. D. may know more about the disappearance than he’s telling, or even realizes. And as they work to uncover what happened, all they have to go on is blind faith. Will it be enough . . . especially considering what the truth might be?

Review: I found this book to be very exciting. The characters were believable along with the story line. I liked the theme and the twists and turns throughout the book. It was a tragic story from the start. I liked how Abby had a nose to the grindstone mentality to finding her family. She was quick thinking for the most part and was a very determined young woman. I do not normally read stories where the main character is under 20. But this mystery was gripping and the development of the entire area, people and storyline was enough to draw me in deeply.
I would like to thank Net Galley and David C Cook 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.

A Fun and Quick Read

December Bride
Denise Hunter

Book Summary: Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at a December wedding. Every couple has a love story. Join us for a year of contemporary, seasonal wedding novellas, releasing in e-book every month. Each e-novella will include an excerpt from another wedding story in the Year of Weddings Collection as well as a list of the author’s full-length novels.

Review: This is the story of Seth and Layla. I really enjoyed the main characters. But just as well written were the Jennifer and Jack. They were so real you wanted to see Jennifer be exposed for stealing Jack from Layla or at the very least that Jennifer and Jack not get along. But that was not the point of the story. Seth was a great guy and the decorating for Christmas was the most fun a book has been about Christmas. I really like Seth and Layla, but at times Layla did not understand that even in small towns you can become somebody. They had great chemistry and the story was a quick read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan Publihing 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.