Fatal Frost by Nancy Mehl

Fatal Frost starts off with getting your adrenaline rolling and it doesn't stop until the end of the book.

US Marshal Mercy Brennan has recovered from being wounded on duty.  She is unaware that her recent reunion with her father has put her high on the watch list of the post power street gang in the city.  Her boss assigns Deputy US Marshal Mark St Laurent and Lieutenant Tally Williams to protect her.  As they leave to "protect a witness" they soon realize that the storm they encounter will be the least of their worries.  As they dangers around they amount will the help they need be able to get to them on time?

This books is full of action from the start to the end.  You are drawn into the story from the very start and you don't want to put it down until you are done.  The suspense in the book keeps you guessing all the way through.  You get hints here and there but not to enough to make you figure it all out.  

The romance is not just between Mercy and Mark but also in the close friendship between Mercy and Tally.  I enjoyed how Tally and Mercy were able to see how God was able to work in their lives through all that was happening.

I enjoyed this book and definitely can't wait to read more in this serious! 

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

* NOTE - This will be my last book review.  I've have put a stop to receiving new books.  I have found that I just finish the new ones I got one month and the next months ones arrive.  I have no time to re-read all the books I have on my bookshelves.  I'm taking a break for a bit to read old favorites.  I may sign back up again after a few months.

Out of the Spin Cycle by Jen Hatmaker

Jen Hatmaker wrote this book to offer messages of encouragement to mothers.  The book is filled with stories of her as a mom with her kids and offers up encouragements to other moms.  Each chapter has a Bible verse and contains a short lesson.  Each chapter ends with a couple questions to help you reflect on the chapter and what you read.

I have to say this book is not what I was expecting when I saw that it said it was devotions.  I felt it could have contained a lot more Biblical principals and the stories she told to maybe be a little shorter.  I was disappointment in the book.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

Wild Montana Sky by Susan May Warren

Kacey Fairing is a Search and Rescue piolot in the armed forces.  On her recent tour of Afghanistan she was in a devastating crash.  She is on leave for the summer and wants nothing more then to heal emotionally and spend the summer with her daughter.  She gets a job for the summer working for PEAK Rescue.  Her only hope as she returns home to her home town that no one brings up her past mistakes.

Ben King has also returned that summer.  He is reason to stardom on the country music circuit in his hope to heal his broken heart.  He's called home to help with PEAK Rescue when his father is injured. His father has others reason for Ben being home, when he also hired Kacey at the same time.  Neither of them are ready to see each other again and open up the old flames that both Ben and Kacey want to forget and thought were in the past.

Through the summer they work together as their home town is facing devastating floods.  As they work together will they repairs the hurts that have happened or will they turn from each other again, when they really need each other.

Susan May Warren has written a wonderful story.  I love the setting in the story of the small country town.  One where everyone knows everyone.  The story moves along and opens before yours eyes.  Near the end it gets to the point where it's impossible to put the book down!  I can't wait to read more in this series. 

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

Anna Nicholson is from high society Chicago.  She comes to Hotel Ottawa in Holland, Michigan after breaking off her engagement to her finance.  She needs time alone to think and learn more about her new found faith.  She has so many questions she wants answered.  While she is there her recurring nightmares she has come back and a lot more frequent.

While at the hotel she meets a hotel worker Derk Vander Veen who is studying for the ministry.  He is able to answer many of the questions she has.  As they talk Derk can't help but see how Geesje de Jonge seems to have a similar story and would be able to help her.

Geesje de Jonge is writing her story.  A story that starts 50 years ago in the Netherlands.  She painfully tells her story of doubts, regrets, hardships and joys.  As her story unfolds, the similar story of her what's happened in her life and in Anna's life links them together in a way that neither expected.

Lynn Austin has written another spell binding novel.  She has such a wonderful way of drawing you and opening your eyes to so clearing see the story (in this case the two stories) that are unfolding before you.  I do have to admit I didn't care for the end (which I don't want to spoil) but I do see where Geesje's advice came from to Anna - though I was hoping for a different end!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson

Cassidy, Grace, Belinda and Louisa start the Christmas season with a struggle.  Not only are the facing struggles in their lives, that may just change their lives, they face the loss of their good friend Abby,  Abby's husband Clayton passes on to them the Christmas presents Abby had made for them.  Each of them received a handmade angel ornament that was made to look like them.  Together they decide to start a Christmas Angel Project.  Each of them seeks to find a way they can minister and be an "angel" to the people around them.  They agree to meet and report on what they were doing and how they were doing it.  Through it all they learn how not only can they help other people, they also leaned how they could help each other.  Through it all they learn how to open up to each other and how to share their struggles.

Melody Carlson has written a remarkable short story.  It was so great to see how not only can you help people this time of year at Christmas but how you can help each other throughout the year.  It is such a wonderful story that makes you want to cry and cheer along with the ladies as they grow and learn together.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

The Domino Effect by Davis Bunn

Esther Larson is a top risk analyst for one of the country's top banks.  Every since 2008 she has been researching.  She realizes she has uncovered a list of many different things that falling one after the other, like domino's, will make what looked like happened in 2008 seem minor.   As her employer makes more and more "risky" decisions, she realizes there is something she needs to do and she starts speaking out.  She starts broadcasting what she sees coming and what people can do to help themselves.  

Craig Wessex comes into Esther's life when she is struggling with all this.  He is a former accountant and is there to encourage Esther along.  Esther is there to encourage his two daughters who are upset with their father and the change he is making in his life.  When Esther was thinking she had no friends, when she thought she had no one to be there for her, her friends surround her and help her as she speaks up and encourages her along the way.

Davis Bunn has written a remarkable book.  He takes the book of Esther where she states "for such a time as this" and weaves it all throughout the story.  This is a book that you can pick up and not want to put down until you are done.  While it seems the financial aspects of the story might seem to hard to understand, it's written in such a way it's simple and easy to understand what is happening.  It also makes you wonder what is happening in the financial world, and if something like what is talked about in this book could really happen.  

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

Traces of Guilt by Dee Henderson

Evie Blackwell is a skilled investigator with the Illinois State Police.  She has been asked to go to Carin, Illinois to help start a new task force that would work on cold cases.  She's been sent there to work on two cases - one a missing child and another a missing family.

Gabriel Thane grew up in the area and is now the town sheriff.  He very much loves his job and what he does.  The missing family case holds a special place in his heart, as the father of the family was a deputy.  

Evie arrives in town and, after an arrival she didn't exactly plan for, dives into the cases.  As she dives into the cases she unearths many new leads and some very surprising connections - some connections Gabriel doesn't want her to make.  Evie realizes that Gabriel and his family are the ones best able to help her.

As Gabriel and Evie work together they draw closer together.  They spend many times talking about the case, but also talking about each other and their plans for their futures.  

Dee Henderson has written a remarkable book!  You were drawn in from the very beginning.  The story lines keeps you going until the very end - and then the end comes way to soon and leaves it unfinished between Gabriel and Evie. I can't wait for the next one in this series!!!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

The Wish by Beverly Lewis

Leona Speicher had always wanted a sister.  Her dream came true when Gloria Gingerich moved to Lancaster County.  Leona becomes very close to Gloria and her family but all that changes when Gloria's father is expelled from the community - for reasons no one talks about.  For a short time Gloria stays in contact with Leona, but soon Leona looks all contact with her best friend.

Several years passed and Leona is engaged to the deacon's son.  In an unexpected surprise, Leona receives a letter from Gloria.  After much prayer and discussion with her family, she goes to visit her old friend.  Leona desires to reestablish her friendship, but will it ruin her?  Will her fiance Tom understand why she is doing this?

Beverley Lews has written another remarkable book.  You are drawn into each character and feel the heartbreak and struggles of not just Leona but also of Gloria.  Leona yearn to help her friend but isn't sure how to help her.  Gloria is struggling with the "English" life her family now lives and yearns for the simple days of her Amish upbringing.  Through both of their struggles they grow closer together and learn a lot about their own lives.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

This Road We Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick

Tabitha Brown is hurt when her son makes the decision to move her entire family out west and leave her behind, stating she is to old and lame to make the journey.  Tabby joins forces her her deceased husbands brother and hires her own wagon to join her family on the journey.  She faces many trials along the way as they make their journey and she both teaches and learns lesson.  

The story follows the story of Tabby, her daughter Pherne and her granddaughter Virgilia.  All of them face the struggle of leaving so much behind and starting out on this new adventure with my new adventures and dangers awaiting them as they journey and settle in their news homes.

I found this book very dull and not interesting.  If I book does not capture me within the first chapter, it doesn't capture me at all.  This one didn't.  I found it hard to read as I didn't have a desire to read it. Most of the last half of the book was only skimmed over.  I would have a hart time recommending this book to anyone.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

Everything is Possible: Finding the Faith and Courage to Follow Your Dreams by Jen Bricker

Jen Bricker was born without legs and given up for adoption.  Her adoptive parents raised her to never say that she couldn't do something.  They taught her that anything was possible and Jen believed them.  She played baseball, roller skated, power tumbling and spinning from silk fabric high up in the hair.  Whatever she set her mind to do she did it.

In this book Jen tells her story of how she  didn't let obstacles stand in her way.  If she wanted to do something she did it.  She does not consider her self to be handicapped in any sort of way.  She talks about what she has learned in her life and how we can believe in the same things.    She starts each chapter off with a scripture verse and ends it with a section entitled "Believe It!"

This book was very inspiring.  Jen Bricker goes to prove that you can do anything you set your mind to.  The lessons that she has learned throughout her life can so easily be applied to anyone's life.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M. White

Lady Ella Myserston is more then meets the eye. She seems to be a very unconventional person for the time she is living.  Even though people have tried to protect her, she has learned all she could about the dangerous of the Fire Eye diamonds.  She won't let anything happen to her brother or any of her family and friends again.  

Lord James Cayton is working hard to turn his life around and to became a better person.  However, old acquaintances are working at pulling him back in to what he is trying to leave behind in an attempt to find and seize the jewels.  He meets Lady Ella and does his best to keep both her and his young daughter from danger.  

Kira has been hired by Lord Rushworth to be a lady's maid to his sister Lady Pratt.  Secretly she is working for someone else to find and get her hands on the jewels.  As she works for Lady Pratt she learns the truth about many different things that are happening and the truth about what to Lady Pratt's family.

I so love the banter and the connections between Ella and Cayton!  They work so well together.  Lady Ella stands up for herself so well it's also unsure of who is trying to protect who!  

This book was action packed from beginning to end.  Each of the characters seemed to come alive on each page.  You can see the real differences between the upper class and those the lived "below the stairs" at that time, but at the same time you can see where those barriers were coming down in that household.  

Roseanna White has done a remarkable job.  I need to go back and read the first two stories to get the back ground of these characters.  However, I do feel as this book can easily be read alone without having read the first two stories in the trilogy.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

Your Powerful Prayers by Susie Larson

Susie Larson rights a powerful book on prayer.  She fully understands, and gives examples in her life, of the struggle to pray.  She shows how she has learned to pray with confidence and joy.  In the first unit, she teaches how to pray like we loved, for perspective, with endurance, and to say what's true.   She goes on in the second unit to teach us to pray like we are heirs, to pray without, to pray like we are anchored and to pray like we are an anchor.  In the final unit she dares us to pray with humility, passion, confidence and to expect to preserve.  

This book was very uplifting and encouraging.  It's very honest and very open.  Each chapter ends with a sample prayer and encourages you on what to pray about from the chapter.   Each chapter also has quotes and ends in several discussions questions, making it good for a group study.

The one issue I had was with the numerous number of Bible translations used.  While the translations have nothing to do with the review of this book, I found it hard to understand some of them and found myself reaching for my King James Bible when I didn't know the verse and was unsure if what it was saying.  Though my personal view of the many translations should not go against this review.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. 

Wreck my Life: Journeying from Broken to Bold by Mo Isom

Mo Isom understands first hand how when struggles come our way it leaves us confused and angry.  Sometimes that anger is directed at God. 

Mo was an All-American goalkeeper for Louisiana State University.   While on the outside she seemed to be a success inside she is struggle.  She has suffered through eating disorders, the suicide of her father and a bad car accident.   It wasn't until after things came crashing down around her in the accident that she turned to God and found she could find strength and renewal through him.

Mo tells us her story and what led to the accident.  She continues on and talks about the many lessons she learned and the changes that were slowly taking place in her life as she learned to trust God and lean on him for help.

Mo's story is captivating and her lessons she teaches are so practical and can so easily be applied to any struggles you are facing.  I found myself agreeing with much of what she was saying.

There was one place that made me cringe and disagree with what she was doing.  She mentioned going to a jail and talking to men and their children.  I Timothy 2:12 state "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."  It's not a women's place to teach men, not matter what the situation is.  The older women (both in physical age and spiritual age) is to teach the younger women.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is going through struggles in their life.  The lessons she tells she learned are eye opening.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.,  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

A Tapestry of Secrets by Sarah Loudin Thomas

 

Perla Phillips has kept a secret for years.  A secret that leaves her with guilt on a almost daily basis.  When she sees her granddaughter Ella facing a similar struggle, she realizes it's time to tell her secret.   Before she has a chance to she suffers a stroke leaving her unable to speak.  Ella goes home to help care for her grandmother, along with her Aunt Sadie.  Sadie has always known her grandfather wasn't not her biological father, but anytime she would ask her mother who her father was, her mother didn't answer her.  She begins her quest in earnest to find her birth father.

Ella loves her home and she loves her home church.  A church that was built by her ancestors.  When a developer comes in and starts buying up land around the church many in the church want to sell.  The new pastor Richard wants to do what the church thinks is best.  

Will's friend Seth is there to help Ella along.   He also proves to be a distribution to Ella as she finds her self falling for him, but at the same time Richard is also showing interest in her.

While there were parts of this book I enjoyed, there were other areas I found hard to believe  I felt that Ella was shown to be very young and not the 29 she was in the story.  She seemed to struggle with change and refused to be acceptable to any type of change.  I did enjoy the love and care she showed to her grandmother and how they seemed to connect and she understood what she wanted, even though Perla couldn't express it herself.  

I did enjoy how the characters, especially Richard, seemed to learn throughout the story and how to take the struggles they were facing and turn to God's work for guidance.  The applications he applied where very well applied.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.,  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

The Artisan's Wife by Judith Miller

Ainslee McKay finds things not going the way she had planned when her twin sister elopes and she needs to move to Weston on her own.  Something she didn't want to do in the first place.  However, she knows she is obligated to fill her family's role in the tile works factory they have purchased.  She makes it clear to her brother Ewan she will only stay until a new owner can be found to purchase the the business.

Levi Judson moves to Weston in order for his brother Noah to receive the care he needs as the asylum.  It is something he hopes to keeps secret.  He goes to the tile works to look for a job and hopes to share his designs for new tiles.  While Ainslee hires him on and wants to put his designs to work for them, she wants to keep it secret about her plans for the business.

While Ainslee is injured, Levi works with her more closely with her to help with do the work she needs to get done.  As they grow closer to each other will the secrets each of them carry come out?  When the secrets do some out will it draw them closer together or will it drive apart the growing closeness between them?

I feel as if Judith Miller did a great job at writing the history into this story.  I loved how they explained how the tiles were made and how strong they could be made.  I also enjoyed reading about the asylum and the work that was done in there and to try to help people.  It's sad to think wives were put in there by their husbands, simply because they didn't want to deal with them anymore!  The history that was written in this book was reparable.

***** SPOILER ALERT *****

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I found the title in itself was a spoiler.  At the beginning of the boom they don't even know each other let alone are married! It's not until the end when they are engaged, that he refers to her as the "artisan's wife".  I think a different title should have been chose as the title gives away that she gets married.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.,  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

A Heart Most Certain by Melissa Jagaers

Lydia King is putting on a front.  She wants people to think she is part of high society and has everything she could want, but she can really understand the people she is trying to help by joining the Teaville Moral Society to help those in need.  Her father continues to make his debts worse and the doctor doesn't give her mom much hope.  Lydia know she needs to make sure she marries well.  She sets her sights on the mayor's son, whose mother is the president of the of the morel society.

Her first job is to get money from Nicholas Lowe.  The man flat out refuses.  

Nicholas does want to help others, but he does it in his own way.  He takes Lydia under his wing and begins to show her what he does and helps her learn how she can help those in need. Together they go through many complications and uncover secrets the town is holding.  Secrets that they need to decide if they want to keep hidden or to make known.

As they work together they came to grow closer to each other.  Lydia finds herself struggling with knowing what she is supposed to be do.

Melissa Jagaers has written a wonderful story.  The lessons Lydia learned can so easily be applied to out lives and how we can help others.  The romance that is building in the story is so sweet and wonderful.  There are many lessons that can be learned in this story.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.,  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

No Way Up by Mary Connealy

Cimarron Ranch owner and patriarch, Chance Borden, is seriously injured in an avalanche.  Before he leave for treatment that just might save his leg and his life, he gives orders for the direction in his will to be put into effect while he is gone.  His three children, who don't get along, Justin, Sadie and Cole must all live on the ranch for a year or it will go to a distance relative no one likes.  This isn't an issue for Justin who live there and loves the ranch, but Cole, who lives in town and works in the mines his father owns, and Sadie, who lives and works in the orphanage in town, fight against there father's wishes, but do obey what he wants.

Hired hand Heith Kincaid was instrumental in saving Chance's life.  It isn't long before Heith realizes the avalanche was no accident.  As Heith, along with Sadie, who he doesn't want to help him, but he finds he is drawn more and more to her, looks more into what happened, they uncover more danger as they look for answers.  Why is someone wanting them off the ranch?  What do they have against the Bordens?  Will they find the answers they need?

This is the first book in The Cimarron Legacy series.  Mary Connealy has done a remarkable job of  introducing us to the characters, making us fall in love with them (as some of them fall in love with each other) and leaves you wanting more at the end the book!  I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!  While the main questions do get answered by the end of the story, there is so more more left unanswered and leave you wanting the next book in the series!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.,  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

What Matters Most by Kellie Coates Gilbert

Leta Breckenridge was following her dreams and the career she wanted when she has to drop out of school to care for her mother who was suffering from dementia.   Leta works two jobs, struggling to make ends meet, to keep her mother in a good facility where she is well cared for.  She is thrilled when a high paying job opens up to her that will allow her to keep her mother where she is.  However, she quickly learns the job she has been given is to collect statistics for the election for governor.  Information to be used against Senator Nathan Emerson.  The man that she is quickly falling in love with.  When she goes to her boss Jane and tries to quit (on more then one occasion), will Jane let or are they trying to use her as they are aware of her connection to the Senator?

Senator Nathan Emerson is a rising star in the political area.  He is pressed by several people (mostly his mother!) to run for governor.  His father was a well known politician and many people want to see him follow in his father's footsteps.  The lady he is currently dating would make the perfect governor's wife, but when he meets Leta, he finds himself questioning the way he really feels.

Governor Holiday and his wife Amanda Joy will do anything they can to stay in power - even if what they do is not legal.  Will Leta, or anyone else, find the truth behind what Governor Holiday is doing? And more importantly will the right man win the election?  And will be it honestly?

Kellie Coates Gilbert has written a spellbinding story.  It is very hard to put it down!  It is full of interesting facts, about what probably really happens during an election for each side to use against each other to get people to vote for them.  I love the two main characters of Leta and Nathan.  These two couldn't be more opposite of each other, but yet they go to prove that opposites attract.  

I would highly recommend this book! (and I want to read more by this author!)

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.,  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

An Elegant Facade by Kristi Ann Hunter

Lady Georgina Hawthorne knows she needs to marry well.  She has prepared for years for the time she makes her debut with society.  She is ready to be the talk of the season and have her choice of who she will marry.  Deep down she is hiding a secret.  Everything she puts on is fake to hide a secret she wants no one to know.  Her desire to marry well, lines with up needing to keep her secret hidden.

Colin McCrae has no title, but has it powerful and has many connections with high society.  These connections get him invited to many different balls and he isn't accepted anywhere.  At one of these events he meets Lady Georgina.  While Lady Georgina's only care is about status and appearance for who she marries, Colin want to marry someone the complete opposite of her.  Lady Georgina finds ha hard time shaking off Colin and keeps meeting up with him everywhere.

As much as she wants to keep her secret hidden, Colin soon finds out here secret and why she is so insistent on marrying well.  I love the banter between Colin and Georgina and how she has "little Colin" running around in her head all of the time.

I loved diving into high society London in the early 1800s.  Ms, Hunter opened up society to us and the way it was.  How people fought for marrying well and turned away anyone that didn't meet their expectations.  I loved how Georgina was friendly with Lavinia, despite her stutter, and fought Lord Aschcombe to be friends with her.  (I never did like Lord Aschcombe!)  

I love the banter between Georgina and Colin and how Colin was able to get her to open up and see the real Georgina behind all what she was hiding.   Despite what she was expected to do, Georgina was followed her heart, she followed her true inner self.  She learned that God love her for the way she was and not the front she was trying to put on.

I do have to say the only thing I wish this book had was a translation of what some of the British society terms meant that were used.  

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.,  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden

Stella West artistic talent has set her high in London.  When her only sister mysteriously dies in Boston, she leaves everything behind and foes to Boston to find answers.  She single determines, on her own, she will find an answer to all the secrets around her sister's death.

Romulus White is a publisher of a popular scientific magazine that has been trying to get Stella come be an artist for him for years.  He wants her to be the answer for what is missing from his magazine.  Stella wants Romulus to be the answer to what she needs - connections to high power people.  People that can help her get what she needs.

Sparks begin to fly between to the two as they clash and it's not all arguments.  Stella and Romulus find themselves falling for each other (and fighting it the whole time!)  Is Romulus the answer to what Stella needs to find out what happened to her sister?  What will happen as the danger around them rises as they get closer to answers?

The history in this book in the start of the Boston subway was fascinating.  The historical details put into the story was wonderfully done.

I loved the interaction between Stella and Romulus was electric.  I was laughing at his remarks about her clothing, especially what he called her clothes when she works in the City Hall.   I was also grinning at how Romulus learned that sometimes the life long plans you make can be changed, in ways you don't expect it to.

Not only did Stella find herself growing closer to Romulus, but more importantly, by the end of the story she found herself closer to someone she had wandered away from - she found herself closer to God.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

A Haven on Orchard Lane by Lawana Blackwell

Charlotte Ward was a famed actress but stepped away from the Victorian London stage.  She finds her self in desperate circumstances, and when a role is offered to her (one she has played before) is offered, she eagerly accepts - only to experience a complete fall out.  Charlotte's daughter Rosalind, who hasn't seen her spoke to her mother in years, reluctantly comes to her and takes her away to recover in a small remove village.  

As Charlotte and Rosalind reconnect with each other, love seems to blossom for Rosalind at the same time.  Rosalind struggles with reconnecting with the mother she never really knew, and doesn't have time for romance!

As the threats of the recent months come closer to where they are they have difficult decisions to make.  Who can they trust to help them?  Will they bond that is growing between them be broken?  Will Rosalind find love?

While there is the romance between Rosalind and Jude, the story line is mostly about the growing bond between Charlotte and Rosalind.  It's about the relations between mother and daughter and the connections they make with each of those in the village - both the good and the bad!  The story lines of all the characters are woven together to make a wonderful story line.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer

 

Emma Chandler was taught by her suggragatte aunts growing up that men were optional.  She establised Harper's Station to be a women only colony where women could have a fresh start.  Where they could be on there and work in positions, that women normally would be in.

Someone is out to hurt the ladies and wants them out of the town they have set up. Not knowing what else to do, Emma reaches out to the only man she could trust, the only one she knows can help them.

Malachi Shaw has finally earned the respect and acceptance he has always wanted.  He loves his job as a explosive expert for the railroad.  When Emma's telegram reaches he, he returns to Taxes to finally payback the girl who has rescued him and helped him so many years before.  He realizes that she is no longer the little girl he remembers, but a woman with a mind of her own - one he quickly falls in love with.

Emma and Malachi work together (much to Malachi's chagrin at times!) to find out what is behind all that is going on at Harper's Station.  Who is helping the person responsible for the threats that are happening?  How far will the person go?  

Malachi's compassion and tender heat shows the ladies at Harper's Station that not all men are to be feared.   Not only is he able to be a help to the ladies, but he is also a "fatherly" help to the children in the community.  

This book is intriguing and one that is hard to put down as you get closer to the end.  It is a very good read!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Beloved Mess: God's Perfect Love for Your Imperfect Life by Kimm Crandall

Life can throw a lot at you.  You can appear to others that you have it all together and are doing well, but inside you are a crumbling mess.  We may be the only shining light of Jesus that others will see and we put on a brave front to let our light shine.    We need to open up and admit where we struggle and the issues we face.

Kimm Crandall opens up her life story and tells us the struggles she faced and what God taught her through all of it. She reminds us that God loves us just the way we are.  We don't need to "clean up" to get him to love us. but he loves us for who we are and the way we are.  He wants us to turn to him and he will help us through it all.

Kimm makes it believable that you can overcome anything that comes into your life. She opened up her life to us and tells us the struggles she went through, some that most people would probably never want others to know.  She uses scripture throughout the book for every area that she talks about.  Each chapter ends with questions for us to think on and ponder.

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Miracles from Heaven

This is a movie about faith and healing.  This movie is based off the real life experience of Anna Beam.

Anna is diagnosed with a rare disorder.  Her family does everything they can to find treatment for her and do what they can to help prolong her life.  Anna is playing in a tree with her older sister when she falls through a hollow part of the tree and falls several feet to the bottom of the tree.  While inside the tree she experiences what can only be described as a miracle.

Make sure you have tissues when watching this movie!  It's heartwarming and beautiful.  You feel for the family as they go through the struggles as they adjust to Anna's diagnosis and the struggles that come with it.  Dr. Nurko brings much needed laughter to the family and to us as we watch the movie!

In the end the family realizes the miracles that were around them each and every day.  Miracles they couldn't see.  From friends they meet in Boston that helped them out, to the new receptionist working for Dr. Nurko to the person working the airport check in counter.  

The only thing I would have to say is that I didn't care for most of the music in the movie and had to hit mute while watching it until the music over.  Other then that it was a wonderful family movie and I would recommend it!

This video has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

Eric Nash is on the fast track for partner in a prestigious law firm when he suddenly laid off.  He returns to his home in Hope Harbor, only to find his childhood home is being turned into a bed and breakfast.  While he wants to look into his next career move in peace and quiet, he finds himself surrounded by noise - and an attractive architect  BJ Stevens who is leading it all.  He gets himself off on the wrong foot with her, not once but twice!  BJ finds her client's son to be very handsome, but she isn't ready for a new romance.

BJ's heart is with the elderly residents of Hope Harbour and wants to help them out.  She has a plan that she wants to put into action.  Eric works with her to help the residence, and one of BJ's employees at the same time.   While they work together to help the residence, they help each other at the same time.

Eric finds his old friend Charley to be the same as he remembered.  Always there to help. Always there to encourage and point him in the right way.  When a job on the fast track opens up, will he take it?  Will Eric go back to the fast track of earning a partnership in a prestigious law firm?  Or will he stay in Hope Harbour helping the residence there, and picking up his paint brush again.  Will BJ and Eric pursue the feelings the have for each other?

Irene Hannon has written a wonderful romantic story.  You could feel the pull between the two characters as they drew closer to each other.  I loved Eleanor!  I so wished that BJ's plan would come together and work out to help her, and not only help her but to help Louis as well.

I loved the seagulls and how they seemed to be so human and that Charley seemed to know them so well. The seagulls and along with Casper brought some great humor into the story!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Her One and Only by Becky Wade

Her One and Only by Becky Wade is the fourth book in the Porter Family series.  

NFL Dallas Mustangs tight end star Gray Fowler has been receiving death threats in the mail from a stalker.  The managers on his team hire an executive protection agency to follow him and protect him 24/7.  Gary is frustrated with people needing to follow him around all the time, and he finds it especially difficult when one of them turns out to be a beautiful lady.  He's convinced he can take care of himself and protect himself.

Dru Porter is a former Marine, expert markswoman and a black belt.  None of the training prepared her for what happened on her last assignment.  When she is hired to protect Gray, she is determined not to let it happen again.  She is determined to protect Gray, find his stalker and rebuild her reputation.  What she doesn't count on is falling in love with the person she is to protect, something that is strictly forbidden with her job.

As Dru works around Gray (with much ridicule from her old brothers as they are all die hard Cowboy fans!) she not only comes closer to finding his stalker, but she falls more and more in love with him.  As she falls more and more in love with him, the danger around them from the stalker continues to grow.

Becky Wade has written a sweet romance story.  I love the story line between Dry and Gray and how they fall for each other.  Both of them go through struggles and learn several lessons along the way.  The mystery of who the stalker is, who some of the people who seems to follow Gray all the time, keeps you guessing until who the stalker really is emerges.  There is also the unexpected twist at the end!  That's all I"m saying about that!

I do love Ashley's character.  She seems like the ideal wife - or whatever you want to call her position as she works for Gray!  

Dru's family seems like a tight family who all love and care for each other and wants what best for each other.  They are a type of family that are there for you and except what you want, even if that means you are in love with someone playing for the team that is your team's arch rival!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.