Someone Like You by Victoria Bylin

 

I was given this book by NetGalley and Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I found Someone Like You to be a love book. The author, Victoria Bylin, has a talent with words and she was able to show God's love for us and how He always looks out for us, even in our troubles. This book show how God's love is filled with redemption for each and every one of us. I felt like the story was woven together beautifully and the characters were well-rounded. I recommend this book. 

More Than A Promise

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was a beautiful story, written with great emotion. Ruth Logan Herne writes with her heart and soul and that's why her books are so precious. The reader feels the heart of each character, even the children, in her books. And her spiritual themes are just wonderful, too. I enjoyed every minute of this one and am now looking forward to her next book.
I highly recommend this book.

Book Review: The English Son

Before I begin I thought that I had reviewed this book before, but after re-reading it I realized that this was a different book. This book is the first of the Amish Millionaire series by Wanda and Jean Brunstetter. 
Joel Byler, in my opinion, was an impulsive man. He purchased an car which was going to keep him from buying a ring for Kristi Palmer, his fiancee. This has made him act differently to Kristi and this confuses her. 
Joel then goes to ask money of his father, who turns him down. He was going back home when there was an accident.
This book is an easy book to get through and has enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages.
The authors are masters at their trade and I felt this book reflects this.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: A Tapestry of Secrets (Appalachian Blessings #3)

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Before I go into my review, I feel I need to say that I have not read the previous two books in this series. Having said that, I don't feel like I need to. The characters in this book are so rich, I began to understand them easily.
Perla and Ella have lives that are intertwined. Perla is Ella's grandmother and experiences two strokes. Each had her faces things within, such as pride, and fear. From the first I felt I understood her very well.
Ella returned to her  home when faced with uncertainty in her own life. She also had a dream for her life and over time she had to learn that God also has dreams or goals for her and these are the most important things for her.
This is worth reading, even if you have not read the previous books but now that I have, I would like to start with book one and work my way through.

Book Review: The Wedding Shop

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

This book fascinated me from the beginning. I love the way Rachel Hauck made the wedding dress shop the central character of this book. The story tells the story of  Cora Scott in the 1930s. She inherited the shop from her great aunt. Brides would come from far and near to purchase their dress and receive the bridal treatment form this shop in Heart's Bend, Tennessee. Cora, however, was waiting for her love, a river captain, to return to her. She has another in the town, Birch Good who would like to be her special one.

Eighty plus years later, Haley Morgan, an Air Force Captain, decides to fulfill the promise she and Tammy, now deceased, made years ago to own and run the Wedding Shop.

The dreams and love each of these ladies found through this shop is engaging. Rachel Hauck is able to entwine these two stories effortlessly. The Christian message underlies everything without being overbearing. This is a story of forgiveness and living the life God has chosen for you. 

This story of journey is highly recommended by me.  

Book Review: The Thorn Keeper by Pepper D. Basham

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. The Thorn Keeper is the second book in the Penned in Time series by Pepper D. Basham. This book tells the story of Catherine Dougall and her new faith. She has a reputation of manipulation so others judgement of her has her feeling filled with self-doubt. Then she gets pregnant.
Dr. David Ross is a kind doctor but he also feels like Catherine should reap what she has sown. His life has been one of careful plans to help give him an upstanding reputation. He sees how Catherine has reformed and wants to give them a chance.
This book is filled with a lovely story of romance and redemption. Once I picked up this book, I did not want to put it down. I feel the author does a good job of showing faith without making the book preachy.
I think the characters are believable and the story is one that could be read again for the feeling the reader is left with.
I highly recommend this book.

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Book Review: Mermaid Moon

Colleen Cable does a wonderful job of combining suspense with romance in her Christian books. In this one, Mallory Davis has not been home for 15 years. Then her dad dies on his mail boat route. She feels that now she needs to go home because there are questionable things about his death. When at home she meets up with Kevin O'Connor, someone from her childhood, who helps her realize that her father was murdered.

Kevin was heartbroken when Mallory left years ago, so he is uneasy about her joining him on this case. Mallory and her daughter Haylie have threats made on their lives. Instead of making her stop it does the opposite. Along the way Mallory is able to discover many things and not just about her father's murder.

Colleen Cable does a great job in weaving together a story. With the suspense in this one, I did not want to put it down until I finished. The characters and story line are believable and are written in a way that made me feel like I was there with Mallory along the way. I loved the way the story had little twists and turns to keep me guessing throughout.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. I thank them very much.

Book Review 12 Brides of Summer

There are times when I just need to read a novella. When I do I love it when they are well-written and leave me wanting to begin the next story in the book. That is how I felt as I read the stories in this collection.

One of the stories, Sunbonnet Bride, is written by Michelle Ule. In this story she uses well-defined characters to share faith in the face of a storm and tornado.

The Wildflower Bride is written by Amy Lillard. This one talks about God's will for the characters involved.

Blue Moon Bride is written by Susan Page Davis places two young people from the east in Wyoming. These two are drawn together through danger and travel.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review. .

Book Review: The Mistress of Tall Acre

This story, The Mistress of Tall Acre, takes place after the American Revolution. I do enjoy historical fiction and this is a very well written one. She captured my attention with the first chapter and kept calling me back when I would put it down. Each of the characters in this book are so well-developed that I could see them in my mind.

The Mistress of Tall Acre shares a story of loyalties, betrayal and hope.

The relationships were believable as is the storyline. I recommend this book for those that enjoy Christian romance or Historical romances. Very well done. 

I was given this book by Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Love Comes Home

Loves Comes Home, by Ann H. Gabhart, is set after World War II when communities were welcoming the soldiers home. This was also happening in Rosey Corner. There are four sisters which are each looking shich will make them feel love. Kate would like to start a family, Evangeline is looking for a beautiful house, Victoria's dreams are grand, and Lorena wants information about her birth family.

This was a good book. Each of the dreams has its own obstacles that stand in the way of making them happen and each of the characters are written in a way to draw the reader into their stories.

This is labeled as Historical Fiction but it could also be labeled as a Christian Romance. So for the reader that enjoys either of these, they will enjoy this book also.

I was given this book by Revell in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: A Gentleman's Kiss Romance Collection

A Gentleman's Kiss is a collection of old-fashioned romance stories by some of today's top writers. For a set of nice, feel-good books I would recommend it.

However, I am not the type for the typical story where it is predictable where the story is going from the beginning. I do know that there are many people that look for this type of book and for them I would say definitely a good read. Especially if they enjoy Ginny Aiken, Kristin Billerbeck and the others.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Barbour Books in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Every Bride Needs a Groom

Every Bride Needs a Groom, by Janice Thompson, is the first book in the Brides With Style series. This is a wonderful, fun book which is filled with great characters.

Kate Fisher has planned her wedding down to the tiniest detail, including entering a contest for a one-of-a-kind wedding dress from Texas Bride magazine. Unfortunately, her boyfriend has not even proposed, yet. To make matters worse, he announces that he is taking a job out-of-town on the same day that she wins the dress. What a dilemma.

Janice Thompson has written many romances and she is a screenwriter and in this book she has shown the reader the honed skills she has developed through the development of the character and the plot of the story.

I enjoyed this entire book and I would recommend it to anyone that would like to read a book that makes you feel good. Thank you Janice Thompson and Revell Books.

I was given this book by the author and by Revell Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: A New Resolution

A New Resolution by Rose Dee is a book that has unexpected life issues throughout it. The story is set in Queensland and the two main characters show how being a Christian does not mean that their past lifestyles do not affect others they may meet. Each of them had had sexual partners before they became Christians and the way they face this can help others that may face this issue.

This was a well-written book that presented difficult subjects and how it is hard to come across the best decision at the time. Because of this, it is easy to identify with the characters, which helps the lessons taught to be more easily received.

I received this book from the author and bookfun.org in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Unexpected Marriage by Carla Rossi

Unexpected Marriage by Carla Rossi is about two people who meet while working at a summer camp. Rocky is a strongly independent man who has learned to adapt to life in a wheelchair. At time he appears to be, almost, too independent.

Gia is the daughter of an evangelical minister. She became a rebellious teen who then became an adult that had trouble believing in herself or trusting others.

Both of these adults met and filled holes that the other had within their hearts. Along their paths they had to learn to trust in God more than themselves.

This is a book worth celebrating. As I read it I found myself recommending it to others, even before finishing it. Rossi made me feel as if Gia and Rocky were friends, yet I know their lives, after the book ended, would go on successfully.

I was given this book by the author and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest and fair review. 

Book Review: Sincerely Yours: A Novella Collection

Sincerely Yours: A Novella Collection consists of four stories, each involving a life-changing letter.

The first story is Moonlight Promises by Laurie Alice Eakes. This story begins with Camilla Renfrow, a titled gentlewoman from England, fleeing to a steamboat where she runs into a rakish, mysterious ship’s owner and captain.

Lessons in Love by Ann Shorey introduces the reader to a woman who writes for an advice column, Marigold Montgomery Bentley, known to her readers as MM, writes primarily marital advice, even though she is a single woman. The editor comes to meet this MM, who he thinks is a man and now Marigold has to come up with a plan to keep her job.

One Little Word is written by Amanda Cabot. An heiress, Lorraine Caldwell, is in danger of losing her money to a cousin. The only way to avoid this is to marry soon. While dealing with this, she discovers that her lost brother may still be alive. Searching for him leads her, to her surprise, to a carver of carousels.

A Saving Grace by Jane Kirkpatrick tells about Grace Hathaway. While rescuing a friend from a false clinic, she discovers lies and cover-ups which can endanger the lives of many people. She is unsure where to turn.

This book was give to me by the authors and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

The Icecutter's Daughter

A tomboy, yet wanting something more, Merrill Krause spends most of her time helping her father and her brother.

Rurik Jorgenson leaves home and a broken engagement, to help with his uncle's furniture business.

Rurik and Merrill meet and then have to rely on God to help them find His purpose for their future lives.

Tracie Peterson writes such true-to-life characters which makes the reader want to continue on at the end of the story. 

A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman

Charming book. Anita Higman created a beautiful romantic book in Marriage in Middlebury. Middlebury is a small town where everybody shares everything. Or they did. In this book we discover how ancestors of Charlotte, the owner of the local tea shop, kept her and her love apart. When her previous love comes back into town, with his fiancé, the reader discovers if this past, along with other secrets, are enough to keep them from falling in love again.

This beautiful story would make a good read for anyone that wants to fall in love with small town living and with love.

I was given this book by the author and funbook.org in exchange for my honest review.