Providence by Jennifer Seines

Jennifer Sienes, the author of Providence, takes difficult topics and handles them with such grace. Within each chapter of the book she provides viewpoints of different characters of the book. Melissa the mother, her kids, and her employer all are finding their ways to deal with the suicide of Trevor, Melissa's husband. Where this may seem a gruesome topic, Jennifer handles it just right. She goes through the feelings of each one and creates a story that is difficult to put down. As with her other books, Jennifer was able to create another beautiful book. I received this book from Celebrate Lit for reviewing purposes, but all the opinions in this review are my own. 

 

Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane Ellen Berry

I suppose our recent snow has made me in the mood for wintery books. Ellen Berry, author of Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane, created a fun book to read.
Lucy Riddock enjoyed spending her summers in Burley Bridge. It was while she was here that she found Rosemary Cottage. So for her 10th anniversary she encourages her husband to move here and make Rosemary Cottage a Bed and Breakfast.
As the story continues sh faces the sudden death of her husband in an accident. Then she meets a friend from her school years. The changes bring with them many questions as to her and her children's future or for Rosemary Cottage?
I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it to readers of this genre. Even though it was part of a series which I had not read I was able to connect with the characters and the story easily. This book shows the importance of family and second chances. It made a home in my heart.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
#SnowdropsOnRosemaryLane #NetGalley

Wanting to teach her students about Mary Kingsley, Megan Jennings scheduled a tour to Africa. While there she finds Vidalia, a psychic, an unusual professor, a prince, a village headman and a witch doctor. Plus she became kidnapped. By the end of the book, and the tour, Mary discovered the vastness of her Divine Appointment.

This book reflects real life adventures by Lilly Maytree, the author. I found this book amusing, breathtaking and exciting. The idea of following her dream intrigued me. I feel this book encourages us to try to do just that. There were areas where I felt it was a little choppy but I enjoyed it overall.

Previously I did read the author's book "The Pandora's Box" so I knew what a great writer she is, but this book is a totally different experience. Difference is good. 

Overall I would give this book four stars out of five. 

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

This book may be purchased at Amazon HERE!
Barnes and Noble HERE
and Christianbook.com HERE

Book Review: Bringing Maggie Home

It has been a while since I have read a novel by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I am so glad that I picked up this book. It was like seeing a friend who you haven't seen for a long time.

In Bringing Maggie Home, the main character is Hazel DeFord. When she was ten, her sister, Maggie, who was three, disappears while the two girls are berry picking.

Now, almost seven decades later, it is still a mystery as to what happened all those years ago. Hazel has kept this as a guilt as she feels responsible since she was the older sister. This feeling has kept her from becoming close to her own daughter, Diane. Diane does not understand why her mother was almost paranoid about her protection. Diane's daughter Meghan, loves her grandmother, including all the attention.

Meghan takes a leave-of-absence after a car accident which makes all three women living together for a while. While there the secret guilt of Hazel's comes to the surface and causes Meghan to wonder if she will be able to solve this case.

What good writing. I wanted to continue reading to the end so I could find out what happened all those years ago. I love it when this happens. It really touched my heart, even with a subject which almost made me not read it. This story changes points of view throughout, plus time periods. This is handled in such an effortless manner which shows the skills of the author. I felt like I was a part of each life.

This book is one that I thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend it. I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book review: The City Baker's Guide to Country Living

At first look, the title, The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, looks like it should be a cookbook, however, once you look closely you will see that this is a fun novel.

Olivia Rawlings is a pastry chef for a Boston dinner club. That is until one of her desserts burn the building down. To escape, she goes to Guthrie, Vermont, where her friend Hannah lives. Soon, Olivia is offered a job at the Sugar maple Inn. She takes the job and then moves to the inn's property with her large dog. Soon Guthrie is taken over by her wonderful desserts. She also discovers that the owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, Margaret, would like Olivia's help in reclaiming the inn's blue ribbon for apple pie at the county fair. Life in a small town seems to suit Livvy. She meets others including a surprise arrival who has Livvy deciding whether to stay or go.

The author is able to help the reader soak in all of Vermont through her brilliant descriptions, including the descriptions of Livvy's desserts. This fantastic book will take the reader on a well-deserved trip to a most lovely part of the country, through the world of a pastry chef.

I was given this book by Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Window Opens

Alice Pearse has wished to have everything.This married mother with three children is also a good daughter and a so-so dog owner. However, she is not very good at cooking, crafts, decorator, and so on. Her husband makes a job change which requires her to become more. She believes that having a good job and a happy life are right around the corner.

I love this brilliant, smile and chuckle book. Elisabeth Egan created a wonderful story for her first book. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a light story that gives in insight on wanting it all.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Home to Chapel Springs

Home to Chapel Springs, by Ane Mulligan, will take the reader away, willingly. This is the third book in a series, of which I have not read the other two. I did not feel lost and I loved the characters and the settings created by this author.

I found myself so happy that the characters are able to call this place home. This is not something that I usually say, but the fit was just so right. Then the author was able to catch my attention early in and kept it all of the way home. I did not want to put it down. I found myself laughing and at the verge of tears but throughout God's love is demonstrated.

I was given this book by the author Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolina and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Lead Me Home

Lead Me Home by Amy K. Sorrells, tells the story of a young man, Noble, whose family was abandoned by the father. This left him to take care of the farm and his family, dashing his dreams of finding a home away from here where he can look into following his dreams of music.

Pastor James Horton has also had to face tough decisions, He lost his wife to an accident which also caused changes in his daughter. She no longer sings or socializes with her old friends. Instead she is running around with others that he would prefer she did not.

I loved this book. I felt like I was in the story lines as they were unfolding before me. The struggles that all had were easy to understand. The author took the time to make sure the characters and settings were realistic.

I highly recommend this book.

I was given this book by The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.