In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin (Review)

Two hearts are about to learn the rhythm of love 

Bold, sophisticated, and coy, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he seems to do everything he can to avoid her.

Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France, evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of their hearts draws them closer. Can they overcome the fears and misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?

Sarah Sundin seamlessly weaves together emotion, action, and sweet romance into a tale that transcends time and calls us to believe in the power of love.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

CFBA: Shenandoah Dreams by Lisa Belcastro (Review)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Shenandoah Dreams OakTara Publishers (July 1, 2014) by Lisa Belcastro

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Belcastro lives with her family on Martha’s Vineyard. She loves chocolate, gardening, outdoor activities, cooking, laughing, reading, traveling, a healthy dose of adventure, and her cat Ben, who keeps her company while she spends hours working at the computer.

She was inspired to write Shenandoah Nights, the first book in the Winds of Change trilogy, while chaperoning two Tisbury School summer sails with her daughter, Kayla, aboard the schooner Shenandoah. The weeklong adventure, sans electricity, Game Boys, iPods and modern conveniences, kindled her imagination to dream of an altogether different voyage.

In addition to writing romance novels, Lisa currently pens the cuisine column for Vineyard Style magazine. She has worked as a staff and freelance reporter and photographer for The Chronicle of the Horse and as assistant editor at The Blue Ridge Leader. She has written articles for USA Today, Dressage (London), USA WEEKEND Magazine, The Blue Ridge Leader and Sidelines.

When she’s not at her desk, Lisa is living in paradise, volunteering at her daughter’s school, serving in her church community, planting and weeding her numerous gardens, trying to run a marathon a month, or walking the beach looking for sea glass.

ABOUT THE BOOK

What if she met the man of her dreams...in another century? Tisbury, Massachusetts, Martha s Vineyard. It s just a dream, Melissa Smith whispers as she stares into the intense eyes of a man dressed in Colonial clothes, as though stepping out of an American Revolution movie set. A school chaperone with Holmes Hole Elementary, she d boarded the old schooner Shenandoah for a weeklong educational sail. But they are not visiting Plimoth Plantation, the Boston Tea Party Museum, or the Concord Bridge reenactment. They re sailing the waters around the island of Martha s Vineyard. Yet, when she awakes in Cabin 8, the captain claims to be Isaiah Reed, who sailed the original Shenandoah in the eighteenth century. He cannot possibly be real, Melissa thinks. And traveling back in time is impossible. But days pass, and she s still in 1770. What if Isaiah, who is simply too handsome to be real, is real? What if the fire he ignites in her from barely a touch isn t in her imagination? Can a dream last for weeks on end? If so, how will she find her way home...to the twenty-first century? And can she bear to leave the one man who has captured her heart, when everything in her longs to stay? A Vineyard Romance Romance, history, adventure. Get swept into the exciting Winds of Change series.

What Follows After by Dan Walsh (Review)

In October 1962, Colt Harrison and his little brother, Timmy, hatched a plan. They would run away from their Florida home, head for their aunt's house in Savannah, Georgia, and refuse to come home until their parents got back together. But things go terribly, terribly wrong. Colt's mother and father must come to grips with years of neglect and mistrust in order to recover their beloved sons, their love for one another, and their broken marriage.

In this emotional story, Dan Walsh takes readers on a journey to rediscover the things that matter most in life--love, truth, and family.

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With Autumn's Return (Westward Winds #3) by Amanda Cabot (Review)

Elizabeth Harding arrives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to establish her medical practice thanks to the wooing of her two older sisters who extolled the beauty of the land. She's certain she'll have a line of patients eager for her expertise and gentle bedside manner. However, she soon discovers the town and its older doctor may not welcome a new physician. Even more frustrating, the handsome young attorney next door may not be ready for the idea of a woman doctor. For his part, Jason Nordling has nothing against women, but he's promised himself that the woman he marries will be a full-time mother.

Despite their firm principles, Elizabeth and Jason find that mutual attraction--and disdain from the community--is drawing them ever closer. And when the two find themselves working to save the life and tattered reputation of a local woman, they'll have to decide how far they're willing to go to find justice--and true love.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

The romance was sweet and I loved the scenes with the two main characters together. There's also a secondary romance story and I almost enjoyed that one more, it was so heartwarming!

I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I don't think that hindered me at all, so I don't think you have to read the books in order. However, it sounds as though each book does focus on a different one of the three Harding sisters so you may want to read them in order.

If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, and you enjoyed historical fiction, I recommend you read With Autumn's Return.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Review)

Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime’s accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher–and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves–and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
After reading The Letters , book one in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, I didn't have high hopes for this book. It was slightly better than the first one but I think that's only because I knew who almost all the characters were - in the first book I was lost for the first several chapters.

I like how the book is told from several points of view, but that's about all I really liked.

There were so many times when things were repeated, in a different way, within a couple paragraphs that it very much got on my nerves. I found it annoying when something was mentioned by one of the characters and then shortly thereafter (usually within the same setting, same people) was repeated, as if stated for the first time. That seemed to happen quite often.

For a book that takes place with people from the Old Order Amish I was surprised when on several occasions it was made to sound as if everyone had a phone right near them. I know there are phone shanties, but it didn't sound like that was what they were using a lot of the time.

I've heard some say that this book could be a stand-alone but I completely disagree. The story may shift the main perspective to a different character, in this case Bethany, but it still is moving forward from the previous one and adding on to it. There's a back story to the series, how Rose's husband's investment firm went bankrupt and the ramifications of that, so if you were to jump in with The Calling I think a lot of that would be missed.

To me this series is one that you'd read if you want something light when you don't have much time to read and are constantly having to put the book down, as so many things are repeated.

I may read the next book in this series when it releases but it's not on the top of my list to do so.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen (Review)

Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julia Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul--and hidden sorrows of her own.

Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master--a man her mother would never approve of--but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village...and to her mother's tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a "good match" in Regency England.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
I have read and greatly enjoyed all of Julie Klassen's previous books and had been awaiting the release of The Dancing Master for almost a year. So I was slightly disappointed when I started the story and found that I didn't like either of the main characters, at all!

Julia was a selfish, spoiled girl who seemed to derive pleasure from defying and vexing her mother. She was such a flirt too! I was honestly rooting against her for so much of the book and that's never good.

Alec was too much of a dandy for my tastes. He cared so much about his appearance that it got on my nerves. If he got one smudge on anything the whole outfit had to change.

Now I did love many of the secondary characters: The Allens, Desmond, Lady Amelia, Mrs. Tickle, and Mr. Barlow. However, my love of them didn't increase my enjoyment of the book that much, since almost every scene they're in, the main characters are in as well.

I loved the cover from the first time I saw it and after reading the story I loved it even more. It was great how it is an exact scene from the book. Her outfit is described as follows:

The woman then help her on with a soft green evening gown with embroidered flowers, ribbon sash, and short puffed sleeves. Her cameo necklace and long kid gloves completed the ensemble.

I think it's just a perfect cover!

I thought the whole reason behind the town not allowing dancing for so long was very silly, and a bit of a stretch, but that on the whole wasn't that big of a deal.

If you have read and loved Julie Klassen's previous books, you'll more than likely still want to read The Dancing Master. However if you have seen many people rave about Julie's books and are thinking of reading one, I would suggest you start elsewhere. My favorites of hers are Lady of Milkweed Manor, The Apothecary's Daughter, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, and The Tutor's Daughter.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Review)

Rose Schrock is a plain woman with a simple plan. Determined to find a way to support her family and pay off her late husband's debts, she sets to work to convert the basement of her Amish farmhouse into an inn. While her family, especially her cranky mother-in-law, is unhappy with Rose's big idea, her friend and neighbor, Galen King, supports the decision and he helps with the conversion. As Rose finalizes preparations for visitors, she prays. She asks God to bless each guest who stays at the Inn at Eagle Hill. As the first guest arrives and settles in, Rose is surprised to discover that her entire family is the one who receives the blessings, in the most unexpected ways. And she's even more surprised when that guest decides to play matchmaker for Galen King.

With her signature plot twists combined with gentle Amish romance, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites readers back to Stoney Ridge for fresh stories of simple pleasures despite the complexity of life. Fisher's tale of God's providence and provision will delight her fans and create many new ones. Welcome to the Inn at Eagle Hill.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
I felt extremely lost when I started this book. There were so many characters and they weren't introduced very well that I thought I had somehow misread and this was a sequel. So it was a struggle to get into the story.

Once I finally worked out who was who it got a little better, but there was a lot of repetitive thoughts and comments that I personally found boring.

I loved how the story was focused on a widow who's in her thirties and her family (mother-in-law, step-children, and her own children). So many Amish books seem to be about young people and their journey to find love, which is nice but can get tiring. The POV switched between several different women, which was nice to get several generations' viewpoints.

I'm planning on reading the second novel, The Calling, and am hoping it will be a more enjoyable read since I'll know who most of the characters are already.

If you love Amish fiction you'll probably enjoy reading The Letters, but if you are looking to get into the genre I would suggest you try a different book.

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

Twice a Bride (The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek #4) by Mona Hodgson (Review)

Love lost doesn’t mean love lost forever.
Can unexpected romance deliver a second chance for two deserving widows?

Full of resolve, young widow Willow Peterson decides to pursue her dreams to be an artist as she settles into a new life in the growing mountain town of Cripple Creek.  When she lands a job working as a portrait painter with handsome entrepreneur and photographer Trenton Van Der Veer, the road before Willow seems to be taking a better-than-anticipated turn.

With questions tugging at several hearts in town, including the Sinclair Sisters’ beloved Miss Hattie, change is traveling down the tracks as several unexpected visitors make their way out West.  Will the new arrivals threaten the deep family bonds of the Sinclair sisters and the roots of love that are just taking hold for Willow?

Filled with the resonating questions that all women face, this romance awakens hope against grief, love against loss, and dreams against life’s unexpected turns. 

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

After reading the three previous books in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek series I was looking forward to reading Twice a Bride, the fourth and final book in the series. I very much enjoyed it and hate that it is the last book about this family.

I loved Hattie immediately from the first book and so wanted to see her get another love, she's a great woman and if anyone deserves another chance at love it's her. Then there's Willow, someone that I liked so much from the moment she was introduced, and I felt so terribly for all that she went through in her young life. The way love comes for both of them was wonderful and so sweet! 

My only complaint is that, at times, the story felt rushed. There were two different love stories being told, updates on the previous books main characters, and a few "problems" that were solved so quickly that it almost felt as though shouldn't have even have been in there.

Even though this book could easily be read as a stand alone, as the author does a fabulous job of giving all the necessary details about each one of the previous books' stories, I would recommend reading them in order. I loved this book and series and think any fan of historical fiction would greatly enjoy them too.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

Warning Signs by Katy Lee (Review)

GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT
When a drug-smuggling ring rocks a small coastal town, the DEA sends Agent Owen Matthews to shut it down. A single father with a deaf son, Owen senses that the town's number one suspect—the high school's new principal—doesn't fit the profile. Miriam Hunter hoped to shrug off the stigma of her hearing impairment when she returned to Stepping Stones, Maine. But her recurring nightmares dredge up old memories that could prove her innocence—and uncover the truth behind a decades-old murder. Yet Owen's help may not be enough when someone decides to keep Miriam silenced—permanently.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

I usually don't enjoy love inspired suspense books, they never seem that suspenseful or realistic, but this one was nothing like those. I completely loved Warning Signs! It was everything a suspense book should be.

I honestly didn't really read the synopsis of the book before I read it, so I didn't realize that the main character, Miriam, was deaf - this came as a surprise, the nice kind. I really liked having a main character that was so different than the norm. And while most people would consider being deaf a disability, Miriam didn't think of herself that way and would get irritated when anyone called her that. I liked the analogy used to describe deafness, that it's sort of like when you visit a country where you don't know the language would you be considered disabled?

The mystery about what was really going on in Stepping Stones was wonderfully written. I thought I knew who was behind it right away, but then I kept changing my mind and then when the culprit was revealed I was surprised - never saw it coming!

The romance in the book was so sweet and perfect! Miriam and Owen are perfect compliments to each other.

I heartily recommend reading Warning Signs if you love suspense or a good mystery. This was a great story and probably one I'll end up reading again.

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

PRODUCT DETAILS

• Series: Love Inspired Suspense
• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Love Inspired (October 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373445598
• ISBN-13: 978-0373445592
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 4.2 x 6.6 inches
• Available to purchase at Amazon | B&N | CBD

Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides #2) by Maggie Brendan (Review)

Seeing how successful her older sister's "mail order marriage" has been and longing to strike out on her own, Greta Olsen answers an ad for a mail order bride in Central City, Colorado. But when she meets Jess Gifford, owner of a thriving mercantile, she begins to harbor doubts. He didn't place the ad to begin with and his business in a busy mining town leaves him little time or energy for love. To compound her troubles, she was not the only bride to answer the ad! Will either bride strike the match she hopes for?

Filled with amusing and awkward situations that will keep the reader interested and guessing, "Twice Promised "is another sweet romance from Maggie Brendan.

I GIVE THIS BOOK: 

MY THOUGHTS:
The writing on this book was all right, not great or good just all right, but the reason I'm giving it such a low rating is the characters were just horrible! For a book sold in the Christian fiction genre the way the characters behaved was so opposite of that and there were no repercussions for it. What happened may have been meant to be amusing, but I just found it sickening and very unbelievable. Any shred of respect I had for the characters in the beginning was gone and I just couldn't wait to be done with the book. I can't really say what the reason was without giving away key details and, in case you plan on ignoring my review and reading it anyway, I don't want to spoil it for you. However, if you'd like to know what it is just ask me and I'll let you know.

I don't recommend Twice Promised at all!

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First Date by Krista McGee (Review)

The last thing Addy Davidson wants is to be on a reality TV show where the prize is a prom date with the President's son.

She's focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn't even audition for it.

But she got selected anyway.

So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show. Right before she realizes that the President's son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.

Addy's totally out of her comfort zone but that may be right where God can show her all that she was meant to be.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
First Date is the third book I've read by Krista McGee and it's really good! The first book I read by her, Right Where I Belong, was actually the third book with characters that appeared in her other books - which I didn't know before I read it. First Date is the first about those characters, the second one is Starring Me which I hope to read soon. Reading them out of order really didn't affect my enjoyment except that I knew what the final outcome was going to be - at least sort of, it's been awhile since I read Right Where I Belong so I didn't remember everything very clearly which was a good thing :)

Just like Right Where I Belong was loosely based on the biblical story of Ruth, First Date is loosely based on the biblical story of Esther. I love this! It makes you really connect with the story in a way you just don't otherwise. However, because the book was trying to draw similarities with Esther the story got a little silly at times, but nothing too ridiculous.

Many times this book had me laughing out loud, and not just the chuckling kind, which is always a great thing :)

Addy is such a great character! She's a girl every Christian girl should try to be like and I think that she's a great role model for them.

First Date is a book people of all ages would enjoy. I recommend it!

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.*** 

If you found this review helpful, will you please click yes HERE. Thanks!

PRODUCT DETAILS

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401684882
• ASIN: B009F7R2XM
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 4.6 x 1 inches
• Available to purchase at Amazon | B&N | CBD