An Amish Wedding Feast on Ice Mountain

I thought I would finish out this year by being caught up on my reviews.  I just finished An Amish Wedding Feast on Ice Mountain last night.  Rather than let this book stew in my mind, I'm going to get the review done before the year is done.

This is a Cinderella story where a man's daughter (Beth) is living with her stepmother and stepsister after her father's death.  The only problem is stepmom and stepsis expect Beth to wait on them hand and foot.  Stepsister, Rose, has her eyes on a man who only has eyes for Beth.  Rose was going to do anything she could to prevent any wedding plans Beth might have. She and stepmom, Viola, conspire to keep Beth away from Ransom, the man in question.

There are a lot of interesting aspects to this book.  A great aunt of Ransom's comes to visit with her menagerie:  a parrot named Jack, three dogs, a guinea pig named pig, a pig named Petunia; and before the end of the book another dog gets added to the bunch.  Their antics make the book totally entertaining. 

I am not sure how many of Kelly Long's books I've read, but this one is certainly memorable and entertaining.  I especially like the twist Kelly put in the Cinderella story when Viola apologizes to Beth for how she's been treated. 

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a blueberry pie for dessert.

I would like to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Aiming for Love

Mary Connealy writes a humorous novels with a Western flair.  Aiming for Love is one of them.   In this novel, the main characters are three almost feral women who have lived on Hope Mountain in Montana for most of their lives.  Their grandmother was a fearful woman--afraid of the possibilities that the outside world would kill them.

Jo Nordegren is the middle sister of the three.  When her fortress is invaded by David Warden and ten thousand head of cattle, her oldest sister wants them gone, while Jo is intrigued.  Then David's father shows up with a shot in his side, David's mother, and the rest of the cattle from the Circle Dash Ranch after a land grab from a neighbor. Jo enlists the help of Ilsa, the youngest sister, who knows the ways of healing herbs. 

David is intrigued by Jo and spends as much time with her as possible throughout the book.  During the time of his father's recovery, his brother, Mitch, shows up; his father ends up with what sounds like Chicken Pox; Jo's oldest sister, Karen, moves out of their cabin; and Jo helps David find another cabin on the property that her grandfather had built, as well as a well kept cave set up for living. 

I found the ending rather abrupt, and felt like something was missing.  This is an easy read--one of those quick reads that keep the reader engaged and enjoying every page.  A solid four star book.

My thanks go to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the copy I read for this review. 

Echoes Among the Stones

This book is a dark read, with mystery covering seven decades.  I am not a mystery reader, so it was hard for me to get through this book.  There were some parts that were lighter, but for the most part, the overall sense of the book was a dark, foreboding plot.  If I had paid closer attention, I would not have chosen to read this.

Imogene made a promise to her sister that she would find the person who killed her sister.  Ever since Hazel was murdered, right after World War II ended, it has been Imogene's mission to find out who committed the crime.

When Imogene's granddaughter's (Aggie) career fell apart in flames, Imogene writes to Aggie, telling her that she has a broken hip.  Aggie comes to Imogene's home, thinking  she was going to be taking care of Imogene.  Instead, she gets a job at the flooded cemetery helping an archaeologist sort out who is buried where and bringing the records up to date.

There is enough intrigue to keep a reader involved in the book until the very last page.  The writing is excellent and the character development only adds to the story.  For those who love mysteries, Jaime Jo Wright is worth picking up anything she writes.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and time switch to keep readers on their toes.

My thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the copy I read for writing this review.

The Amish Wedding Promise

Levi Bontrager is a disappointment to his father, who wasted no opportunities to let Levi know.  When a tornado rips through another town, Levi volunteers to go with the Mennonite missionary to help with the restoration of the town.  The last thing his father said to him was something like, "Don't be a disappointment to me."

Grace Lantz is engaged to be married, although she is having significant doubts about her fiance and about the marriage itself.  The day after the tornado, Tim, the fiance, didn't come to check on her to see how she fared and that was just one more doubt about the relationship. 

When Levi arrives, he is assigned to stay with the Lantz family.  What he doesn't anticipate is being assigned to room with his cousin who doesn't like him at all.  The cousin has been reporting Levi's behavior back to Levi's father.

Grace finds her friendship with Levi growing, in spite of the constraints put on Levi for being a member of the restoration group.  Grace's father still asks Levi to escort Grace around to check on various people, especially her fiance. 

Laura V Hilton writes well researched Amish fiction and her stories are tremendously fun to read.  The Amish Wedding Promise is just as fun to read and what's more, it's the beginning of a new series. I can't wait to see who comes next in the series. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a conspiring grandfather to help smooth out the path of love.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When Silence Sings

Sarah Loudin Thomas writes Appalachia, especially Depression Era Appalachia.  Her newest offering, When Silence Sings, brings Jonah, Jesus, and the Hatfields and McCoys to life in ways that were never expected.

Colman Harpe hears things most other people cannot. When he hears a voice telling him to preach to the McLeans, his first thought is to go the other way.  One of the McLeans shot his cousin, Caleb, in the back over a card game. It's just one more volley in the feud between the Harpes and McLeans.

There is a power struggle between Webb Harpe and Serepta McLean, the leaders of the two families.  Webb wants Serepta's bootlegging operation and Serepta wants nothing more than power and wealth.  The demise of Serepta's hold on her family begins when both of her sons steal her liquor from her and one of them ends up dead.  Colman has been preaching to the family in a brush arbor meeting, but he still feels the burden to talk to Serepta. 

I have deeply appreciated every book that Sarah has written.  She writes with a depth often not seen in many books of this genre. She knows her setting well, and researches the history of the area to make her plots realistic.  Her characters are not only believable, but reach to the emotions of the readers, whether with love or dislike.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a song in the silence.

My thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Abraham

Jennifer Beckstrand writes Amish Fiction with a touch of mischief and shenanigans, but that is easy to do when your best supporting characters are nine-year-old twins.

Alfie and Benji are sure that their mamm is trying to kill them by relegating them to the cellar since Mammi and Dawdi moved in after Dawdi's stroke. The only way they are going to get a bedroom upstairs is to get their older brothers married.  The one in their cupid's arrow's aim is Abraham.  He is the quiestest brother and the shyest.  But, Alfie and Benji have a trick up their sleeve to get Abraham married--their neighbor's chickens. Abraham doesn't think he has a chance with Emma, even though he knows quite a bit about her chickens.  The road to true love is rocky for Abraham and Emma, but gets smoother once Emma gets her head on straight, and stops seeking attention from all the boys instead of being true to Abraham, the man who truly fits her.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a matched pair of Silkies chickens.

I would like to thank Kensington books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley for me to read and review.

The Bridge to Belle Island

This book opens up with Benjamin Booker's colossal failure in the court room, followed fairly quickly by a murder.  Benjamin is picked by the owner of the law firm to go to Belle Island to check out the heir to the murdered man.  In the meantime, another man is murdered and all evidence points to Belle Island and Isabelle for whom the island is named. 

Julie Klassen is a marvelous author who writes historical fiction with grace and aplomb.   I really haven't found one of her books I didn't like.  Some I've liked better than others, and this one kind of fell into the lesser liked category.  A lot of my determination on this is probably my mood.  Sometimes I'm in the mood for heavier plot lines and sometimes I'm in the mood for fluff. 

I give this book four solid stars.  My thanks go to Bethany House for always publishing a quality product, and through NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Homefront Heroines

The four novellas in this collection center around the women who worked during World War II, some in factories--like shipyards, munitions factories, etc.  My favorite novella is by Johnnie Alexander, and details the story of a young woman who is doing security work for the Tennessee Valley Authority.  In the course of her work, she has been assigned a German Shepherd named "Liberty."  On one night when she was off duty, she ran into a man trying to sneak into a secure area with a dam.  In the chaos of the situation, he shoots her dog.  When she finally takes control of the circumstances, she realizes that the man is the one who broke her heart when he signed up for the Army.  Because of her skills and his assignment in Intelligence, they are both given an assignment that require them to pretend they don't know each other.  I've read several of Johnnie's full length novels and find that her writing is intriguing and compelling and it was worth every minute of reading. 

One or two of the stories are a bit abrupt and lack the depth of this one, but overall, I truly enjoyed the stories and applaud Barbour Books for pulling together such a quality read.

This is a solid four stars.  My thanks go to Barbour Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Stitches in Time

This is not your normal Amish Fiction book.  It's not a whole lot of romance, but it's about healing the wounds of life. And every wound that has healed is called a stitch in time.

Luke Schrock has promised Amos (who was on his deathbed) that he would do what he could to empty the foster group homes in Lancaster County.  When black mold is found in the group home, the Amish gather together to help the girls by taking them in.  Luke wants to take in a girl, but his wife, Izzy, is resistant to the idea because she was once a foster child.

Mollie Graber is the new school teacher and would like to foster some young girls--preferably siblings.  When she is assigned twins, she didn't realize that she was getting a pair of delinquents with mischief for morals and values.  Sam Schrock (Luke's brother) has noticed Mollie and finds her intriguing, but he also sees that she's in over her head, especially when the girls assigned to Mollie try to steal his buggy and go for a joy ride.

Suzanne Woods Fisher does her research when she is writing an Amish book, and this is one of her absolute best.  She makes the characters realistic enough to be believable.  They are not perfect people, but they are people dealing with real-life situations and problems, and they do so with aplomb. 

I give this book five stars, two thumbs up, and a foster child to change your life.

Revell and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read for this review.  My opinions are totally my own.

The Telegraph Proposal

Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham have teemed up to write a great historical romance.  It has all the parts and moving pieces of an entertaining read--the hero and heroine, the support cast, and the surprising bad guy to give it some intrigue to hold the reader's attention.  Beyond that, it wasn't a formulaic romance. 

Yancey has signed up for a marriage matching service.  She feels she's about to be on the shelf, and the man she has loved for years wants nothing to do with her.  Hale Adams has been asked to step in as a candidate for mayor and Yancey has been asked to help out with his campaign.  Yancey has been over-exuberant in her pursuit of his affections.  When she overhears him saying something about her being a pest, she decides to leave him alone and concentrate on the man the matching service has provided to her.

In the meantime, a search is on for a counterfeiter who is spending fake $5 bills in nearby towns, but trying to keep them out of Helena, Montana, to throw suspicion off of him.  The only problem is that the counterfeiter is Hale's uncle and the judge for the area. 

This is an appealing book worth five stars, two thumbs up, and a proposal by telegraph. 

My thanks go to NetGalley.com and Kensington Books for providing the galley I read for this review.

You Belong With Me

When I saw this title, I was reminded of this song (originally done by the Lumineres) and it pretty much sums up what the book is about.  Hannah Thornton is a realtor who wants to rejuvenate her town of Heritage, Michigan.  A developer wants to modernize the town with strip malls and apartment complexes. 

Hannah hears about a contest to fund the rejuvenation and decides to ask the council to back the entry.  They put up $10,000 for her to use in starting refurbishing the Manor House--a place that Hannah feels is the history of the town.  As Hannah encounters various roadblocks, she leans on Luke, her neighbor across the street, and a man she's known since she was in grade school. 

Tari Faris has written about three novels in one. There is the story of Hannah and Luke, of Thomas (Hannah's brother) and Janie, of Hannah and the city.  While it's not hard to keep the characters and their stories straight, it seems like a lot to pack into one book.  Hannah has been written as a modern Calamity Jane, all the while trying to overcome her mother's reputation. She feels she has to prove so much of herself, she ends up meddling in everyone's business.

This is a four star book that is an entertaining read for that afternoon where nothing is pressing on the reader's schedule.

My thanks to Revell and NetGalley.com for providing the copy I read for this review.

A Long Bridge Home

Kelly Irvin writes exceptional Amish Fiction, and her series set in Montana keeps her reputation alive.  A Long Bridge Home details Christine's struggle with her family's desire to move back to Kansas, partially because Montana is the only home she's known, and partially because her love, Andy, is not leaving Montana. 

Christine's family is leaving because of the wild fires decimating the countryside in their area of Montana.  Christine bargains with her parents to allow her to stay with her aenti and onkel in St Ignatius and help out in their store. That brings its own set of struggles when she meets Raymond Old Fox and he introduces her to the native culture of the area.  Her desire to know more about the aboriginal peoples of the area lead her to make some unwise decisions that puts her in danger of being shunned in her church and losing her one true love.

I understand the devastation the wildfires can wreak on communities as I have lived through several summers of wildfires in northern Washington State.  I live more in the center of the state, but I have seen entire communities wiped out by the fires, and they don't discriminate whom they wipe out. 

Kelly's descriptions of the fires, the evacuations, and the destruction left in the wake of the fires is spot on.  Her characters were made to fit the setting she's put them in.  I read the first one in the series and now the second one.  I can't wait for the third one to come out. 

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a clean house to allow you to read for extended periods of time.

My thanks go to Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley.com for the copy I read for this review.

Children of the Stars

Mario Escobar has written a touching book taking place during World War II and the occupation of France.

Jacob (age 13) and Moses (age 9) are brothers living with their Aunt Judith when they are rounded up by the Germans in Paris.  They are taken to the Velodrome d'Hiver with thousands of other Jewish people.  They work to find a way out of the Velodrome along with another Jewish boy, Joseph, whose parents have been taken to a labor camp.  Joseph wants to go find his parents at the camp, even with the understanding that he would not be able to come out once he got in. 

Jacob and Moses want to get to where their parents are and go back to their apartment to find Aunt Judith has jumped out of the window to her death.  They take their passports and some money and leave the apartment.  They stopped at the neighbor's apartment beneath theirs. From there, they get hooked up with the Underground to get them out of Occupied France. 

The book details their determination to get out of France and to the ship that will take them to their parents, with the help of several members of the Underground.  They see things children their ages should never see before they get to where they need to be. 

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a way of escape from the prisons that would enclose you. 

My thanks go to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

White Christmas Wedding

Celeste Winters has written a fun Christmas novel that has built-in sequels which should be equally as fun.  I can't wait until they begin to come out. 

Beth Dean has come home to get married so that her family can attend.  Her friend, Jen Fitzgerald, is trying her hand as a wedding planner, and using her family's barn as the location.  Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.  As the barn is set up the night before the wedding, the horses got out of their stalls and ate all the floral decorations.  After Jen got that catastrophe cleaned up, somehow the barn door got left open overnight and a snow storm covered the barn floor with several inches of snow so Jen and a couple of bridesmaids had to shovel out the barn to get it ready in time for the wedding. 

In the midst of all this, Jen's old boyfriend, Jared shows up to be a groomsman.  He sparks confusion in Jen's life and makes things extremely hard for her.  She's dating another man, who seems to be absent during all the catastrophes, while Jared rolls up his sleeves and pitches in. 

Other friends of Beth's have cameos in this book and serve to fill out the plot with richness and intrigue.  This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and a horse to mess with your wedding.

My thanks go to Howard Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review. 

The Bake Shop

No one bakes sweets like Christiana Kurtz, and her empty bake stand every day proves it.  People come from all over to buy her goods, many times coming to her house during their dinner to buy pies or cakes. 

When Christiana visits her cousins at the Bird-in-Hand market tell her of a booth opening up, Christiana approaches her extremely strict father about opening up her bake stand in the market booth. She has to talk really hard to convince her father about moving to the market and the benefits it will bring her family to only be open three days a week.  She will have more time to help out at home while she does her baking in between chores, and no more after hours visits from customers.

The Bake Shop is Amy Clipston's newest book and the first of a series taking place in the marketplace.  I think the coming books in the series will be about Christiana's cousins who already have booths in the marketplace. 

In the booth next to Christiana's is Jeff Stolzfus, maker of gifts in leather and wood.  It's not long before they notice each other and find that there is something more than friendship between them.  The only fly in the ointment is Christiana's father's attitude. 

Amy is one of the best Amish fiction writers around.  I will read her books (along with Kathleen Fuller's) any time I get a chance.  They are fun, engaging, intriguing, and altogether consuming.  This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a homemade whoopie pie. 

My thanks go to Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

The Innkeeper's Bride

Kathleen Fuller writes quality Amish Fiction that entertains and engages the reader from beginning to end.  The Innkeeper's Bride is the third book in the Brides of Birch Creek series, but easily stands alone. 

In this book, Kathleen tackles some of the hard issues in life, one being that of mental illness.  Selah Ropp is clinically depressed and is extremely cautious about her relationships.   Levi Stoll is the son of an Amish couple who are transforming an Englisch house into a bed and breakfast inn.  When Levi's Dat falls off the roof of the house, he has to take over finishing the refurbishing, and then running the Inn.  Selah wants to get a job and start supporting herself and the Inn needs a housekeeper, so she applies.  Levi's mother sees something more than just a housekeeper, she sees Selah as a possible wife for Levi.  It just so happens that there is another meddler in the community named Cevilla Schlabach and the two work together to bring Selah and Levi together.

In dealing with Selah's depression, Kathleen takes the stigma out of seeking psychiatric help for these problems.  It's a hard issue to deal with, and Kathleen takes it seriously and writes about it graciously.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a room at a B&B for a quiet get-away.

HarperCollins and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read for this review.

The Whispers of War

World War II created a lot of atrocities performed by many nations.  The Germans trying to exterminate the Jews, The U.S. interring the Japanese-Americans, The U.K. interring German emigres.  There wasn't a people group that wasn't touched by the War and by the governments involved in the war. 

The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly describes the war from the perspective of three young ladies who went to school together and now meet together as frequently as possible to keep the friendship alive.  Nora worked for the Home Office,  Hazel works in a marriage match-making office, and Marie is the secretary for the German department of the University. 

When the Germans start advancing toward England, members of the Home Office begin investigating the German ex-pats who now live in England.  Marie comes under scrutiny because of letters her cousin wrote to the Nazi government in Germany.  The investigation even comes to include Nora and Hazel. 

Julia Kelly uses a time split trope to tell the story of Marie, but she does it so well that the story doesn't seem disjointed.  Her pacing of the story within story moves at a comfortable pace and the intrigue within the story is compelling.  It follows Julia's first book in the series, Light Over London, which I reviewed here.

NetGalley.com and Gallery Books provided the galley I read for this review.  Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and some false papers to get out of the country. 

Sew in Love

Put something about sewing or many other crafts in a novel title and I'll pick it up to read without even reading the jacket blurb.  That's what I did with Sew in Love, a collection of four novellas all revolving around sewing.  Beginning in 1850 and going through to World War II, each of the heroines has a specific talent in sewing and their talents lead them to love. 

Each of the girls faces some dark days that test her faith, and needs the help of the man to get her bearings back. 

These stories by these authors have high quality plotting and go beyond just the basic boy meets girl formula.  The plots don't seem choppy nor do they end abruptly.  This is a five star collection, with two thumbs up, and a sewing machine at your side.

I would like to thank Barbour Books and NetGalley.com for giving me access to this galley. 

Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

Barbour Books has taken three novellas all written by the same author in a series and has published them in one cover.  Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep was like talking to an old friend.  Two of the novellas have previously been published and reading them again was a treat.  All three revolve around a second chance coin, which brings grace and mercy to the holder of the coin.

Michelle's writing style is quaint and compelling.  Her plot development is quite complete despite the length of the stories.  It's a hard thing to make a novella to feel complete, and not to feel chopped off.  Michelle is adept at this. 

I truly enjoyed this collection and would read it again.  It is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a second chance coin for your needs for do-overs.

I was provided the galley for this book by Barbour Books and NetGalley.com. 

Mercy Road

I've never read a book by Ann Howard Creel and I feel that she is a quality author, but I found Mercy Road kind of slow reading, or the events were rather slow in happening. 

Arlene Favier lives at home with her parents and the horses.  She's decided she loves no one as much as she loves her horses, so she's decided to never get married (at least not yet). 

When the family home burns down and her father dies, she leaves for Cincinnati to make money to rebuild their home and horse-breeding farm.  In Cincinnati, Arlene finds a job as an ambulance driver in France because of her fluency in the language and her mechanical aptitude to keep the trucks in running order.

There was an officer who tried to make time with Arlene, but she really didn't feel anything for him.  She later finds out he's not what he purports to be.  This is about where I bogged down in the book, and flipped to the end to see how it all turned out.  The ending wasn't surprising, and it would be a satisfying ending for most readers.  I just couldn't slog through the book any more.  Three stars from me.  This is my opinion and it could come from my own taste, or how I'm feeling when I'm reading, or any of a number of factors.  This book just didn't scratch my reading itch.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.com for allowing me to read and review this book.

Lake Season

I enjoy reading Denise Hunter's books and her new one is exceptional.  Although, she wrote a formula romance, it has quite a few redeeming qualities.

Levi, Molly, and Grace are newly orphaned, grown children of a couple who wished to update the family home to an inn.  The building itself has a storied history--being a stagecoach inn, a post office, a governor's home, and now the Bennett family home.  Grace still has some high school to finish and doesn't want to leave Bluebell, NC, and really doesn't want to give up the family house.  The house isn't sellable, as it is in the midst of renovations, so Molly, Levi, and Grace band together to finish out their parents' dream, as well as allow Grace to finish school.

Just a few days before the final inspection for opening, Adam Bradford shows up at the Inn, looking for lodging.  Every other room in Bluebell is sold out.  Molly puts him into the only room that is completely finished.  Levi has a fit and falls in it because the license isn't in effect yet.  This is where boy meets girl.

As renovations continues, Molly finds a letter stuck in the hole the contractors were cutting for a new window.  There had been a mail slot where the letter was found, but the letter never found its way into a postal employee's hand to be delivered to its intended recipient.   Molly becomes intrigued and shares the letter with Adam who also finds it a puzzle worth investigating.

As the summer goes on, Molly and Adam become closer and closer as they investigate the letter and who the principals were in the letter.  This is where boy gets the girl.

What Molly doesn't know is that Adam is the author she so dearly loves.  (I love characters in books who like to read.)   As the summer goes on, Adam and Molly get closer and closer to the point of falling in love, but Adam is still hiding his alter-ego from Molly.  This leads to boy losing girl.

One critique I have is that Molly is hurt/feeling deceived about a man who uses two identities in his life, and Molly knows that her favorite author uses a nom de plume.  Molly wasn't truly deceived--not to the degree she portrays in the book.  Given her fragility in having been duped before, I can see where she would take this a bit too far, but still, her reaction was a bit over the top.

This is the only criticism I have for the book.  It is still a great read, and the peripheral characters flesh out the story quite well.  It's a five star book (actually 4.5 stars, but I rounded up), with two thumbs up, and one of Miss Della's muffins to eat while you read.

Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read for this review.

New Beginnings at Promise Lodge

Three sisters bought an old church campground and transformed it into an Amish community.  The sisters transformed the lodge into apartments and the cabins into homes they sold to other Amish families.  Frances Lehmann needs to sell her house to cover bills since her husband died.  Her daughter, Gloria, is very much against it and is very upset that her mom would think of such a thing.  Gloria is also a very spoiled girl who gets upset when a man she likes ends up liking someone else.

At the same time, Marlin Kurtz wants to start courting Frances, but his son vehemently disagrees with the thought of his father needing companionship.  Between Frances' daughter and Marlin's son, their romance is off to a rocky start, so much so that Frances asks him not to court her. 

Integral to the plot is the fall that Frances had in her house because she slipped on the shawl Gloria left on the newel post and sprained her wrists so badly she had to have them splinted for six weeks.  She could do nothing for herself, and Gloria was of little help, so the aid Frances needed fell to her other daughter Mary Kate or to Marlin. 

Somehow or other I've been listening to some reddit posts about entitled people, and Charlotte Hubbard has woven them into the storyline with aplomb.  She must have been listening to the same ones I have.  This is a fun story to read and doesn't take long at all.  Charlotte has woven a plot that is compelling and engrossing, which I engaged in with both feet. 

New Beginnings at Promise Lodge is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a man who will take the good with the bad in life and make it all come up roses.

Kensington Books and NetGalley.com provided the galley for me to read and offer my honest opinion.  I am thankful for this provision.

The Roll of the Drums

Jan Drexler writes intriguing Amish fiction, and even dabbles in historical Amish fiction.  The Roll of the Drums is one of these intriguing Amish historicals.  Set during the War between the States (I'm from the South and if I were to give it the true Southern title, it would be something else.),  the story emphasizes the pacificism of the Amish, along with how the Amish were used during the war. 

Ruby Weaver lives with her sister Elizabeth, while Elizabeth's husband has gone to fight with the South.  Elizabeth's husband wasn't Amish and refuses to allow Elizabeth to go to the Amish services. 

The year is 1863 and Gideon is moving with his family to find a place where the war hasn't infiltrated. He comes across the Weaver's farm and looks for help. He has four children--Rosemary, Ezra, Sophie, and Daniel; his wife--Lovinia, who is quite ill, and all of them are hungry--undernourished, even; and weary.  The Weavers, being the generous Amish family they are, take them in and do all they can to help all six of them. 

Ruby spends time with Lovinia, taking care of her, reading to her, listening to her, and befriending her.  Lovinia is far more ill than she can recover from, and after a doctor visits, Lovinia makes Ruby promise to marry Gideon and take care of her children--love them like a mother would.

Ruby never saw herself as marriage material--she's just too opinionated, outspoken, and the most non-Amish Amish woman she knows. 

The more time Gideon spends with Ruby, the more he sees how right Lovinia was, but he was not by any means ready to marry again. But he was extremely happy to have Ruby watch his children.

This was one of the most compelling books I've read in a while.  The storyline is believable, engrossing, and absorbing of the reader's time and imagination.  I love the way Jan Drexler has a plethora of side characters whose actions only add to the plot.  This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a sweet Amish family to help in a time of need.

Revell and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read and I am privileged to participate in Revell's Blog Tour for this book.

An Amish Second Christmas

Kensington Books publishes a wide variety of books that appeal to a wide audience.  The Amish books they publish are some of the best Amish books on the market.   That's why I asked to read An Amish Second Christmas.  It is a collection of three novellas that detail the lives of three Amish couples with rocky starts to a
relationship. 

My favorite one in this collection is the second one--"His Amish Angel."  Maggie is one opinionated, outspoken Amish Lass who writes a column in the local newspaper called "Ask Miss Amish," where she tries to use Amish wisdom and beliefs to solve English-world problems. Somehow her bishop finds out and forbids her to continue writing. 

Her ex-fiance, Atley, is the one who spilled the beans to the bishop, because the bishop is his uncle. She feels this act is the final betrayal in their relationship, but unbeknownst to her, he goes to his uncle and has him read what she's written and shows him how she's telling the world about the Amish life and how that can solve problems for misguided teens and young adults.   One of the things Maggie and Atley need to learn is the art of give and take to make a happy home for both of them. 

This is a five star collection, with two thumbs up, and an angel Christmas Ornament for your tree.  I appreciate Kensington books for providing the galley I read through NetGalley.com.  It's a great read for these chillier nights with a soft blanket and a hot drink. 

A Distance Too Grand

This book has a lot to say for itself: the art of photography, the Grand Canyon, the requisite bad guy, a missing person, an expedition and leader, a camp cook and surveyor, and a few extra characters. 

Meg Pero is a photographer trying to fulfill her late father's contracts, including one with the army to go and photograph the Grand Canyon, while Ben Coleridge is trying to figure out where to put a road to go down to the bottom of the Canyon.  At one time, Meg and Ben were dating while Ben was attending West Point.  Ben's mother discouraged the relationship because Meg was not in the same social strata as Ben's family.  Ben has not come to terms with Meg's turning his proposal down.  She won't tell him the real reason, but she just says it is best for him.  They end up working pretty closely together and for Ben, that's another chance to win Meg's heart.  Of course, there is the requisite bad guy who tries to sabotage the expedition, sets a fire to the camp, and tries to kill everyone in the expedition.

Regina Scott writes a character-rich novel with incredible settings and scenery.  She paints glorious pictures in the reader's mind with her words. This is my first novel by her, but it sure won't be my last. Her talent for writing is incomparable. Five Star Book, with two thumbs up, and a pre-prepared glass slide ready for your best photographic shot. 

I wish to thank Revell Publishing for continuing to produce high quality Christian fiction and for partnering with NetGalley.com to provide the galley I read for this review.  These opinions are quite my own, and not in any way dictated by Revell.

A Love Restored

I looked briefly at the reviews of this book, and the positives are overwhelming.  Ruth Ann Sutton is a curvaceous woman with sass, sarcasm, and dry wit.  She is also the teacher at the Freedman's school for children of color after the War between the States. She doesn't fit into the societal norms and that sticks in her mother's craw. 

Benjamin Coulter is a surveyor for the railroad that is coming through the town where Ruth Ann lives.  He meets her while she's bathing in the creek. 

This is a formulaic romance by Kelly Goshorn, where boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy dumps girl, and then boy gets girl back.    I just couldn't read the whole book, especially after I read the ending (I do this often and then go back and read the book through--most of the time.)   I do not understand how a woman can go back to a man who left her for another woman.....whether they were married or not.  I have seen so much hurt in women who have had this happen to them that they were not able to overcome the betrayal.  That is why I think this book is not really believable.    It's a three star book.

I do want to thank NetGalley.com and the Pelican Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review this book.  The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

In the Cradle Lies

Olivia Newport is releasing her second book in the "Family Tree" series.  I reviewed the Inn at Hidden Run here.  Now the second book tackles a very difficult subject:  Black Market Adoptions. 

Beginning in the World War II era, Matthew is stolen from his family and adopted by another. As he grows up he finds clues to secrets about himself.  He forces his mother to tell him what the secrets are and his mother ends up having a nervous breakdown. As the years go by, he marries and has children, and his children have children, and he tasks his eldest grandson to find all of the secrets and try to bring closure to families affected by the situation. 

Coming to present day, Jillian is still doing genealogy for insurance companies, for individuals, and for private investigators.  When Matthew's grandson, Tucker, comes to Canyon Mines for a vacation, Jillian is compelled to find out what makes him tick by looking up his family tree. Part of the compelling reason for looking him up is that he's spending money hand over fist--buying her best friend the latest and greatest skis, boots, and other gear; buying her some very expensive sunglasses; buying her father some new skis; making huge donations to the heritage center.

With the things Jillian finds out about Tucker, the more settled he becomes.  When his fiancee shows up, the more willing he is to allow Jillian to find his true roots and to take on the mantle his grandfather placed on him.

In the Cradle Lies is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and your favorite ice cream on a snowy day.

I would like to thank Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.  This book is just too hard to put down.

Two for One

Oregon Trail Romance Collection There are nine novellas in this collection of  Oregon Trail adventures. Nine fine authors have put their talents to paper and created an adventure for each of the heroines and heroes on the trail.  The only problem I have is that sometimes the story is too short and its ending is rather abrupt.  Kind of like, "They got married and lived happily ever after."

The weather is turning colder here, and it's the perfect opportunity to grab a book like this and read for an hour in the afternoon after the morning chores are done (or not).  This is a four star book and well worth your time.

Crinoline Cowboys  Once again, another collection of novellas written by four talented authors, but these all take place in Crinoline Creek, Texas.  Four ranchers need a woman about the place.  In very different circumstances, each of the young ladies is in a predicament of her own making and the men who rescue them somehow end up falling in love with the very girls they think they don't need. 

The stories tend to end before I want them to, but they are good reading to while away a chilly afternoon while snuggled under a blanket.  Four strong stars.

I wish to thank Barbour Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galleys of these books for me to read. 

Diamond in the Rough

Jen Turano writes about girls who are just not the societal norm.  Somehow or other they find themselves in one conundrum or another and require the aid of a handsomely dashing hero.  The current book I am reading--Diamond in the Rough--is a bit vapid.  Poppy Garrison is having a season that her grandmother is sponsoring.  Poppy is also in trouble of one sort or another nearly every day and that makes up the whole plot of the book.  While her grandmother hires a young Englishman to tutor her into the ways of society and to make her a "Diamond of the First Water."  The job is not in any way easy. 

I generally enjoy Jen's writings for the most part.  The shenanigans the heroines get into are often hilarious and engaging.  This book is not quite up to the quality of Jen's writings but is still enjoyable.  I often read what I call "fluff," light-hearted books with not a great deal of substance in the plot.  This is one of the fluffiest books I've read in a while. 

At some time, I wish that Jen would take on some of history's entertaining ladies to write about--like Calamity Jane, Belle Starr, Mae West, even Annie Oakley.

This is a three star book.   My thanks go to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review. 

Hope's Highest Mountain

Ingrid Chastain is accompanying her father to Settler's Fort to deliver small pox vaccines to a doctor who needs them because of an outbreak.  While traversing the mountainous territory, the mules pulling the wagon lose their footing when the wagon slips off the side of the trail.  Her father, her maid, the driver of the wagon all have lost their lives, but Ingrid has only broken her leg. 

She is found because a trapper finds the wagon and one of the mules. Micah is a man who is hiding from his past and the last thing he thinks he needs is a woman on his hands who has broken her leg, needing weeks of care. He once practiced medicine but quit when he couldn't save his wife and daughter from their bouts of small pox.

The story line of this book is a great plot idea, but the characters who populate the book tend to be preachy instead of quietly giving witness of God's grace.   Every time Ingrid turns around, she's telling Micah about relying on God.  That detracts from the story line and made the book less enjoyable for me.  Three Stars.

This was my first Misty M Beller book, and while it was not all that engaging for me, I will try her writings again. 

My thanks goes to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

The Painted Castle

Kristy Cambron has taken an idea and stretched it as far as it would go.  In The Painted Castle, she has taken three women from totally separate generations all tied to one painting. The problem with this is that when moving from one time era to another, the writing was rather disjointed.  I think this book would have worked best as three novellas in one anthology.  That is my criticism of the book. 

Beginning in the 1840s, Elizabeth Meade is commissioned to do a portrait of Queen Victoria.  She is being tutored by Franz Winterhalter, a well-known artist of the time.

In the 1940s, Amanda Woods is living in the same Castle, but has hidden all of the paintings that were in the house for safety's sake because of the German airplanes bombing the area.

In the present day, Keira Foley has been commissioned to authenticate a painting of Queen Victoria, supposedly by Franz Winterhalter.

Each of these stories would be easy to follow, IF they were cohesively put together,  and all of them are enjoyable reads.  This is certainly a recommendable book with four stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com for providing the galley for me to read.

All He'll Ever Need

Loree Lough writes all kinds of fiction, but this Amish fiction that she has written is a great read. All He'll Ever Need tells the story of an Amish widower with a sickly son and an Englisch Doctor with incredible diagnostic knowledge. 

When four year old Gabe Baker passes out while he's with his dad, Phillip, at the hardware store, an ambulance is called, and Gabe is taken to the hospital to undergo tests and to find out what is actually wrong with him. Once Emily, the doctor, finds the diagnosis, she makes the arrangements to transfer Gabe to a bigger hospital where another doctor can do the surgery Gabe needs.

The longer Phillip and Emily are together, the closer they become, and the more Phillip's mother objects.  Emily is not Amish and that creates a conflict for Phillip's mother.

While Gabe is having his surgery, Emily has to face her past in the face of Alex, the surgeon working on Gabe.

I love books with happy endings, and this one has one of the happiest, in spite of some episodes of sadness in the book.  This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a sliding scale clinic with quality health care.

I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Love at Pebble Creek

Every so often, I need an Amish fiction story to lighten my reading mood.  They are light, sweet, uplifting, and generally easy to read. Lisa Jones Baker has written another of the Hope Chest series with characters facing difficult decisions, but who listen to God's whisperings to finally decide for their own best.

Anna King has a secret talent that the Amish really frown upon.  She's an artist and wants to go to art school and get a degree to be able teach art to others.

Her friend, Jesse Beiler, is the only one who knows her secret.  He's been her friend since they were in school together, and nothing would please him more than being her friend forever.  And he would like nothing better than to buy some land and farm it. 

Love at Pebble Creek is the kind of book that will keep the reader up late simply because it can't easily be put down.  The descriptions are exceptionally vivid and imaginative.  I love the description of Pebble Creek, and can imagine myself relaxing there frequently. 

This is  a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and a portrait-style  sketch of yourself.

My thanks goes to Zebra Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Lessons on Love

I absolutely love reading these authors, and especially when they are grouped together to bring readers a group of novellas that teach various people about love.  Beginning in an era when teachers were not allowed to be married, each story becomes more modern until the early 1900s. 

One of the teachers had her job taken from her by nepotism on the school board, but she found a way to continue teaching--by teaching the Norwegian children to read, write, and speak English. 

One of the teachers loses her job when the school closes down.  She was a music teacher and she was supporting her mother and her sister with her salary.  A man she met at the closing of the school sets her up to play a piano concert and many parents attending ask her to teach their children privately.

These are just two of the four high quality novellas contained in this anthology.  Barbour always puts out a quality product and this certainly fits that bill.  Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and teacher to fill in your blanks.

My thanks go to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley.com for providing this galley for me to read and review.

The Dating Charade

Melissa Ferguson is a new author to me, and I found her book to be well-written, humorous, and intriguing. 

Cassie Everson works at a youth center that specifically helps teen girls from dysfunctional families.  She notices when the girls come into the center after school and worries when any of the girls don't show up.  Cassie is also single and has been on the dating merry-go-round so long that she's about to decide to stay single.  Then she sees a firefighter outside her office window while she's talking to her friend, Bree.  She points to him and tells Bree that HE is the man she needs.

The firefighter happened to be Jett, a man who went to school with Cassie, just a couple of years behind her.  He remembered her controlling the floor as a basketball player and her moves still fascinate him. 

In Cassie's dating profile, she says that she doesn't want children--not because she truly doesn't want them, but because she's unable to have them.  Jett reads that and feels that he met his soul-mate.  When he shows up for their first date, Cassie leaves him standing by the front door of the center. Not to be dissuaded from seeing Cassie, Jett sets up another date at a basketball court.  Unfortunately, Cassie gets a phone call that requires her to leave in the middle of the game they were playing.  One of her girls needed help and right now. 

Melissa has written a book with a fast-paced plot, an intrigue that keeps the reader involved, and sweet surprises all the way through.  Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a Brady Bunch wedding at a drive-through wedding chapel.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Until the Mountains Fall

Connilyn Cossette writes Biblical fiction that is fascinating to read.  In Until the Mountains Fall, she takes the culture of the post Egypt Israel and weaves into it the parable of the prodigal son. 

Rivkah has been sold into a levirate marriage to her late husband's younger brother.  She can only remember the times he was a pest while she was hanging out with his older brother.  Her father is the head priest of their city of refuge, but Rivkah rebels as hard as she can, up to running away. 

For five years, her father and her husband's brother, Malakhi, wait for her to come home.  When some priests from another city are bringing a woman convicted of killing her baby, one of the priests hands Rivkah's father a note that was passed to him by a Jewess enslaved to a trader.  She takes care of his market booth. The note is the first clue her father and Malakhi have had in five years.

The prodigal part is played out to the very letter of the story Jesus told.  When Rivkah returns, her sister Lailah resents her and the attention she is getting. 

I love the interweaving of the Old Testament and New Testament to make this story spark.  This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a rescue from slavery. 

I want to thank Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

The Reluctant Brides Collection

Barbour Books has a reputation for producing anthologies that are always entertaining and great reading for an afternoon of leisure.  The Reluctant Brides Collection has a novella by one of my favorite authors, which is why I chose to read it.  As I read through the book, these stories seemed awfully familiar.  I felt like I'd read them before.  It's possible I have, but they are still entertaining for a lazy afternoon with a glass of iced tea.

These stories are all about women who want to be independent, who don't want to get married, but somehow get bitten by the love bug.  They are also about men who truly understand the women they love and strive to help them achieve their dreams, regardless of the obstacles in front of them. 

It's a solid four star olio that is great for rainy afternoon reading.

I thank Barbour Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley for me to read and review.

Yours Truly,

While I was growing up, my father worked for the post office and once I asked him what happened to letters that couldn't be delivered.  He told me about the dead letter office, where undeliverable mail goes to die.  When I saw that this book was available, I knew I wanted to read it. 

Penny Ercanbeck has been working in the dead letter office for three years.  She has had some letters cross her desk all from the same man, and all signed, "Yours Truly, Thomas." There is something plaintive in the letters to a Clara who lives in Alexandria, VA, that Penny decides to do something about it.

First she has to figure out who Clara is, and when she does, she goes to find Clara, only to find that she is dead.  Second, she has to figure out where Thomas is writing from. Once she finds that, she decides to go to find Thomas and find out his story. 

Rachel Fordham has written a great romance about two people who need some healing from things in their lives, and then they have to fight outer demons as well.  Her writing style is extremely readable and her plot pacing is on point.  Her characters are well-rounded and fully engaged in their roles within the book.  These are all signs of great writing. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a romantic letter from your one true love.

I want to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

The Homestead Brides Collection

In the last post, I said that Bethany House knows how to gather great authors for their novella collections.  I also say that Barbour Publishing knows this as well.  The Homestead Brides is no exception.

The Homestead Act of 1862 was put into play to encourage western expansion and settlements.  The homesteaders were given 160 acres to prove up and live on for five years for a nominal fee.  This was one-quarter of a section of land. 

Some of these brides were homesteaders after their husbands or fathers passed away trying to prove up the land. Some of the brides were marrying men to help them prove up their land. Some of the brides married the men whose homesteads abutted their own.  Some brides also take in children who are not their own, or blend the groom's children with her own. 

These books that Barbour puts out are worth reading on an afternoon where you just don't feel like doing anything else. Grab the book, a light blanket, and your drink of choice--coffee, tea, water, and sit down to read awhile.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and 160 acres of proved up land.

My thanks to NetGalley.com and Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

An Amish Christmas Kitchen

Bethany House Publishing finds the best authors to publish and they have accomplished that in the collection of novellas they put together for Christmas season.  An Amish Christmas Kitchen tells three stories of young Amish ladies trying to win the man's heart the old fashioned way--through his stomach. 

In the novella by Jan Drexler, An Amish Recipe Box, Ada is trying to get a young man's attention by baking her best cookies for him every week.  Since he works for her father, she doesn't have to go far to deliver them.  The young man she's after is only making fun of her because of the extra pounds she carries. BUT, there is a man who is noticing her, not only for her cooking, but also for her Christian values and caring attitude.

All of the novellas have a sweetness to them that makes them fun to read for a couple of hours on an afternoon with nothing else to do. 

This is a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and a cookie to calm your sweet tooth.

My thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I have reviewed.

A Family for Gracie

Amy Lillard writes entertaining Amish fiction and has entertained me for hours on end. A Family for Gracie, takes a third daughter in the Glick family, and puts her in a marriage in name only, but with five children. 

All Gracie wanted for all her life is a family of her own.   Matthew Byler has a family of five children--four boys and a baby girl.  The boys are just ordinary boys, sometimes rambunctious, sometimes awfully sweet, and sometimes just boys.  Gracie sees that the one thing this little family needs is a mother.  She proposes to Matthew and he accepts as long as the wedding is soon.

This was a marriage of miscommunication from the start.  Gracie wanted a full marriage and Matthew wanted only the convenience of having Gracie mother his children and do his housework for him. 

Amy has taken a common problem in many marriages and turned it into a plot that will entertain and enlighten her readers.  How she used the lack of communication in the book is something people can take to use in their own lives where there is a breakdown of communication. 

This is a five-star book with two thumbs up and a family in need of a mother.

My thanks go to Zebra Publishing and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read.

Love and Other Mistakes

Jessica Kate is a new author for me.  She is described as sassy, witty, and gritty, and she fits all those descriptors.  Her book, Love and Other Mistakes, is full of sass, wit, and grit. 

Natalie has been helping her mother take care of her father since he has had a diagnosis of cancer.  Her job is about to go down the drain, and she needs another job quickly. 

A new job seems to land in her lap when her old flame lands back in town with an infant in tow. Sparks begin to fly between Natalie and Jeremy, but they weren't welcome sparks.  In the midst of the negotiations, Jeremy's niece lands on his doorstep in need of a place to live. 

This book handles (in some places, not very competently) marriage troubles, parent/child troubles, ex troubles, job troubles, and child health problems.

I think with time, Jessica will become a better writer.  There seem to be gaps in the plot and it feels as though the ending came hurriedly.  I give this three stars, but I would like to see more from Jessica.

I would like to thank for HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read.

A Christmas Haven

There was something frustrating about this book.  It feels like I did in high school when I was trying to write a paper and the deadline was approaching and I just tied everything up in a tidy bow and left out important bits of information.   Cindy Woodsmall and her daughter-in-law, Erin, have been collaborating on books for a bit now and they do a wonderful job together.  This one "flub" won't keep me from reaching for their books, but it's one I can't truly endorse.

A Christmas Haven starts in the summer months and describes the life of Ivy, Holly, Sarah, Arlan, and Josh.  Ivy and Holly are sisters, Sarah and Arlan are siblings, and Josh is Holly's fiance'.  The five people come from three different Amish groups in varying degrees of strictness, with Sarah and Arlan being the ones from the most strict group. 

Ivy has been running a party planning business with her Englisch friend, Tegan, and wants to leave the Amish.  Holly has gotten special permission to go to school to get a degree for being a Licensed Practical Nurse, to help with the Amish people who take medications and need to understand them better.  Josh's bishop won't marry Holly and Josh unless she gives up her training.  Sarah is young and pregnant, and very ill, but her father won't let her seek medical attention.  Arlan is beyond aggravated with his father and runs away with Sarah.  Because of all the differences of opinions, it seems as though Arlan and Ivy will never have a civil conversation. 

It takes most of the book to get this all laid out, and in the last couple of chapters, it is all resolved and put to rest.   I'm sorry that this is at best a two-star book.

I wish to thank NetGalley.com and Waterbrook/Multnomah for allowing me to read and review this book.

The Printed Letters Bookshop

I've read a few books by Katherine Reay and I've always found them to be fascinating and somewhat griping.  In the Printed Letters Bookshop, Katherine brings together a group of ladies of disparate ages and situations. What they have in common is the bookshop.

When Madeline's Aunt Maddie dies, she finds out that she has inherited Maddie's house and the bookshop, . . . and the debt Maddie had left on both of them.  At the same time, Madeline loses her high profile job at a law firm.  She has to come north of Chicago to where the book store was.  She had to sell her car, sell off her furniture, and eventually sell her condo, all to save Maddie's house and store. 

Janet was divorced and had estranged children, but she was a creative genius in decorating the store for various holidays and seasons. 

Claire was married, but her teenage daughter was giving her grief and hiding out, while her son was just his same self and unaware of what was going on in their family.  Her role in the store was keeping the ledgers up to date and keeping track of the money. 

The three of them become friends and live and work through the store and its events.  And the three of them have to band together to save the store. 

This is a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and a book by your favorite author.

I wish to thank NetGalley.com and Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A Perfect Silhouette

Judith Miller is one of my favorite authors and I will grab her books to read, especially when I need some down-time.  But when I read A Perfect Silhouette, I was thoroughly disappointed. There was so much Judith left unfinished.  Maybe she was leaving room for a sequel to this book, or to make a series, but there were unresolved issues in the plot and I cannot give this book more than three stars.

Mellie has moved to Manchester, NH, to work in the textile mills so that she can help support her sister. As part of her job at the mill, she has to live in a boarding house run by someone employed by the mill to offer a bed to sleep in and three or four meals a day.  There are a strict curfew and rules about church attendance and general conduct.  That much doesn't bother Mellie so much, but she knows she needs to make more money than just her wages at the mill.

Shopping with the girls one night, Mellie sees a photography studio and goes into the store to see if the owner would like to have her do scherenschnitte silhouettes for customers who cannot afford photographic portraits.  As a demonstration of her skill, she does a silhouette of the owner in just a few moments.  They come to an agreement where she pays him two cents out of every silhouette she sells.  It is absolutely a great boon for his business.

While working one night, she meets Morgan Stark, the son of the owner of the mill where Mellie works.  He is working under an assumed name at the mill so that he can get a feel for the conditions the employees are working under.  Because he is an engineer, he is included on a project for a circular loom that makes seamless fabric for feed bags.

Even though Morgan is falling in love with Mellie, he still has to keep his identity protected but his guilt over not telling Mellie the whole truth is eating him inside out.  When she does find out, it is in the most awkward way possible and Morgan has a long row to hoe to win her back. 

Like I said before, the book has an abrupt ending.  Throughout the book, I got the feeling that something was wrong with Mellie's sister, but there is no resolution there.  There are several other girls who have some unresolved issues as well, and the reuniting of Mellie and Morgan isn't as satisfying as it could have been.  It is almost as if the author got to the point where she had enough pages and just tied a bow on it. I am hoping that there will be more novels to come out to make this a series and fill in some of the gaps.

My thanks go to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for allowing me to read and review this book.  Three stars

A Song of Joy

Lauraine Snelling has an affinity for books about the Scandanavian immigrant.  Each story builds on a previous one and fills in a bit more about the characters. It makes the reader feel a part of the neighborhood.

Nilda Larsson works for Gertrude Schoenleber as her secretary and assistant.  Gertrude's brother doesn't feel that Nilda belongs in the board meetings of the family logging business, so he gets his son to court Nilda as a way of neutralizing Nilda's affect on the business.

At the same time another nephew of Gertrude's, named Fritz, spends his time being Nilda's friend and quietly courting her without being obvious about it. One of the talents Fritz has is playing piano and Nilda looks forward to his every visit so that she can have another lesson.

This book is a quietly, even-paced novel with well-written characters and deeply thought out settings. The reappearing characters get more depth and focus while the main characters shine like stars. I loved the way the plot played out in such a satisfying way.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a good report on your next piano lesson.

I want to thank Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read.