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.