Edie's Home for Orphans

 Edie wants to join up to help in the fight against Hitler, but all of the avenues of opportunity are closed off to her because she had consumption as a child and her lungs are just not strong enough.  The ONLY thing she can do is to become a Land Girl and help out on a farm in a Cumbrian village.  She boards at the Applewood Manor and works part time at the Larkstone Farm.  Her landlady at Applewood, Prue Hewitt, is a woman who has closed herself off from the rest of the world and given up the hope of ever loving again.  Edie shows up with stars in her eyes and a willing heart. The work is harder than anything she ever expected and yet she shows her pluck by never giving up.  

Prue has inherited Applewood from her late husband, Albert, who married the housekeeper's daughter in spite of the "class difference." Prue is not one of the more popular residents of the village, and Patricia, the priest's wife, takes every opportunity to let her know just how far beneath she is.  When Patricia insists that Prue take in evacuee children, Prue isn't entirely happy about it, but when the children (Aggie and Jimmy) arrive, she loses a bit of her heart to them.  Edie is on hand to help with the children and makes fast friends with them. 

Also inhabiting Applewood are Jack and Tilly.  Jack is the gardener who has loved Prue since they were children, and Tilly is a young mother-to-be who is secretly married to an Italian prisoner of war. 

Edie works for Sam Nicholson at Larkstone Farm, helping with the sheep--birthing, raising, and general care of the farm.  Sam sees a like-minded woman in Edie and wants to know her better, but doesn't quite know how to go about it.  He is branded as a coward because he is not off fighting in the war, even though no one in town knows that he can't pass the physical.  He feels his problems are his own and no one else's business. 

This book is misnamed to a degree, because it is Prue's home that takes in all of the strays and orphans. It is Prue's attitude that changes as the plot moves on through the book.  It is Prue who has the bigger romantic plot line, rather than Edie; which is not to say that Edie doesn't have her own romantic plot, hers is just not as significant as Prue's.  

This is the first book I've read by Gracie Taylor, and I hope it is not the last one I will read by her.  The characters are engaging, and the plot is compelling.  The settings are bucolic and inviting, and there are events in the plot that make it more exciting.  Gracie has also dealt with PTSD (although that was not the term for the condition back in the day) in a dignified way to bring empathy toward the sufferers. This is the kind of book a reader picks up and won't put down until the very last page is finished. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and Aggie's Cheese Custard for tea. 

HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Hope Between the Pages

 

The opening line of this book hooked me:  Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale.  Hope Between the Pages not only begins with a library, but it also includes a book store, a perfect duet of reading enjoyment.  

Sadie Blackwell is the keeper of the library at the Vanderbilt House in Asheville, North Carolina. She is dusting when someone (Oliver Camden)  comes in and talks about the kinds of books he likes to read.  She has hidden herself so that the owner of the voice won't see her.  When he leaves, Sadie pulls some books and leaves them on a table in the library with a card with his name on it.  He leaves the books on the table the next morning with a note for her, calling her "The Book Fairy," and signed "The Book Goblin," with requests for his next selections. Over the course of the days of his visit, The Book Goblin interacts with the Book Fairy and even though he was from an "upper crust" society family in England and she was a servant, they fall in love.  He asks her to come to England to marry him and she agrees to come. 

Generations later, Clara Blackwell has inherited the bookstore founded by her great-grandmother, Sadie, but the fly in the ointment is that the deed to the shop was never recorded in the county records.  This puts Clara in the midst of a mystery with only a limited amount of time to solve it.  In the midst of the searching, she ends up taking a trip to England to find search out the house where Oliver grew up.  Clara finds out more of her own history, as well as the history of Oliver and Sadie.  

Pepper Basham is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.  She understands the mind of a reader so well that she sprinkles her own brand of fairy dust throughout her books. I especially loved this line:  Books without readers are like homes without people. Her characters are fully fleshed out and she uses biblical values without beating the reader over the head with them.  I especially like how Clara reacted to Maxwell's burn scars.  She made the point of seeing Maxwell, the man; and not Maxwell, the scars.  Another line I loved says something about living life to the best we can, however long or short it is.  

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and Belle's library to sate any reader. 

Barbour Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this book.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Winning the Schoolmarm

 

I was approached by Lacy Williams to read and review her newest offering.  I checked the synopsis on Amazon.com to see if it would be something I wanted to read before I took her up on the offer.  This is not a heavy book with substantial plot lines.  It is a fast read with elements of a Dime Novel of days gone by.  

Cecelia White comes to Granbury, Wyoming, to be the new school teacher, and even though the president of the school board, John Morgan, is nice looking but she's not looking for a husband. 

John is the son of con-artists and, because of a bank robbery gone bad, is now the guardian of his younger sister, Ruth, one of the students in the Granbury school.  

Cecelia has her work cut out for her with Ruth, who seems to cause trouble at every turn.  

Most of the book is about John hiding his past, Cecelia trying to win over Ruth, and Cecelia and John trying hard and failing at not falling in love.  

My major criticism of the book is that John is looking for redemption by just doing good works.  It would have helped to have John's redemption come through Jesus Christ instead of just through his own doing.  Overall, this is a three-star book.  It's a quick, easy read that will entertain for a little while.  

Lacy Williams provided the copy I read.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

The Shell Collector

 Nancy Naigle is a new author for me, but  I found this introduction to be quite moving.  I am not sure if the main character is Amanda Whittier or Maeve Lindsay.  Their stories are so intertwined that it's hard to tell who takes center stage.  

Amanda is a widowed Marine wife and mother who moves to Whelks Island for a chance to start over and possibly start her home-based business. She buys a fixer-upper cottage by the beach and finds solace through her neighbor, Maeve. It is through the friendship she builds with Maeve that she comes to the point of being able to find love again.  

Paul was the best friend of Amanda's husband, Jack. By chance, he meets up with Amanda on the beach as he was running past while Amanda and her children were playing.  Amanda's daughter, Hailey, believes at first that Paul is her father who finally came back to them.  But when Hailey sees who it really is, she finds someone she knew but had forgotten about.  

Cancer comes to play in the final stages of the book and it was something to which I could relate quite well.  Seventeen and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and told that while it was not curable, it was treatable.  Much of what Nancy described of Maeve's journey resonated with me, and the faith exhibited by the characters in the throes of Maeve's final days is something that I could relate to extremely well. 

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a large box of facial tissues to wipe the copious amount of tears that will be shed. 

Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

The Incredible Winston Browne

 

I think what drew me to try to read this book is that it takes place in the South, a place near and dear to my heart. I tried really hard to get into this book and just couldn't.  Sean Dietrich has a folksy writing style that is easy to read, but for some cause it didn't resonate with me.  

There are two plots in the book that dovetail about halfway through.  One is that of a child being rescued from an abusive cult in Pennsylvania, and the other is small town life in Moab, Florida. When they meet in the middle, the child has been abandoned and for her own safety has been deposited in Moab.  The people draw in the child, fall in love with her,  adopt her into the town and protect her to the best of their abilities. Winston Browne is the sheriff of the town and the leader of the protection unit for the child. He has had a soft spot for the down-and-outers of his town, especially taking interest in the children. 

This book has a lot to offer for people who like the writings of Bailey White and Fannie Flagg (for more contemporary comparisons).  It could be my own reading mood that kept me from liking this book as much as I thought I would, but the things that drew me to this book in the first place still have a lot to offer other readers who will like it.  The writing is high quality; the characters, settings, and plot lines are believable and understandable. Even though I didn't enjoy the book as much as I expected to, I can still give it four stars. 

HarperCollins and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

If You Hold Me

 Ciara Knight writes sweet romances that are engaging and just the right fit for a light read.  When I first loaded this book onto my Kindle, I was unexpectedly surprised, and pleasantly so. It tickles me that the last two books I read took place in towns with Maple in the names. 

Mary-Beth is the so-called Coffee Whisperer of Sugar Maple, Tennessee. Her former boyfriend, Tanner McCadden, has come back to town after his father's death to help run his family's farm.  The problem for Mary-Beth is that she can't figure out what kind of coffee hits Tanner's sweet spot.  There is a lot of water under the bridge where their relationship was to where it is now. Underlying all the angst between them are lies and deceptions that have kept them apart for years--lies told by both sets of parents and deliberate deceptions meant to at odds. 

What I didn't realize when I started reading this book is that is the fourth book of a series, but that doesn't make it any less readable or enjoyable.  I don't feel like I have missed anything by not reading the other books first. I think the focus on Mary-Beth and Tanner provides enough background to make the plot quite understandable.  If You Hold Me is written well enough that it could be a stand-alone novel. 

So here's the scoop: the characters are relatable, the plot lines are believable, the setting is charming, and the outcome is extremely satisfying, giving this book four solid stars. 

Author Collective 20 and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Hooked on You

I know Kathleen Fuller by the Amish romances she writes, so this book is a departure for her.  Once I got into the book, I was surprised that it took place in my old stomping grounds.  I got a big kick out of picturing the places in my mind, because I know them well. 

Riley is trying to live in New York and make it big in the art world.  When her grandmother, Erma,  breaks her leg playing in the church softball league, Erma calls Riley to come and take care of her.  In her inimitable way, Erma sends her friend, Hayden, to pick up Riley from the airport.  Erma is engaging in a bit of match-making and hoping that Riley will make her home in Maple Falls, and help her with her yarn store, Knots and Tangles. 

The first thing Riley sees in the store is how cluttered it is and how hard it is to move around inside the store.  Riley determines to do an overhaul of the store to make it more customer friendly.  

Hayden works in his father's hardware store just across the main street from Knots and Tangles.  He and Riley bump into each other frequently and a cautious friendship begins to grow. 

The only fly in the ointment occurs when Riley's mom comes to town and stirs up a bit of trouble.  

I chose this book because it dealt with some things I truly enjoy, especially yarn and yarn crafts. I did glean some ideas for projects I want to make. 😊

This is a solid four star book, a light read for a day when nothing more is needed. 

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

 

Return to the Island

I jumped into this book, not realizing it was the third of a three part series.  It didn't matter. I never felt like I lost anything from the previous novels in the series.  

Ellen was all but orphaned when she was sent to live with her Aunt Rose and Uncle Dyle on Amherst Island in Ontario. She had been living with another aunt and uncle who were harsh and unwelcoming.  After she stopped attending school, she went to Glasgow to study art, and was even offered a position at the Art Institute to teach art, but World War I intervened.  She trained as a nurse and served in Royaumant, France, during the war.  Now she has returned to the island that was more home than anywhere she'd ever lived. 

Her cousin, Peter, has returned from the war with what was known as shell shock at the time.  Her neighbor, Jed Lyman, has also returned from the war with an arm missing and nursing his own inner wounds. Ellen convinces Jed to talk to Peter to see if he agrees with her impressions.  Ellen has loved Jed and his brother, Lucas, since she was a child.  

When her Aunt Rose is having trouble making ends meet on the farm, Ellen goes to Jed to see if he'd be willing to buy part of the farm, but his own farm was not as productive as it could have been, either.  Lucas has an idea that will help Aunt Rose and the rest of her family--Ellen will teach art lessons to wealthy people who are willing to come to the island for a vacation.  This action will put into play a series of events that lead Ellen to finding what her heart truly wants. 

I've never read a book by Kate Hewitt before, and I did enjoy this one.  It was a slow, meandering plot, with a few bumps and jolts along the way, just to keep the reader awake.  It is not so much of a romance as it is a family history type book.  That is not to say there is no romance in the book, but it is understated and not at all syrupy sweet.  What Kate has done is that she has provided some very tough subjects with dignity and grace. This is a strong four star book. 

Bookoutre and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

 

Under the Magnolias

Under the Magnolias is one of the very best books I've read in a long time.  T I Lowe has put everything but the kitchen sink in the book and all of the conflicts only add to the depth of the plot.  She has dealt with mental illness in one of the characters with dignity and compassion, while at the same time showing how mental illness affects more than just the person who has it--it affects the whole family. 

T I Lowe's writing reminded me of some books I read a long time ago by Bailey White, with a cast of characters that are sure to entertain but touching the heart at the same time. The overarching theme of the book is acceptance, and while the eccentricities of the characters are entertaining, the plot moved me to tears more than once.  

From the time Ox was thirteen years old, she has been holding her family together by the skin of her teeth.  As the second oldest of seven children, the eldest of whom was developmentally delayed, it fell to her shoulders to keep body and soul together for all of the others, especially after her mother died having twins when no one else was at home. She never had the opportunity to just be a kid because she was too busy being an adult.  Her one refuge was the library in town.  She could go to the librarian and ask for books on a specific subject and get all the information she needed. It was the one thing that kept her sanity through the rest of the years as she was growing up.  

 One of the most unforgettable lines and my favorite line in the book was, "I just never figured out how to stop loving you." 

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a Twinkie™ for comfort. 

Tyndale House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

 

Georgana's Secret

 

Georgana is the daughter of a captain of a ship in His Royal Majesty's Admiralty.  She has lived most of her life with her father's abusive mother, but for the last three years, she has been the cabin "boy" on her father's frigate--the HMS Deborah.  There are a few boys on the ship who make life hard for "George," but the new lieutenant on the ship sees something in George and wants to help "him" fit in better by teaching George self-defense.  The more they work together, the more the lieutenant likes "him" and wants to figure him out. 

This is the first book by Arlem Hawks that I've read, and I have to admit that I was intrigued from the very first page all the way through to the end.  I wanted to read ahead and see how things worked out with several of the characters, but I disciplined myself to read straight through.  Georgana's Secret reminds me of a book I've read by Lori Wick, Wings of the Morning.  The time frame is similar and the heroines of the books have many comparable characteristics, and their heroes are analogous in their miens.  Both authors have excellent talent in developing their characters, settings, and plot movements.  This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a right hook "like an English cannon." 

Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

A Sister's War

 

Ronnie is the youngest of three sisters and the only one still at home with her Maman, Suzy is traveling with the ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association), and Raine is flying with the women's Air Forces.  At first, Ronnie wanted to be part of the Land Army, working on a farm, but she was too young.  When she saw a newsreel at the movie theater that described the boat girls who moved cargo up and down the canals and found that she was closer to the minimum age to be part of the program.  She wasn't quite old enough to enlist in the program, but with Raine's help, she gets accepted.  

In many ways this book reminded me of a book I read last year--The Boat Girls (reviewed here).  While the plots are not the same, the description of the life of the boat girls or boat wenches, as some call them, is pretty much the same in detail.  The training was tough and took only the hardiest girls to complete the training.  The training boatwoman, Deadly Dora, is hard as nails and exacting in her expectations of the girls' performance on the boats. The girls training with Ronnie were quite the assortment and added color to the plot of the book.  Among the other characters are Will Drake, a young local man who follows the boats up and down the cut; and Michael Scott, a constable for the Grand Union Canals.  

What I like about how Molly Green wrote her characterizations is that she gave Deadly Dora a sympathetic back-story that makes her more than just a taskmaster, but gives her likability.  Molly is quickly becoming one of my favorite World War II era authors.  Her books are well-researched, her settings are completely believable, and her characters are wholly fleshed-out.  

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a trip up the cut on a narrow boat. 

Avon Books UK and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.