She Wouldn't Change A Thing by Sarah Adlakha - 5 Stars

 

She Wouldn’t Change A Thing – Sarah Adlakha

Wow what a book!  It has an interesting premise and for a minute in the middle I couldn’t understand what was happening with the storyline.  When I figured it out, all I could think was wow what a premise. The twists and turns in this book made it hard to turn down.  There is romance and mystery and something that I can’t explain.  You have to read the book yourself to find out what happens because my lips are sealed! 

 

I was given this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  My opinions and words are my own freely given, there was no requirement.  #SheWouldn’tChangeAThing #SarahAdlakha #NetGalley

 

Description as given from NetGalley.com:

Sliding Doors meets Life After Life in Sarah Adlakha's story about a wife and mother who is given the chance to start over at the risk of losing everything she loves.

A second chance is the last thing she wants.

When thirty-nine-year-old Maria Forssmann wakes up in her seventeen-year-old body, she doesn’t know how she got there. All she does know is she has to get back: to her home in Bienville, Mississippi, to her job as a successful psychiatrist and, most importantly, to her husband, daughters, and unborn son.

But she also knows that, in only a few weeks, a devastating tragedy will strike her husband, a tragedy that will lead to their meeting each other.

Can she change time and still keep what it’s given her?

Exploring the responsibilities love lays on us, the complicated burdens of motherhood, and the rippling impact of our choices, She Wouldn't Change a Thing is a dazzling debut from a bright new voice.

Blackberry Beach by Irene Hannon – 4 Stars

 A sweet romance with two people who have no reason to get involved with someone else.  Katherine Parker just wants to spend some time away from Hollywood and the paparazzi.  Zach Garret owns a Coffee Shop in Hope Harbor lives next to her rental home.  He’s already gone through a great loss and just wants to live his life quietly and has no plans on changing things.  Until he keeps running into Katherine at a home for foster children, which they recruited to help rehab.  Sparks fly then.  This is a very sweet romance with some interesting twists and turns.  I enjoyed the book, it kept me interested all the way to the end.

I received this book from NetGalley.com in the kindle format.  My opinions are my own and freely given they were not required.  #BlackberryBeach  #IreneHannon  #NetGalley

 

Description from NetGalley:

Katherine Parker is on the cusp of having everything she ever wanted--fame, money, and acclaim. So why isn't she happy? In search of answers, she comes incognito to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast for some R&R. Maybe in her secluded rental house overlooking the serene Pacific she'll be able to calm the storm inside.

Coffee shop owner Zach Garrett has found his niche after a traumatic loss--and he has no plans to change the life he's created. Nor does he want to get involved with his reticent new neighbor, whose past is shrouded in mystery. He's had enough drama to last a lifetime. But when Katherine and Zach are recruited to help rehab a home for foster children, sparks fly. And as their lives begin to intersect, might they find more common ground than they expected . . . and discover that, with love, all things are possible?

Bestselling and award-winning author Irene Hannon invites you to come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

 

Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark - 5 Stars!

 

Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark

This is a complicated sweet romance that switches between 1929 and present day.  This book has some mystery and history, and it definitely held my interest all the way to the end.  It had many twists and turns and I was happy with the ending.  I can’t say that about everything I read.

 

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com and my opinions are my own freely given.  They were not required.  I gave this book 4 stars.  #PaintandNectar #AshleyClark #NetGalley

 

Description from NetGalley:

In 1929, a spark forms between talented watercolorist Eliza and William, a charming young man who has been hired to forge her popular paintings. Her aunt makes it clear Eliza should stay away from him because of a feud between their families over missing heirloom silver. But the source of the rivalry was long ago, and as the two get to know each other, they fall in love. William regrets the job that desperation led him to take and their families' ongoing bitterness, but setting things right comes at a cost.

In present-day Charleston, Lucy Legare has just inherited an old house from a mysterious benefactor, along with all the secrets it holds, including an old silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney is determined to buy the house for his family's development company. But as Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, garden, and silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own.

 

Shelter by Catherine Jinks - 5 Stars

I read this book so quickly.  I did not see the ending or the last quarter of the book coming.  The ending was a surprise.  It was a good ending I’m not saying it wasn’t, it was just a bit unexpected. This book has mystery, and quite a story line.  I’m not going to give you a description as I have that shown below as found on NetGalley.com.

 

I received the book from NetGalley free in the kindle format.  My opinion and words are my own freely given.  It was not required.  #Shelter #NetGalley #CatherineJinks #WomenAbused

 

Description

Meg lives alone: a little place in the bush outside town. A perfect place to hide. That’s one of the reasons she offers to shelter Nerine, who’s escaping a violent ex. The other is that Meg knows what it’s like to live with an abusive partner.

Nerine is jumpy and her two little girls are frightened. It tells Meg all she needs to know where they’ve come from, and she’s not all that surprised when Nerine asks her to get hold of a gun. But she knows it’s unnecessary. They’re safe now.

Then she starts to wonder about some little things. A disturbed flyscreen. A tune playing on her windchimes. Has Nerine’s ex tracked them down? Has Meg’s husband turned up to torment her some more?

By the time she finds out, it’ll be too late to do anything but run for her life. 

No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky 4 Stars

I read this book at night when I couldn’t sleep.  I did really enjoy the book, it had some twists and turns to it, it does have quite a bit about the British Home Children.  Some of the children taken due to their parents no longer able to take care of them or they passed away and the children had no relatives to step forward and take care of them.  When they arrive in Canada, they are either adopted or given to farmers, etc. to serve as indentured servants. Grace McAlister finds a small trunk in her attic with belongings that came with her when her parents adopted her.  She finds the name of the place where she stayed until she was placed with her parents.  She really wants to find her family members.  Then a brother showed up on her doorstep.  Her parents don’t want to believe she has family members and even a Mother who was alive and they throw him out.  She is about to be presented to society as a girl ready to marry, marry the man who has be best family even if she doesn’t like or love him.  So, when Garth and his buddy show up at the ball, they sneak her away from her family to take her back to natural family.  There are other’s who are involved in this story and it is quite a tale.  This is the second book in the series, the first in this saga was “No Ocean Too Wide”.  I never read the first book and don’t believe you have to read it in order to understand and follow this story.  It’s a sweet romance, with mystery and history thrown in.  I do recommend this book if this is your type of read.

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley and my opinions on this book are my own freely given, I wasn’t required to do a review.  #NoJourneyTooFar #NetGalley #CarrieTuransky

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

A family long divided, a mysterious trunk, and a desperate journey across the ocean—all in the name of love. The epic saga of the McAlisters continues in this riveting sequel to No Ocean Too Wide. 

In 1909, Grace McAlister set sail for Canada as one of the thousands of British Home Children taken from their families and their homeland. Though she is fortunate enough to be adopted by wealthy parents, the secrets of her past are kept hidden for ten years until someone from her long-buried childhood arrives on her doorstep. With this new connection to her birth family, will she be brave enough to leave her sheltered life in Toronto and uncover the truth? 

After enduring hardship as an indentured British Home Child, Garth McAlister left Canada to serve in World War I. His sweetheart, Emma Lafferty, promised to wait for his return, but after three long years apart, her letters suddenly stopped. When Garth arrives home from the war to unexpected news, he is determined to return to Canada once more on a daunting mission to find the two women he refuses to abandon—his long-lost sister and his mysteriously missing sweetheart.

All That Really Matters – Nicole Deese - 5 Stars Loved the book!

 This is my first book by this author and I’ll be looking out for more of her books.  I couldn’t put this book down.  It was relevant to things as they are now and the romance between the main two characters and the texting between the two made me laugh out loud.  The author switches back and forth between Molly and Silas.  This book is a must read for those who enjoy Christian Fiction.  I loved the book! 

I received this book free in the kindle format from NetGalley.  My opinion of this book and my words are my own, freely given.  Not required.

#AllThatReallyMatters #NicoleDeese #NetGalley #ChristianFiction

 

Description as found on NetGalley:

Molly McKenzie's bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have earned her impressive social media following, as well as a shiny monthly paycheck. When her manager-turned-boyfriend tells her of an upcoming audition to host a makeover show for America's underprivileged youth, all her dreams finally seem to be coming true. There's just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.
 
To gain an edge on her competitors, she applies to volunteer at a transitional program for aged-out foster kids during summer, only the program's director, Silas Whittaker, doesn't find her as charming as her followers do. But since forfeiting a goal has never been her style, Molly's only option is to accept the terms Silas lays out and submit to his rules--even the most ridiculous ones pertaining to social media.  

Soon as the residents of the home become more than a means to pad her career resume, and Silas becomes more than an obstacle on her path to fame, her once-narrow focus expands to include the deep needs of those she's serving... and perhaps the ones she's neglected inside herself as well. It took years to build her platform, but only one summer to discover what really matters most.

 

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon – 5 Stars!

I was a dancer 20 years, well I guess I’ll always be a dancer at heart.  I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I thought it was just going to be a single story with a dance lesson or studio in the background.  It turned out to be much more than that.  There was so much to think about as this Evie lives through the story.  It’s a multi layered story with so much to think about, it left me still thinking of it when I finished it and put it down.  I really enjoyed the story.  I think this book would really be one for those who believe in young love, those who have ever danced and those who would like to.  Also, for those who ever wondered what if….         

 

I received this book free through NetGalley.com in kindle format.  I wasn’t required to leave a review.  For the most part I enjoy reading and helping authors who are good.  Nicola Yoon will have to be in my to read again pile of new authors in my head.  The thoughts and opinion were my own freely given.  #InstructionsforDancing #NetGalley #NicolaYoon

 

Description From NetGalley.com

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star Nicola Yoon is back with her eagerly anticipated third novel. With all the heart and hope of her last two books, this is an utterly unique romance.

Evie Thomas doesn't believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.

As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything--including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he's only just met.

Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. If her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it's that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk? 

Destined for You by Tracie Peterson – 5 Stars

 

What can I say Tracie Peterson always a winner in my book.  Historical Christion romance.  This one set in 1869 Duluth, Minnesota with info included on what it was like to live and work on the waters of Lake Superior with the fishing trade.  There was also much about the railroad race completion was fierce back then as to who would get theirs done first…Duluth or Superior, Wisconsin.  There was a lot going on in the stories, a lot to think about.  Tracie Peterson always leaves me thinking about the story afterward, she weaves her words well!

 

I received this book free from NetGalley.com in the kindle format.  My comments and opinions are my own freely given.  #DestinedForYou #NetGalley #TraciePeterson

 

Description from NetGalley:

In 1869, Gloriana Womack's family is much smaller since smallpox killed her mother and two of her siblings. She lives in a modest cottage in Duluth, Minnesota, with her father and young brother, and she has dedicated her life to holding her tiny, fractured family together--especially as her father is frequently gone on long fishing trips. Their livelihood may come from the waters of Lake Superior, but storms on the lake can be dangerous, even to those who know it well.

Luke Carson has come to Duluth to help shepherd the arrival of the railroad to the city's port, and he's eager to be reunited with his brother, Scott, who recently moved there with his pregnant wife. Competition for the railroad is fierce, with the neighboring city of Superior, Wisconsin, fighting for the tracks to come through their town instead. But the real danger lies in a resident of Duluth who is determined to have his revenge upon Luke.

When tragedy brings Gloriana and Luke together, they help each other through their grief and soon find their lives inextricably linked. If they survive the trials ahead, could it be possible they've been destined for each other all along?

 

Endless Mercy by Tracie Peterson; Kimberly Woodhouse – 4 Stars

 

This was a great book.  The authors automatically let me know I would be in for a good read. I wish they had included a little more about Nome Alaska.  There was more than one story line going on at a time, not just a Christian romance, there was a lot to think about for me as I had a step father who has passed, who drank quite a bit. The description that I got and included from NetGalley.com tells you a bit about the story lines that are involved in this book.  It was a fast read, gave me a lot to dwell on, and I enjoyed it.

 

I received this book free in the kindle format from NetGalley.com my opinion and comments are my own freely given.  #EndlessMercy #NetGalley #TraciePetersonKimberlyWoodhouse #ChristianRomance

 

Description from NetGalley.com:

Madysen Powell has always been a forgiving person, but when her supposedly dead father shows up in Nome, Alaska, her gift for forgiveness is tested. With the recent loss of her mother, she searches for answers, leaning on Granny Beaufort, a neighbor in town, who listens with a kind heart. Still, Madysen is restless and dreams of performing her music around the world. The arrival of a traveling show could prove just the chance she needs, and the manager promises more than she ever dreamed.

Daniel Beaufort arrives in Nome, searching for his own answers after the gold rush leaves him with only empty pockets. Still angry about the death of his loved ones, he longs to start fresh but doesn't have high hopes until he ends up helping at the Powell dairy making cheese. Drawn to the beautiful redhead with big dreams, will deceptions from the past tear apart any hope for the future?

 

A Dance In Donegal by Jennifer Deibel – 5 Stars!

Boy was this a dance!  One in Donegal Ireland in 1920.  The book is lush with history, multi-layered in stories and the ways of those living at the time.  There are so many things that come to mind when I think of this story, this author doesn’t stop at just one-story line, she gives you so much to learn about the customs and ways of the people in the book.  There is suspense, love, a few mysteries, culture, superstitions, author Jennifer Deibel will delight your senses and leave you thinking about this book long after you have finished it. 

 

I received this book free from NetGalley.com in kindle format, the opinions and words above are my own freely given.  #ADanceinDonegal #NetGalley #JenniferDeibel #HistoricalRomance

 

Description From NetGalley.com:

All of her life, Irish-American Moira Doherty has relished her mother's descriptions of Ireland. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira decides to fulfill her mother's wish that she become the teacher in Ballymann, her home village in Donegal, Ireland.

After an arduous voyage, Moira arrives to a new home and a new job in an ancient country. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about Moira's mother are unspoken in her presence but threaten to derail everything she's journeyed to Ballymann to do. Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of friends--and the strength of Sean, an unsettlingly handsome thatcher who keeps popping up unannounced--as she seeks to navigate a life she'd never dreamed of . . . but perhaps was meant to live.

Jennifer Deibel's debut novel delights the senses, bringing to life the sights, sounds, smells, and language of a lush country and a colorful people. Historical romance fans will embrace her with open arms.

 

A Cowboy For Keeps by Jody Hedlund – 4 Stars

I do enjoy my mail order bride stories.  I know they aren’t very deep…but interesting.  This one is based on Fairplay, Colorado. Greta has to travel there with her sister to leave a city where no one would marry her because her sister was a prostitute and died leaving her with a daughter that no one wanted to take on if they married her.  The entire city was talking about it so she left town, got a ticket for a mail-order bride for a man when she arrives, she finds out has died.  The Mayor in the little town says he’ll help her, he does by telling Wyatt that help invest in his herd of cattle to help him out if he’ll marry and start a family to help change the reputation of the city….more families….less men who are troubled and hang in saloons eventually.  It was a fast read, interesting Jody Hedlund can always weave a story, I always  trust her books….I liked it.

 

I received this book free in the kindle format from NetGalley.com my opinions and comments on this book are my own and freely given.  #ACowboyforKeeps #JodyHedlund #NetGalley

 

 

Description From NetGalley.com:

Greta Nilsson's trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He'll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt's ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family. And the mayor, who has promised to try to help Greta, has just the candidate in mind for Wyatt to marry.

A Cowboy Kind Of Love by Donna Grant – 4 Stars!

I loved this book – shorter than some – Second Chance Romance – Mystery – Suspense – Shoot Outs – oh my!  Little racy with the sex scenes for anyone who doesn’t like that kind of thing, I don’t mind.  One can dream right?  Anyway, enjoyed the book.  Had some interesting twists.  

I received this book free through NetGalley.com.  My words and opinions are my own freely given.  #ACowboyKindofLove #NetGalley #DonnaGrant

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

A dashing cowboy gets his second chance at romance in A Cowboy Kind Of Love, the next book in the Heart of Texas series by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

Who wants to rodeo again?

Jace Wilder has been rebuilding his life since the love of his life, Taryn, up and left town unexpectedly. But when she mysteriously returns, Jace’s dependable world comes crashing down. Taryn is hiding a dangerous secret, and no matter how hard he tries, Jace can’t stay away—especially when Taryn is at risk. And especially when the attraction he thought he’d buried long ago is back and hotter than ever. Will he be able to trust Taryn again?

Taryn Hillman’s world fell apart one horrifying night, and it’s never been the same since. When she sees a small chance at untangling herself, she takes it, though it means returning to Clearview—and seeing Jace again. But when he vows to protect her, will Taryn take a chance, and this time, never let him go?

“A captivating romance novel with a sexy cowboy making this perfect for anyone who loves a steamy romantic read.”—Fresh Fiction on My Favorite Cowboy

Gone For Good by Joanna Schaffhausen - 5 Stars

 

A really good novel starring Detective Annalisa Vega.  This is a cold case where The Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women then disappeared.  This is a great mystery.  It pulled me in from the first couple of pages.  The novel was suspenseful, I thought I knew who it was a couple of times only to be proven wrong.  If you want a book to pick up and read through in the first sitting this book is for you.  I loved the suspenseful twists and turns to this book.  I’ve never read Joanna Schaffhausen, but I’ll be looking for her next book!

 I received this book through NetGalley.com in the kindle format a review was not required.  The opinions are my own and freely given.

 Description from NetGalley.com:

Gone For Good is the first in a new mystery series from award-winning author Joanna Schaffhausen, featuring Detective Annalisa Vega, in which a cold case heats up.

The Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women, ritually binding them and leaving them for dead before penning them gruesome love letters in the local papers. Then he disappeared, and after twenty years with no trace of him, many believe that he’s gone for good.

Not Grace Harper. A grocery store manager by day, at night Grace uses her snooping skills as part of an amateur sleuth group. She believes the Lovelorn Killer is still living in the same neighborhoods that he hunted in, and if she can figure out how he selected his victims, she will have the key to his identity.

Detective Annalisa Vega lost someone she loved to the killer. Now she’s at a murder scene with the worst kind of déjà vu: Grace Harper lies bound and dead on the floor, surrounded by clues to the biggest murder case that Chicago homicide never solved. Annalisa has the chance to make it rights and to heal her family, but first, she has to figure out what Grace knew—how to see a killer who may be standing right in front of you. This means tracing his steps back to her childhood, peering into dark corners she hadn’t acknowledged before, and learning that despite everything the killer took, she has still so much more to lose.

 

Spirit In Time by Julie Howard - 5 Stars

 

I’m always attracted to books that mention time travel.  This book has that with some very interesting twists on it, as well as romance, history, mystery and ending I sure didn’t see coming.  I absolutely loved the book!  I couldn’t put it down.  This book involves a ghost-blogger who is thrown back into 1872 looking for her boyfriend Mason Chandler.  The description below is from NetGalley.com and tells the highlights very well.  You better not have things to do when you pick this book up you’ll be putting it off to see where this book goes!  I love time travel.

 

I received this book from NetGalley.com at no charge in the kindle format.  I wasn’t required to review the book, but I enjoy doing that for a great book.  The words and opinions above are my own freely given.  #SpiritInTime #NetGalley #JulieHoward

 

Description

Time travel isn't real. It can't be real. But ghost-blogger Jillian Winchester discovers otherwise when an enigmatic spirit conveys her to 1872 to do his bidding. Jillian finds herself employed as a maid in Sacramento, in an elegant mansion with a famous painting.
The artwork reveals another mystery: Why does the man within look exactly like her boyfriend, Mason Chandler?
Morality and sin live side by side, not only in the picture, but also within her. As her transgressions escalate, she races the clock to find the man in the painting, and hunt down a spirit with a disconcerting gift.
But will time be her friend or foe?

 

The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle – 5 Stars

 

I’ve not read anything by Nancy Naigle but I sure would do so again.  I heartily enjoyed this book.  I loved the character Maeve, the older woman who makes friends with Amanda and her two children.  Amanda moved to a small home on the beach near where she married her husband.  He’s been gone two years, he died while on duty as a Marine.    

Seashells keep popping up all over town on the beach after the water goes out and they have writing in them.  All types of messages that give the finder a great piece of advice or tells them what they need to hear at the time they find them.

Maeve spends her time ever day walking the seashore collecting shells, Amanda and her kids start looking for shells with her.  Amanda had thought she would start a business at home, but found out due to her dog living there it wouldn’t be approved.  A big disappointment.  So she decides in the fall she is going to teach, so she’ll be at home when her kids are home.

This book is full of love, loss and believe it or not second chances.  It’s a great read.  If you ever had a friendship or connection with an older woman, you will love reading about the friendship between Amanda and Maeve.  The book pulls at your heartstrings!

 

I received this book through NetGalley.com at no charge in the kindle format.  I was not required to write a review, I like doing them for good books and this one was great!  The thoughts and opinions above are my own freely given.

 

Description from NetGalley.com:

“A beautiful story full of love, loss, and second chances.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

A touching novel of a friendship that crosses generations, and learning how even the smallest gifts can change a life for good, from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

Two years after her husband’s death, Amanda Whittier has two children to raise alone, an abandoned dream of starting a business, and a fixer-upper cottage by the sea. She has no room in her life for anything else and little interest in moving on after losing the man she loved. 

Paul Grant is a relative newcomer to the area, and his work with former military dogs needing rehabilitation has been good for the town. Though he loved once before, he’s convinced he’s not suited for romance and is determined to find meaning—alone—through his work and role in the community. 

Widowed Maeve Lindsay was born and raised on Whelk’s Island. Spirited, kind, and a little mischievous, she pours her life into the town. But she carries a secret that shapes her every move. 

Together, these three souls find encouragement in the most mysterious places and discover a love that’s bigger than their pain, healing their wounded hearts in ways none of them could have hoped for or expected.

The Bookshop at Peony Harbor (An Aster Island Novel) by Rosie Summers – 5 Stars

 

Eloise Paisley went through a bad divorce; she was left with a cottage that had been in the family forever.  Just when she thinks she may have to sell it she receives a letter from her Grandmother who has been dead for 20 years with a deed for a bookshop on Main Street that is in such bad shape everyone assumes there is a shed there.  Eloise wants to open the bookshop again so much.  She needs help from her three children.  Will she have to sell the bookshop in order to keep the cottage to stay near her children or will she be able to breathe new life into the decrepit book shop.  Boy if I received a letter from my Grandmother I would be so excited and would wonder as she did where it came from after all those years.  Who sat on it and sent it just as she needed it?  Come read about the Paisley family on Aster Island and their struggle with the Bookshop at Peony Harbor, you’ll be glad you did!  Great book.

 

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  I was not required to write a review if the book is good, I will always write one. This book was great.  The opinions and words above are my own freely given.  #TheBookshopAtPeonyHarbor #NetGalley #RosieSummers

Description from NetGalley.com:

Eloise Paisley needs cash, and she needs it fast. Thanks to an unexpected divorce, Eloise is low on funds, and if she doesn’t figure out a way to make ends meet—soon—she’ll lose the beachfront cottage that’s been in her family for over three generations.

Then one morning, out of the blue, Eloise receives a mysterious letter from her grandmother who has been gone for over twenty years. Inside the envelope is the deed to a rundown bookshop on Main Street—a gift for Eloise. Is she up to the task of breathing life into the almost-derelict building, or will she have to sell the beloved property so she can afford to stay on the island near her children?

Fortunately, Eloise isn’t alone in her decision. She’s got three grown children on her side, though each has problems of their own.

Jack, the eldest, is running his own company. Despite his success, he finds that something in his life is missing. Next is Lilah, a mother of two young children whose husband has been spending unexplained late nights at the office, and she’s determined to find out why. The youngest, Angelica, is a free spirit traveling the world for her career. But when she encounters an old flame at home, is it enough to draw her back?

Come visit the Paisley family on Aster Island and follow their journey as they explore new love and second chances, as they travel far and return home, and as they throw their hearts and souls into making a dream come true.

 

Rose Gardner’s Florist by Bonnie Dee – 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book.  I was up reading it during the night instead of sleeping.  It really held my interest.  I like reading a story based during a year that is very different from the present.  Reading about the romance between the working-class girl who did manage to open her own florist shop and a man who has grown up with and owns quite a bit, a cultivated chap was an enjoyable read.  Rose doesn’t feel she has a chance with this gentleman, he’s out of her league and at first meeting she isn’t attracted to him at all.  At first meeting he’s tongue tied around her, he finds himself attracted to her and doesn’t know what to do.  The characters are likeable, and well developed.  I wanted to get to keep reading to find out how Rose and Will work out their differences.  Rose finds herself asking Will for help in saving a young woman from her guardian.  She soon finds that Will has a lot more going for him than he seemed at first meeting.  A fairly light book with enough going on that you want to keep reading.  I gave it 4 Stars.

I received this book in the kindle format free from Netgalley.com.  A review was not required.  The words and opinion of the book above are my own freely given.

#RoseGardner’sFlorist #BonnieDee #NetGalley

 

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Romance blooms between a common flower girl and a cultivated gentleman.

Rose Gardener is a common flower girl from Covent Garden, whose grandest wish has come true in the opening of her own florist shop. Despite years of belittling by an unsupportive family, she is proud of her achievement, yet self-doubt lingers under the surface when she is faced with a chance at romance. Surely the quiet, bookish gentleman who buys posies from her could not possibly be interested in a working-class girl.

Struck by the lovely proprietress of a local florist, Will Carmody finds one pretext after another to purchase flowers so he might exchange pleasantries with her. A shy, awkward fellow dedicated to scholarly pursuits has no business fostering lovelorn dreams about a vivacious young lady with a bright future. Will thinks he has little of interest to offer her.

When a young woman threatened by her guardian unburdens herself to Rose, the florist becomes her ally in solving the predicament. But it will take Will’s steady presence and support to face down a dastardly scoundrel.  During their quest for justice, two wallflowers grow stronger and more confident under the bright sunlight of love.

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher – 5 Stars

Those of us who take reading for granted should not.  Reading this book brought so many feelings to the forefront for me.  I have read a few books about the people of the hill country, in different areas,  and this book made me so appreciative of those things I have in my home and my life.  Lucy Wilson goes to help out Cora Wilson Stewart at first to ride a horse (she didn’t know how to ride when she first came to the mountain) into the country and to help the people write letters to others and to read letters those who received them.  These adults can’t read and write, and they live in such primitive conditions.  Yet they are so full of pride for what they do have.  She ends up helping Cora to put together a school for adults, that takes advantage of the time when the children aren’t in school.   Also, when the adults aren’t needed to work in their fields.  This helps give Lucy a purpose, as she has been at loose ends ever since her sister disappeared and years later her Father remarried.  She also meets Brother Wyatt with his unusual way of writing music down with words so that the people can follow them when he leads singing get togethers.  This book is so full of reasons to read it, you won’t want to put it down, you’ll be horrified by the way the people live, their speech, and yet proud of them as they do so much with so little.  Pick this book up!  You’ll not be disappointed.

 

I received this book in the kindle format through NetGalley.com and the words above were my own freely given not required by NetGalley.
#TheMoonlightSchool #SuzanneWoodsFisher  #NetGalley

 

Description

Haunted by her sister's mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn't expected: love.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You'll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews - 5 Stars

 

Mary Kay Andrews never fails to keep me involved in her books to the very end.  This book didn’t disappoint, I didn’t want to put it down and hated it when it was time to go to bed and my kindle ran out of juice.  I do a lot of reading on it lying next to my sleeping husband.  Then he wonders why I want a nap the next day.  This book had great characters and was so well written, it sure doesn’t have to be a beach day when you read it, but you’ll wish you were there.  I am not going to write a about the story because the description as found on NetGalley.com covers the story.  Just don’t pass by this book if you get the chance to buy it, you’ll enjoy it from beginning to end.  It has suspense, mystery, some romance, and the beach!  What more could you want?

 

I received this book through NetGalley.com free in the kindle format.  I am not required to write a review, although I usually do, I like to help out authors and readers.  The review was my own, thoughts on the book were mine!  #TheNewcomer #MaryKayAndrews #NetGalley

 

Description From NetGalley.com:

Summer never ends with MKA

In trouble and on the run...

After she discovers her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her fashionable New York City townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain she knows who did it: Tanya’s ex; sleazy real estate entrepreneur Evan Wingfield. Even in the grip of grief and panic Letty heeds her late sister’s warnings: “If anything bad happens to me—it’s Evan. Promise me you’ll take Maya and run. Promise me.” So Letty grabs her sister’s Mercedes and hits the road . . .

With a trunkful of emotional baggage...

and her wailing four-year-old niece Maya. Letty is determined to out-run Evan and the law, but run to where? Tanya, a woman with a past shrouded in secrets, left behind a “go-bag” of cash and a big honking diamond ring—but only one clue: a faded magazine story about a sleepy mom-and-pop motel in a Florida beach town with the improbable name of Treasure Island. She sheds her old life and checks into an uncertain future at The Murmuring Surf Motel.

The No Vacancy sign is flashing & the sharks are circling...

And that’s the good news. Because The Surf, as the regulars call it, is the winter home of a close-knit flock of retirees and snowbirds who regard this odd-duck newcomer with suspicion and down-right hostility. As Letty settles into the motel’s former storage room, she tries to heal Maya’s heartache and unravel the key to her sister’s shady past, all while dodging the attention of the owner’s dangerously attractive son Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective. Can Letty find romance as well as a room at the inn—or will Joe betray her secrets and put her behind bars? With danger closing in, it’s a race to find the truth and right the wrongs of the past.

Shadows Of The White City - Jocelyn Green - 4 Stars

 

This book was written during the time of the World’s Fair, which was well researched.  Sylvie Townsend is working at the Fair and she has finally a family of her own, she took in a Polish immigrant Rose Dabrowski and they are very happy. She believes this to be true, until one day Rose disappeared when she was supposed to be taking her violin lesson.  She never showed up.  As her daughter is 17 and hasn’t been gone long enough, she is brushed off by the authorities.   Sylvie goes on a search of her own with the help of Rose’s violin instructor.  The book is full of the Worlds Fair, the characters are well written, there is mystery, suspense and in the end a little romance. 

 

I received this book through NetGalley.com free in the Kindle format.  The review above was written with my own words and thoughts, not required by NetGalley.com.    #ShadowsOfTheWhiteCity #JocelynGreen  #NetGalley

 

Description

The one thing Sylvie Townsend wants most is what she feared she was destined never to have--a family of her own. But taking in Polish immigrant Rose Dabrowski to raise and love quells those fears--until seventeen-year-old Rose goes missing at the World's Fair, and Sylvie's world unravels.

Brushed off by the authorities, Sylvie turns to her boarder, Kristof Bartok, for help. He is Rose's violin instructor and the concertmaster for the Columbian Exposition Orchestra, and his language skills are vital to helping Sylvie navigate the immigrant communities where their search leads.

From the glittering architecture of the fair to the dark houses of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods, they're taken on a search that points to Rose's long-lost family. Is Sylvie willing to let the girl go? And as Kristof and Sylvie grow closer, can she reconcile her craving for control with her yearning to belong?

 

From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer – 5 Stars

 

There are some great laugh out loud moments with the character Lori, she is full of life, although very insecure as she has big red hair and is over weight and has eating issues.  Those have come from her Father being critical of her very much every day after her mother dies.  She doesn’t feel she is worthy of love, but when she meets the new youth minister, she is so attracted to him.  He has come to Kansas to serve as the youth minister after losing his fiancée’ suddenly in a car accident.  He’s taken the job to get a fresh start, but he can’t seem to get his confidence in God back and is really struggling in embracing his new life.  This book had me drawn in from the beginning, I learned a bit while reading it.  I love books by this author and Kim Vogel Sawyer didn’t disappoint me with this book.

 

I received this book in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  My words and opinion of this book are my own freely given.  #FromThisMoment #NetGalley #KimVogelSawyer

 

The lost ring brings together two wounded souls--a youth minister haunted by the past and a spunky church custodian--in this heartwarming romance from the bestselling author of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow.

Growing up in the foster care system, Jase Edgar always dreamed of one day starting his own family. But his fiancée's untimely death shattered his plans. Moving to Kansas and serving as a youth minister should be a fresh start, but he can't seem to set aside his doubts about God's goodness long enough to embrace his new life.

Newly-appointed church custodian, Lori Fowler is battling her own challenges. Her strained relationship with her father and her struggles with overeating convince her she's not worthy enough for love. When an Amish weaver enlists their help locating the owner of a ring found among the donated clothing she uses as fabric, Jase and Lori find themselves drawn to each other. But will they be able to release the past and move forward from this moment into a joyful future?

An Ordninary Life by Amanda Prowse - 5 Stars

  was drawn into this book from about page three.  I walked around my house tending to things but reading as I went along. I couldn’t put it down.  It was very well written, the story very well plotted out, everything seemed to flow.  I wanted to see how it was going to end very much from the beginning.  I became invested in the characters and wanted to keep reading.  If you are looking for a good book to pick up, this one won’t disappoint you.  It has suspense, romance, danger……Great story.

 

I received this book from NetGalley.com in the kindle format.  My words and opinion of this book are my own freely given. #AnOrdinaryLife #AmandaProwse #NetGalley

 

 

Description

From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a tale of love, loss—and one last extraordinary dance.

Christmas Eve, 2019. Ninety-four-year-old Molly lies in her hospital bed. A stroke and a fall may have broken her body—but her mind is alive with memories.

London, 1940s. Molly is a bright young woman, determined to help the war effort and keep her head up despite it all. Life becomes brighter when she meets and falls in love with a man who makes her forget everything with one dance. But then war forces her to make an unforgettable sacrifice, and when she’s brought to her knees by a daring undercover mission with the French Resistance, only her sister knows the secret weighing heavily on Molly’s heart.

Now, lying in her hospital bed, Molly can’t escape the memories of what she lost all those years ago. But she is not as alone as she thinks.

Will she be able to find peace—and finally understand that what seemed to be an ordinary life was anything but

What A Dog Knows by Lisa Wilson – 5 Stars!

Ruby is a traveling physic who learns she can hear dog’s thoughts.  Out of no where she met a little dog that seemed lost in the rain, she takes him in and hears the dog.  She decides to stay in the town for a while, Harmony Farms, until she can find out who the dog really belongs to.  She ends up staying there, every time she plans on leaving things happen to keep her there.  This book is so interesting.  I’ve always found psychics to have a mystique about them and this book was so well written the characters were so interesting and well developed that I couldn’t put the book down.  It was really interesting to this person who has never even owned a dog or any pets.

 

I received this book free in the kindle format from NetGalley.com.  My opinions and words about this book are my own, freely given.  #WhatADogKnows #NetGalley #LisaWilson

 

Description

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson comes What a Dog Knows, another heartwarming novel about humans and the dogs that change our lives.

Ruby Heartwood has always lived a life on the move. As a traveling psychic, she makes her living working at carnivals and festivals and circuses around New England. It's a life Ruby has made peace with—settling in one place has never been for her. She needs no one, and no one needs her.

Until one night, when she is camped by the side of the road in her trusty Volkswagon "Westie" van, a fierce thunder and lightning storm erupts. In the middle of the downpour, she hears a distinct voice telling her to "let me in." In jumps a little black and white dog, and to Ruby's astonishment, she can hear the dog's thoughts. Has she been struck by lightning? Did the storm do this? Is she losing her mind?

It turns out, Ruby can hear many dogs' thoughts. She decides to set up semi-permanent residency in the town of Harmony Farms, until she can sort out what is going on, and who the little dog, Hitch, belongs to. But some people in Harmony Farms don't want her there. And it seems that events keep preventing Ruby from leaving. What secrets is this town keeping? Why was she meant to find this dog? And what has Ruby really been running from, all these years?