Night of Miracles (Arthur Truluv #2) by Elizabeth Berg 5 Stars!!

Elizabeth Berg always writes such great books.  They keep you invested in the characters from the beginning and you want to stick with the book to see what’s going to happen next and to whom.  I love her books and this one surely did not disappoint.  I wish I had been able to read “Arthur Truluv”
but missed out on that one.  The characters in this book keep you so invested in their lives, you have to keep up to see how their lives are going to turn out.  It’s a good yarn!  The description is shown below and I couldn’t have done a better job of describing the story.  If you are looking for a good book to curl up with “Night of Miracles” is a good one to keep you busy and interested.  I would give this book 4.5 stars…..but can’t do that so 5 Stars it is.  I wish I had an Iris in my town to teach me how to bake!

Received free from NetGalley.com for promotional means, and my review as shown above was absolutely voluntary!  #NightofMiracles #NetGalley

Description as found on GoodReads:

A delightful novel about surprising friendships, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change a life, from the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv

Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she's hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn't know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets.

When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln's parents aren't the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community--just when they need it the most.

"Elizabeth Berg's characters jump right off the page and into your heart" said Fannie Flagg about The Story of Arthur Truluv. The same could be said about Night of Miracles, a heartwarming novel that reminds us that the people we come to love are often the ones we don't expect

The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman 5 Stars!!

Two sisters who don’t get along in the time of WWII.  I love reading books during that time period.  The author did a great job describing the Springfield Armory and the characters she developed to live during that time. A good part of the story is true based on the research the author did. She had to move some of the events to make the story move along the way she wished, but even the cook who was a singer was a real person back in the day.  I think every family have had some issues in their family and mine was no exception.  I could see these sisters and understand their individual problems easily enough. I’ve seen similar family problems.  The story seemed real and the characters even more so.  I believe Lynda Cohen Loigman really has a gift and she used it extremely well in telling the story of the Springfield Armory during WWII.  She another author I’ll have to add to my list to follow.  What a great story! Five Stars to this one!

Received free from NetGalley.com for promotional means, and my review as shown above was absolutely voluntary!  #WartimeSisters #NetGalley

Description as found on GoodReads:
Two estranged sisters, raised in Brooklyn and each burdened with her own shocking secret, are reunited at the Springfield Armory in the early days of WWII. While one sister lives in relative ease on the bucolic Armory campus as an officer’s wife, the other arrives as a war widow and takes a position in the Armory factories as a “soldier of production.” Resentment festers between the two, and secrets are shattered when a mysterious figure from the past reemerges in their lives.

The Lines We Leave Behind by Eliza Graham – 4 Stars

I do like to read historical fiction/romance and this book had a bit of both in it.  Most of it was historical fiction about a woman who finds herself in an insane asylum, thinking she is not sane, charged with a crime she has no memory of doing.  Some of the facts presented in this book were true, which always makes it interesting.  There was suspense, mystery, and a bit of romance.  The book kept me interested til the end although it wasn’t as compelling as some I’ve read but I did like the book.  It’s a great read and if you like your historical fiction during war time you’ll love this book.  It doesn’t pull everything together until the end you’ll have to wait, it will be worth the wait.
I received this book from NetGalley in kindle format.  I am posting this review of my own volition!  I love the book.

Description as found on Good Reads:
England, 1947: A young woman finds herself under close observation in an insane asylum, charged with a violent crime she has no memory of committing. As she tries to make sense of her recent past, she recalls very little.

But she still remembers wartime in Yugoslavia. There she and her lover risked everything to carry out dangerous work resisting the Germans—a heroic campaign in which many brave comrades were lost. After that, the trail disappears into confusion. How did she come to be trapped in a living nightmare?

As she struggles to piece together the missing years of her life, she will have to confront the harrowing experiences of her special-operations work and peacetime marriage. Only then can she hope to regain the vital memories that will uncover the truth: is she really a violent criminal…or was she betrayed?

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter 5 Stars!!! Suspense from beginning to end!

Loved the book!  Suspense from beginning to end.  You never know what is going to happen next!  I read a lot of romance, this wasn’t my normal genre although I’m wondering now why not?  I have to read another book by this author, it’s an absolute!  The book is character driven from beginning to end. It centers around lawyers rather than police, or detectives which I love as this family the book is centered around are all lawyers. Father and daughter live in the city of Pikesville, the last daughter has moved away never wants to return. Until she receives an email your sister needs you!  The book just doesn’t stop as far as action and suspense and I can’t recommend this book and author enough.  If you like your action on the dark side this one is absolutely for you!  See description below I didn’t see the need to repeat it!  I would have given it 6 stars if I could have!!

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book launch program, the review is entirely my own. I’m a member of Good Reads and that is where I entered a drawing for the book and won one!! #GoodReader #TheGoodDaughter
Description as found on Good Reads:
Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind.

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father—Pikeville's notorious defense attorney—devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, Charlotte has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself—the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again, and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized, Charlotte is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress--because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever. Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart, The Good Daughter is fiction at its most thrilling.

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham - 5 Stars!!

I really loved this book.  Laura Trentham always delivers great reads. This book was written from the perspective of her Navy Seal husbands Nowah’s experience, and who struggled with PTSD before his death.  Harper Lee Wilcox deals with her husband’s death, moves in with her mother and deals with delivering a son Ben, whom her husband will never meet.  She struggles with being alone as a widow with a young son, she feels guilty moving on as she loved her husband home, but he is gone. Her friend Allison Teague has a husband who won’t go for help who is a danger to their home as he deals with the PTSD.  Harper comes up with a way to help the military wives to find jobs and support their husbands that need help.  She meets her husbands’ best friend and retired Navy Seal Bennet Caldwell, looking for answers on how her husband died, only to find that Bennet is talking and doesn’t want to spend any time around her.  She finds a way to push the envelope and they find that they have a connection that both of the have problems with.  The book is a sweet romance, has interesting information included on what it takes to become a SEAL and what it’s like to become a #MilitaryWife.

I received this book through #NetGalley.com and St. Martin’s Press. #TheMilitaryWife I received this free in kindle format in the hopes that I would write a review of my feelings on the book as I am doing here.

Description as found on NetGalley.com

A young widow embraces a second chance at life when she reconnects with those who understand the sacrifices made by American soldiers and their families in award-winning author Laura Trentham’s The Military Wife.
Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox’s death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.
Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children under foot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit’s end.
In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.
In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts?

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks; Sarah Pekkanen

Wow what a tale these two authors have woven. This was a physiological thriller that you can’t put down once started.  The have written a story that has characters and story that is so compelling you have to finish the book the same day if possible.  It’s hard to know what is coming next!  The ending was a surprise to me.  Perhaps those who read mysteries more often then I do will be able to figure it out but I sure couldn’t. The characters are well rounded and well written, the book leaves you thinking of it after the last page is turned.  You wish you had more to read!  Pick this one up you won’t be disappointed!

I received this book from NetGalley.com and St. Martin’s press as they put the book out there to pick up interest.  I am posting this review for them as seen above.
Description as found on NetGalley.com
The next novel of psychological suspense and obsession from the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave.
Question #1: Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt?
But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding.
Question #2: Have you ever deeply hurt someone you care about?
As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
Question #3: Should a punishment always fit the crime?
From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.
Praise for The Wife Between Us:

"A fiendishly smart cat-and-mouse thriller" —New York Times Book Review
"[A] seamless thriller that will keep readers on their toes to the very end...Readers will enjoy the dizzying back-and-forth as they attempt to figure out just who to root for and as the suspense ratchets up to one hell of a conclusion." —Booklist

A Spark Of Light by Jodi Picoult – 5 Stars – This book is a must read!

What can I say that is different than the description of the book or the thoughts of some of the previous famous writers that reviewed the book that are included in the description.  This is a very thought-provoking book on the subject of a clinic that offers women abortions, back in the day when they were legal in some states, not in all, and pro-life/pro-choice was just as difficult a choice for women who found themselves pregnant or wanted to use birth control.  In order to get to the clinic, you had to run the gauntlet of the people who chose to protest every single day at this particular clinic.  That in of itself would give some people pause before going in. On this particular day a gunman decides to go into the clinic to take a stance for his daughter who went to this particular clinic in the past.  There is a police hostage negotiator that begins to set up a plan to speak with the gunman and sets up the perimeter only to get a text from his own 15-year-old daughter, Wren, who to his horror is inside the clinic along with her Aunt.  This book is takes you through the white-knuckle time inside the clinic and through the thoughts of each character inside the clinic.  You’ll be driven to read this book to the end to find out the fate of each of the characters, but of course that of Wren who is so young to be caught up in the middle of all of this, who keeps waiting for her Dad to rescue them.  I can only say that Jodi Picoult has written this book in such a way that everyone might wish to rethink their stance and what they would do in each and every character’s position. She is to be applauded for taking on this subject in this story in the way that she did.  It’s obvious that much thought, and much research went into the writing of this story and the way she set up the story makes the telling even more powerful.

I received a kindle version of this book through NetGalley and Random House books and I highly recommend this book for everyone to read!

The Description of the book as found on NetGalley.com:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things returns with a powerful and provocative new novel about ordinary lives that intersect during a heart-stopping crisis.

“Picoult at her fearless best . . . Timely, balanced and certain to inspire debate.”—The Washington Post

The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.

After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.

But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order to save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester, disguised as a patient, who now stands in the crosshairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.

Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.

One of the most fearless writers of our time, Jodi Picoult tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.

Advance praise for A Spark of Light

“The author presents the white-knuckled narrative in a reverse-chronological order. The effect is mesmerizing, as Picoult establishes moments in the overarching event, before revealing how they came to be.”—Houston Chronicle

“Picoult delivers another riveting yarn . . . in this carefully crafted, utterly gripping tale.”—Booklist (starred review)

In Dreams Forgotten by Tracie Peterson – 4 Stars

There is not too much more I can add beyond the description of the book. It provides the story line of the book. Tracie Peterson’s books are full of quotes from the Bible and are always clean if they tell the story of a romance.  This book did have a back story that had characters that were well written and the story was full of romance, and mystery.  I gave this book 4 stars.  I really liked the book but it wasn’t one that I couldn’t put down.  I did of course want to finish the story, I read a little bit each evening before sleep.  I had some similar feelings as those the character had as she went to find family members who she didn’t know exist till later in life which happened me also.  I found my biological Father at age 26 and you never know what you are going to walk into when you contact family who either didn’t know you existed or perhaps didn’t want to find you.  It’s always a gamble.  My story came out happily I can’t tell you her story as you have to read the book to find out for yourself!

I received this book from NetGalley.com and Random House in the hopes that I would provide an honest review which I am doing now.  I love Tracie Peterson’s books!

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Judith Gladstone came to San Francisco after her parents died to find her last living relative, an aunt she has never met. Instead she has fallen head over heels in love with Caleb Coulter, her friend's brother. Caleb has promised to help Judith find her aunt, but she can tell he thinks of her only as a friend, and she struggles to hide her feelings.

When Caleb traces Judith's aunt to the wealthy Whitley family, Judith is reunited with her long-lost relatives. The truths she learns about her past and her parents are shocking and overwhelming, however, and the more she gets to know her new family, the more danger she uncovers. Someone does not want Judith in the picture, and they will do whatever it takes to get rid of her.

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber - 5 Stars I enjoyed this one!

Debbie Macomber once again weaves a tale of romance full of information on the remote Alaskan town and the people there.  She always has a story full of characters that stick with you as you read and leave you thinking about them as you finish the story.  Once again she’s written a book that doesn’t disappoint this reader, a love story that takes the characters quite by chance and they have to separate from each other as the main character, Josie Avery, is only working at the Lodge as the cook for the summer and then she is to go on to a very hot new restaurant with her dream job as a sous chef which should set her up for a good future in her chosen field.  She meets a famed master swordsmith, Palmer Saxson and he works his magic into her heart.  What happens when its time for her to leave Alaska and report to Seattle is the second half of the book and becomes a Christmas story that is woven with romance. You’ll have to read the book to find out how things end, if you do you won’t be disappointed this is written as all of Debbie Macomber’s books are full of life and some mystery and romance.


I received this book through NetGalley in kindle format in the hopes that I would proved an honest review of the book which I am doing here!  Loved the book! #NetGalley #AlaskanHoliday

Description as found on NetGalley.com

“[Debbie] Macomber brings her signature charm to this appealing tale of an aspiring chef. . . . This charmer will please Macomber fans and newcomers alike.”—Publishers Weekly

Debbie Macomber brings us to the Alaskan wilderness for a magical Christmas tale about finding love where it’s least expected.

Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle’s hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community—including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponders famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master swordsmith.

Josie and Palmer become close during the long Alaskan summer days, but Josie knows that, come fall, she’ll be returning to reality and the career she’s worked so hard for. Palmer, on the other hand, would like nothing better than to make Josie his wife and to keep her in Ponder. But Josie can’t imagine abandoning her mother back in the Emerald City and sacrificing her career to stay in this isolated town—not even for a man she’s quickly coming to love.

Fate has other plans. Josie misses the last boat out of town before winter sets in, stranding her in Ponder and putting her dream job at risk. As the holidays approach, Josie and Palmer must grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality, and the Christmas magic that can happen when they put their faith in love.

Debbie Macomber is at her best in this beautiful holiday story about the far journeys we travel to find a place to call home.

A Spark Of Light by Jodi Picoult - 5 Stars - This book is a must read!

What can I say that is different than the description of the book or the thoughts of some of the previous famous writers that reviewed the book that are included in the description.  This is a very thought-provoking book on the subject of a clinic that offers women abortions, back in the day when they were legal in some states, not in all, and pro-life/pro-choice was just as difficult a choice for women who found themselves pregnant or wanted to use birth control.  In order to get to the clinic, you had to run the gauntlet of the people who chose to protest every single day at this particular clinic.  That in of itself would give some people pause before going in. On this particular day a gunman decides to go into the clinic to take a stance for his daughter who went to this particular clinic in the past.  There is a police hostage negotiator that begins to set up a plan to speak with the gunman and sets up the perimeter only to get a text from his own 15-year-old daughter, Wren, who to his horror is inside the clinic along with her Aunt.  This book is takes you through the white-knuckle time inside the clinic and through the thoughts of each character inside the clinic.  You’ll be driven to read this book to the end to find out the fate of each of the characters, but of course that of Wren who is so young to be caught up in the middle of all of this, who keeps waiting for her Dad to rescue them.  I can only say that Jodi Picoult has written this book in such a way that everyone might wish to rethink their stance and what they would do in each and every character’s position. She is to be applauded for taking on this subject in this story in the way that she did.  It’s obvious that much thought, and much research went into the writing of this story and the way she set up the story makes the telling even more powerful.

I received a kindle version of this book through NetGalley and Random House books and I highly recommend this book for everyone to read!

The Description of the book as found on NetGalley.com:

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things returns with a powerful and provocative new novel about ordinary lives that intersect during a heart-stopping crisis.

“Picoult at her fearless best . . . Timely, balanced and certain to inspire debate.”—The Washington Post

The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.

After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.

But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order to save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester, disguised as a patient, who now stands in the crosshairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.

Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.

One of the most fearless writers of our time, Jodi Picoult tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.

Advance praise for A Spark of Light

“The author presents the white-knuckled narrative in a reverse-chronological order. The effect is mesmerizing, as Picoult establishes moments in the overarching event, before revealing how they came to be.”—Houston Chronicle

“Picoult delivers another riveting yarn . . . in this carefully crafted, utterly gripping tale.”—Booklist (starred review)

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter - 5 Stars - Suspense From Beginning to End!!

Loved the book!  Suspense from beginning to end.  You never know what is going to happen next!  I read a lot of romance, this wasn’t my normal genre although I’m wondering now why not?  I have to read another book by this author, it’s an absolute!  The book is character driven from beginning to end. It centers around lawyers rather than police, or detectives which I love as this family the book is centered around are all lawyers. Father and daughter live in the city of Pikesville, the last daughter has moved away never wants to return. Until she receives an email your sister needs you!  The book just doesn’t stop as far as action and suspense and I can’t recommend this book and author enough.  If you like your action on the dark side this one is absolutely for you!  See description below I didn’t see the need to repeat it!  I would have given it 6 stars if I could have!!

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book launch program, the review is entirely my own. I’m a member of Good Reads and that is where I entered a drawing for the book and won one!! #GoodReader #TheGoodDaughter

Description as found on Good Reads:
Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind.

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father—Pikeville's notorious defense attorney—devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, Charlotte has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself—the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again, and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized, Charlotte is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress--because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever. Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart, The Good Daughter is fiction at its most thrilling.

The Sweetest Thing by Barbara Freethy – 5 Stars!

I’ve read a lot of Barbara Freethy’s books, she never disappoints!  Each of her books are very different and they are always so interesting that you can’t or don’t want to put them down.  This book has a bit of paranormal included which only pulled me in further.  I had to see how things were going to work out.  Of course, there was an attraction going on between two of the characters, one that the gentleman had a hard time dealing with.  He doesn’t want to be involved with a woman in any shape or form…..he also finds himself saddled with his Father whom he doesn’t always get along with and a young girl who shows up on his doorstep saying she believes she is his daughter.  He absolutely doesn’t want to believe that.  Then there is the paranormal stuff that is going on for which I am not going to speak of I don’t want to spoil things.  The characters are well written, well developed, very interesting and the interaction between them is very compelling.  This book is one you must pick up.  I would say that of anything Barbara Freethy has written though because I think I’ve read four books of hers now and they were all very good!!  #Barbara Freethy

I received this book through #BookFunnel in the hopes that I would provide an honest review of the book.  I received it in kindle format.

Description as found on Good Reads:

#1 NYT Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy delivers an emotional and poignant story with touches of humor and a cast of quirky, lovable characters. A touch of mysticism adds an extra layer to this story of love and family. 

Alone in the world, Faith Christopher had always yearned for love ... and a man who'd make her heart pound. But her dreams of a place to call home were getting harder to hold on to ... 

Alex Carrigan liked fast cars, fast women and fast deals - then a tough-talking teenager arrived on his doorstep claiming she was his long-lost daughter, and his meddling grandfather decided to move in. Suddenly, Alex has to face the family he never expected. 

Enter Faith. Little did the outspoken and beautiful baker know that deep inside Alex was a well of tenderness ... and that she might have the recipe to bring him true love - the sweetest thing life has to offer. 

Reviews... 

"The Sweetest Thing is a heart-tugging tale of family and the healing power of love. Barbara Freethy has created a delightful cast of quirky yet lovable characters and brought them to full life. The Sweetest Thing is a story as enjoyable and richly satisfying as one of the heroine's chocolate eclairs!" Romance Fiction Forum - AOL 

"Freethy has crafted an entertaining and moving contemporary romance. The paranormal elements are well handled and enrich the story. But ultimately, The Sweetest Thing is about the importance of love and family, for it is love that makes family sweet." The Romance Reader 

"Ms. Freethy has again done a wonderful job of crafting an intriguing plot line and peopling it with fully developed characters that have all of the flaws and foibles common to human beings." Bookbug on the Web 

The Reluctant Warrior by Mary Connealy – 4 Stars!

I liked this one by Mary Connealy.  I got a little slowed on the story while she told the back story that was from her previous book. For me it didn’t flow as well as her previous books in those sections…..but she got into the story eventually without having to tell any more backstory.  I like her writing and I do love reading about the old west and how the people who traveled into Indian country in covered wagons managed with very little to prove claims and live with very little and build homes with even less.  The story line picked up and I finished the book in very little time. I did enjoy the book and there was a bit of suspense throughout the book, a romance, etc. 

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book launch program, the review is entirely my own. I’m a member of NetGalley. #TheReluctantWarrior #NetGalley

Description as found on NetGalley.com

Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He's come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the children.

When danger descends on the cabin where they're huddled, Cam is hurt trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and wonders if it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection--and in the process he might just win her heart as well.

The Lady Of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller – 5 Stars!!

I loved this book!  I did read it in one day.  It was very interesting.  In addition to having a romance thrown in there is a very real history of diving off boats for sponges.  I knew nothing about this business or how it came to be.  Although the story line is fiction, there was actually a group of over 500 Greeks that moved to Tarpon Springs to live and work diving for sponges.  I enjoy reading about Greek families as I lived with a Greek man for 13 years.  Back in 1905 there was a thriving sponge business and also many came to that area to use the mineral springs that were thought to be beneficial.  The Greeks that came to that area used some of the first diving gear, really quite a process to keep themselves from getting sick or dying while going down or coming up in these suits.  A lot of research went into the writing of this book in regard to diving, the sponge business, and Tarpon Springs in that time period.  The story line is also built around a Greek woman who studies and passes the bar to become a lawyer without her Father’s permission, which was a very big deal in those days.  She ends up running the sponge business for her friend who inherited it from her Father who died suddenly.  Her friend works as a doctor another career not taken up by ladies by many in those days.  The Greek men didn’t want lady doctors taking care of them, nor do they want to do business with ladies and are superstitious about having a lady on any of their boats.  This book was so interesting and the love story and the mystery built into the story line made up for a great read.  Hat’s off to Judith Miller for another very interesting read!

I received this book from the publisher as part of their book launch program, the review is entirely my own. I’m a member of "Bethany House and Chosen Books Reader Crew".  #Bethany House. #BakerPublishingGroup. #ChosenBooksReaderCrew.

The description as follows of the book was found on Good Reads:

Much to the dismay of her Greek family, Zanna Krykos makes a living as a lawyer in Tarpon Springs, Florida. When her friend Lucy needs legal advice about the business she inherited upon her father's passing, she ends up asking Zanna to run the business instead so she can focus on her medical career.

Nico Kalos is a Greek diver who has worked on sponging boats in the Aegean Sea since the age of 14, giving him a vast knowledge of the trade. When he hears of an opportunity to lead a group of spongers to the United States, he seizes it. But his excitement is quickly quelled when he arrives only to discover that a young woman with no experience in the business will be in charge of the new crews. 

But as Zanna and Nico face even more complications than they could have imagined, they must learn to work together or risk everything they've worked so hard for.

Ours For A Season by Kim Vogel Sawyer – 5 Stars!

I’ve always liked the author Kim Vogel Sawyer, this book was just another of hers that had me after the first couple of pages.  She writes often about the Amish or Mennonite people.  This book was about a couple who were part of a Mennonite community.  Anthony and Marty Hirschler married and he caught the Mumps after rendering him sterile.  She lost the baby she carried the first one and now her life is nothing like she thought it would be. They are falling further and further away from each other and Marty is having problems with her faith in God. She can’t stand to be around her family members that have little ones or are pregnant because it just hurts too much! 

Her friend Brooke a childhood friend who is not Mennonite writes and invites the couple to come and help run a construction crew to turn a ghost town into a resort community.  Anthony has a construction crew in Indiana.  There are many issues that come up through the story as I read it.  The book left me wanting to keep reading it, I carried it around where ever I went, to get a page in here and there.  The book was very interesting, compelling, and I liked the story line.  The characters were well developed as well as the story line.  Of course, God and the Bible are referenced in the book as the author enjoys a full time speaking and writing ministry. 

I received this book from the publisher through their book launch program. @WaterBrookjMultnomah #Partner.

An Old Order Mennonite couple's vows and beliefs are challenged in this stirring contemporary novel for fans of Cindy Woodsmall or Shelley Shepherd Gray.

Anthony and Marty Hirschler are part of an Old Order Mennonite community in Pine Hill, Indiana. The couple has grown apart since a doctor confirmed they would never have children. Marty longs to escape the tight-knit area where large families are valued, and the opportunity to do so arises when her childhood friend, Brooke Spalding, resurfaces with the wild idea of rebuilding a ghost town into a resort community. Brooke hires Anthony to help with the construction, drawing the Hirschlers away from Indiana and into her plan, and then finds herself diagnosed with cancer. Moral complications with Brooke's vision for a casino as part of the resort and the discovery of a runaway teenager hiding on the property open up a world neither the Hirschler’s nor Brooke had considered before. Will they be able to overcome their challenges and differences to help the ones among them hurting the most? 

Eagle & Crane by Suzanne Rindell – 5 Stars!

I won this book, it was part of a package of three books given out through a drawing at Read It Forward.  They usually give away one book a week, this time they gave three away.  This book I started reading as soon as I received it and it had me wanting to stick with it, right from the beginning.  This book was set during the depression era, also back when there were traveling circuses, gypsies, air shows, etc.  This book was really about two families and their animosity for each other, although the younger men really only disliked the other because their families had been telling them for years that they shouldn’t do anything together.  A traveling air show came to town and the two young men both showed up for the air show.  One decided he wanted to try and wing walk while up in the air, and was willing to pay double to try it the next day.  The other decided to do it because he couldn’t let himself be out done in the eyes of the people there from the area.  The man running the show was a bit of a shyster, always looking for his next big deal.  He married a woman who had a daughter, and he had them living in a caravan, and working the crowd and collecting money.  He wasn’t always the most pleasant man.  They did successfully walk on the wings of the airplanes, and that got the shyster thinking, he needed to make them a permanent part of the show.  The story about how things were going was very interesting as well as the back story between their families.  One of the men was Japanese and they were doing the air shows when Pearl Harbor happened. So another part of the story is about the camps they sent any Japanese people to for their own safety, although many people died in those camps.  They were run more like prisons.  With several back stories going on at the same time, the book was never dull or slow.  It was an easy read and I finished it over two days.  I really enjoyed the book.  The characters were well developed as well as the story line.  The ending was not disappointing and was really a surprise.

Thanks again to the people at Read It Forward and to the publisher at G.P. Putnam’s Sons it was an amazing read and a wonderful surprise! #RIFWINNER

Description as found on Good Reads: Two young daredevil flyers confront ugly truths and family secrets during the U.S. internment of Japanese citizens during World War II, from the author of The Other Typist and Three-Martini Lunch.

Louis Thorn and Haruto "Harry" Yamada -- Eagle and Crane -- are the star attractions of Earl Shaw's Flying Circus, a daredevil (and not exactly legal) flying act that traverses Depression-era California. The young men have a complicated relationship, thanks to the Thorn family's belief that the Yamadas -- Japanese immigrants -- stole land that should have stayed in the Thorn family.

When Louis and Harry become aerial stuntmen, performing death-defying tricks high above audiences, they're both drawn to Shaw's smart and appealing stepdaughter, Ava Brooks. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and one of Shaw's planes mysteriously crashes and two charred bodies are discovered in it, authorities conclude that the victims were Harry and his father, Kenichi, who had escaped from a Japanese internment camp they had been sent to by the federal government. To the local sheriff, the situation is open and shut. But to the lone FBI agent assigned to the case, the details don't add up.

Thus begins an investigation into what really happened to cause the plane crash, who was in the plane when it fell from the sky, and why no one involved seems willing to tell the truth. By turns an absorbing mystery and a fascinating exploration of race, family and loyalty, Eagle and Crane is that rare novel that tells a gripping story as it explores a terrible era of American history. (less)

Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden - A compelling read - 5 stars

Spoiler Alert – if you don’t want to know more about the secret revealed in the book don’t read this one.  Read the book to find out towards the end.

This book was a very interesting read!  It was set in the old west, Wyoming Territory 1876 in the town of Savage Wells.  It has so much information in the story line of how they treated illnesses back in the day, what some of the doctors were like, how mental illness was often something to be afraid of or a social stigma if your child had it.  Many with epilepsy were put away in institutions and couldn’t legally leave if their family signed them in.  Laws were different back then.  This book was a very compelling read, one you won’t want to lie down and walk away from.  You’ll find yourself carrying this one around your home with you in order to see what is going to happen next.  I really liked the main characters of this book and the story line. It was very well researched and very well written.  You won’t be disappointed if you pick this one up!

I received this book from the Net Galley through their book launch program. I did receive it in a kindle format. #HEALINGHEARTS #NETGALLEY

Wyoming Territory, 1876

As the only doctor in the frontier town of Savage Wells, Gideon MacNamara knows his prospects for a bride are limited. The womenfolk in town are either too young, too old, or already spoken for. So, being a practical man, he decides to take advantage of the matchmaking service of the day—mail-order brides—and sends away for a woman with nursing experience.

When Miriam steps off the stagecoach in Savage Wells, she sees a bright future in front of her. But when the town—and Gideon—meets her, ready for a wedding, her excitement quickly turns to horror. Somehow Dr. MacNamara's message had gotten turned around. He didn’t want a nurse, he wanted a wife. When she refuses to marry him, she finds herself stranded in Savage Wells with some very unhappy townspeople.

But Gideon is not like the other men Miriam has met. Embarrassed by the misunderstanding, he offers her a job, and the two begin an awkward—and often humorous—dance of getting to know each other as they work to care for the people of their town. Romance blossoms between the two, but when a former medical associate of Miriam’s arrives in town, Gideon and the other townsfolk must rally around Miriam to protect her from a dangerous fate. Gideon and Miriam must decide if they are willing to risk their hearts for each other even as buried secrets are brought to light.

Sold On A Monday - Kristina McMorris - 5 Stars!

This story was heart breaking.  That a family during the Great Depression would be so broke and hungry that they couldn’t feed their children so would put up a sign to sell them is the story that this book was based on.  This story is fiction, although the truth of the matter was that during that time period there were many families who had to give up children for adoption, sell them, send them to relatives, etc…because they were no longer able to earn a living and feed everyone.  This story is so real and powerful that I had to read it all in one sitting.  I put it down a few times, only to clear things out of the way so that I could read some more.  This book was riveting, and so well written, that it really struck a cord with me.  I remember seeing the cover a few other places before I was able to get it to read and just the cover makes you want to pick the book up and find out what the story is behind the picture.  I say to the author, well done!  She knocked it out of the park.

Free from Netgalley.com My review is absolutely voluntary! 

Description as found on Netgalley.com:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris comes another unforgettable novel inspired by a stunning piece of history.

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931 but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs, and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.

For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.

At the paper, Lillian Palmer is haunted by her role in all that happened. She is far too familiar with the heartbreak of children deemed unwanted. As the bonds of motherhood are tested, she and Ellis must decide how much they are willing to risk to mend a fractured family.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home

The Love Letter from Author Rachel Hauck - 4 Stars

I did enjoy this book.  It does go back and forth from modern day Hollywood to the heart of the Revolutionary War.  A show is fashioned from a love letter passed down through the family to Jesse who writes a screenplay based on the love affair of Esther and Hamilton.  The letter was written by Hamilton who finally writes of his love for Esther.  Her Father wanted her to have nothing to do with Hamilton who she knew from childhood.  He just didn’t feel Hamilton was appropriate especially as Hamilton joins the war, fighting on the opposite side as Esther’s Father supports.  Esther is head over heels in love with Hamilton and can’t get him out of her heart.  Chloe who is to play Esther finds herself sharing a compelling attraction to Jesse, neither wants to be involved with anyone, but they can’t seem to help themselves.  This story is mainly about two star-crossed lovers from the past, with links to the present…..and there is the mystery all through the book what was in the letter and will they end up together.

I received this book free from Netgalley.com in kindle format in exchange for an honest review which you see above.

Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes a story of long-lost love and its redemption in future generations.

Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.

When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.

Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.  

Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way not even Hollywood could imagine.

Lady Be Good by Amber Brock --- 5 Stars!

I got an advance copy of this book and couldn't put it down!  I finished it the day after I opened it.  It starts in 1950's New York with a daughter of a hotel magnate and her best friend. Her Father gives her an ultimatum that she must start seeing one of his employees, his second hand in the operations of his hotel, or she can start working in housekeeping!  He has been running his businesses without any assistance and wants to make sure that things will go on with the help of a husband for her after he is gone.  She cooks up this trip to Miami with her friend, to say that she’ll be seeing the gentleman on his trip as he’ll be gone for a while.  The real reason for her, is to stay in touch with the band members and to get her friend away from her cheating boyfriend who her family wants her to marry.  They end up going on the trip to Miami and then to Cuba!  They get involved with members of the band which is not done in those days.  The story is so well written you can almost feel the heat in Miami and hear the Latin music!  This book is entertaining, well written and a page turner! 

I received this book from the author through the Good Reads program.  It was sent in the hopes that I would write a review of the book which I have voluntarily done so. 

Description as found on Good Reads: Set in the 1950s, Lady Be Good is Amber Brock's mesmerizing return, sweeping readers into the world of the mischievous, status-obsessed daughter of a hotel magnate and the electric nightlife of three iconic cities: New York, Miami, and Havana. 

Kitty Tessler is the winsome and clever only child of self-made hotel and nightclub tycoon Nicolas Tessler. Kitty may not have the same pedigree as the tennis club set she admires, but she still sees herself as every inch the socialite--spending her days perfecting her "look" and her nights charming all the blue-blooded boys who frequent her father's clubs. It seems like the fun will never end until Kitty's father issues a terrible ultimatum: she may no longer date the idle rich. Instead, Kitty must marry Andre, her father's second-in-command, and take her place as the First Lady of his hotel empire. Kitty is forced to come up with a wily and elaborate plan to protect her own lofty ideas for the future, as well as to save her best friend, Henrietta Bancroft, from a doomed engagement: Kitty will steal Henrietta's fiance, a fabulously wealthy but terribly unkind man from a powerful family--thereby delivering the one-two punch of securing her now-fragile place on the social ladder and keeping her friend from a miserable marriage.

Then Kitty meets Max, a member of a band visiting New York from her father's Miami club, and her plans take a turn. Smitten, but still eager to convince her father of her commitment to Andre, Kitty and Hen follow Max, Andre, and the rest of the band back down to Miami--and later to Cuba. As Kitty spends more time with Max, she begins waking up to the beauty--and the injustice--of the world beyond her small, privileged corner of Manhattan. And when her well-intended yet manipulative efforts backfire, Kitty is forced to reconsider her choices and her future before she loses everyone she loves.

“Kitty Tessler, a headstrong glamour girl determined to move up in the world, steals the spotlight in Amber Brock’s latest, a tour-de-force filled with intrigue and surprises.” -- Fiona Davis, nationally bestselling author of The Address and The Dollhouse

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund - Five Stars!

This book takes up where her older sister left off!  Marianne Neumann takes up a job placing orphans through the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York. She does so in the hopes that she can find her sister Sophie who left the city and so that they can be reunited.  At the same time, she hopes that she can take these kids that have been left to their own devices, or have been given up by friends or relatives who can no longer care for them!  The Orphan Train takes the kids, Marianne and another placing agent who is so handsome and endearing with Marianne and the children through these cities to place the kids.  She finds that she is drawn to him and before the end she is caught up wanting to live her life with him, only to be caught up in a web of lies and deceit that almost becomes her undoing!  She and the other placing agent find themselves tackling problems from their secret past in the middle of their story and alst tackling their belief system and finding that God is there for them.  They have to love themselves before they can love anyone else.  The stories of the children are very real and endearing and I so enjoyed the ride. I believe I liked this book better than the second and that one was so good!  Well written and well researched!  This book was written on facts that existed from the journals of the past placing agents and was so very well thought out and planned. So very interesting!  Thank you to the author and to Bethany House for sharing this book with me and this is my very own thoughts on the book as I read it almost in the same day, I had to sleep a few hours. I couldn't put it down!  Thank you Jody Hedlund for this story and Bethany House!

Description as found on Good Reads: Determined to find her lost younger sister, Marianne Neumann takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York. She not only hopes to offer children a better life, but prays she'll be able to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train so they can finally be reunited.

Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing-out trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with children, firm but tender and friendly. Underneath his charm and handsome looks, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden.

As the two team up, placing orphans in the small railroad towns of Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.

Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon! Five Stars...What a ride!

Well he did it again! What you ask? Michael got me to read a book I never in the wildest dreams would have picked up before and I read it from front to back in almost one sitting, I had to sleep a few hours and I so enjoyed the ride. Monsters Reanimated picked up where Monsterland left off. I did enjoy this teenage dystopian dream ride of a book. It had this wonderful group of teenagers picking up after a crazy man opened Monsterland and let all the Monsters out on the world. They have to go out and kill he rest of the Monsters remaining and there are some new ones, and then he even threw in a little teenage romance in there. Micheal always gets me to read story's I just think I would never have picked up and then I go and enjoy them. Way to go! The teens go out to save the world and conquer and the fight is realistic and well written you feel like you are in there with them trying to get away from the most awful goons in this book! Woo Hoo! I highly recommend this book if you like this sort of thing and even if you think you don't!
I am writing this review after receiving the book from the author and writing it of my own volition! I'm giving this one five stars! Pick it up you'll be glad you did!

The description of the book as found on Good Reads: After Monsterland has been destroyed, the entire world is thrown into chaos. Wyatt Baldwin and his friends must go beyond the boundaries of their small town to reestablish contact with the outside world. During their journey they discover a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park. The danger of werewolves, vampires and zombies pale in comparison to an army of relentless mummies, Vincent Conrad’s reanimated monster and the menace of a life-sucking ooze they call The Glob. Will Wyatt and his friends survive when they reenter the scariest place on earth?

Debbie Macomber's Newest Novel "Cottage By The Sea" 5 Stars!

Debbie Macomber’s newest novel Cottage By The Sea – 5 Stars!

This book was one I couldn’t put down. I’ve been late submitting my review due to pneumonia.  Even though I was sick I was able to keep reading and stay connected with the story.  It has such strong characters and story line, such a compelling subject matter, many at the same time all inter connected and very interesting and of course a love interest.  I would recommend this book to anyone who has a love of Debbie Macomber’s novel as she doesn’t disappoint with this book. I know I’m being short but the description is there and the story line is what decides a book for you.  I loved the book and may read it again at some point on my kindle.

I received the book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review which you see above. I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

Description

A seaside town and its eclectic community help one young woman reclaim the light after darkness in a brand-new novel from #1 New York Timesbestselling author Debbie Macomber.

“Romantic, warm, and a breeze to read—one of Macomber’s best.”—Kirkus Reviews

Annie Marlow has been through the worst. Rocked by tragedy, she heads to the one place that makes her happy: Oceanside in the Pacific Northwest, the destination of many family vacations when Annie was a teenager.
 
Once there, Annie begins to restore her broken spirit, thanks, in part, to the folks she meets: a local painter, Keaton, whose large frame is equal to his big heart—and who helps Annie fix up her rental cottage by the sea; Mellie, the reclusive, prickly landlord Annie is determined to befriend; and Britt, a teenager with a terrible secret. But it is Keaton to whom Annie feels most drawn. His quiet, peaceful nature offers her both comfort and reprieve from her grief, and the two begin to grow closer.

Then events threaten to undo the idyll Annie has longed for. And when the opportunity of a lifetime lands in her lap, she is torn between the excitement of a new journey toward success and the safe and secure arms of the haven—and the man—she’s come to call home.

In this heartwarming tale, Annie finds that the surest way to fix what is damaged within is to help others rise above their pain and find a way to heal.

True Hearts Desire by Caroline Fyffe

I really liked this book.  It had a lot of story line going on with the five sisters, along with a friend who may not have been a friend, we’ll see.  Lavinia is the main character in this story and Rhett Laughlin is the man who arrives to town and lets the sisters know that everything that ever happened in their lives has been published in newspapers, along with the fact that they have inherited their father’s ranch and money and that they are now very well off, as long as they stay there at least six months.  After that who knows if they will all want to stay. Lavinia had an offer to study under a hat milliner and she loves her hats. It was her hearts desire to become a milliner and open her own shop. She would have to leave though in order to do that.  Rhett has become quite the distraction. Her heart keeps confusing her.  The book was easy to read in one day, one that kept me interested, had strong characters, a moving story line, based in the west, and a romantic twist, along with a good mystery.  I found it to be really entertaining.

I received the book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review which I have here.  I always love receiving books in the mail or online and being allowed to read and review books I may not have had the opportunity to pick up otherwise. 

Description

USA Today bestselling author Caroline Fyffe invites you back to Eden, Colorado, where five sisters have inherited the town—and are winning over men’s hearts one by one.

Since their father’s death summoned Lavinia Brinkman and her four sisters to Eden, Colorado, Lavinia has been content with her new life. Well, almost. Lavinia’s heart’s desire—creating the elaborate hats she loves—doesn’t belong in this small town. How can she choose between the life she has and the life she wants? Especially when she’s so utterly vexed by the handsome scoundrel who’s just arrived in Eden.

Rhett Laughlin intends to fulfill a dream and open a profitable restaurant in the growing town. Instead, he’s marched right into trouble with one of Eden’s most eligible bachelorettes. But as much as Lavinia Brinkman is making things difficult, Rhett can’t keep himself from thinking about her.

With every spirited encounter, the animosity between Rhett and Lavinia is starting to look a lot like attraction. And the town of Eden is about to discover what happens when these rivals find what truly lies in their hearts…

A Note From the Publisher

Caroline Fyffe was born in Waco, Texas, the first of many towns she would call home during her father’s career with the US Air Force. A horse aficionado from an early age, she earned a bachelor of arts in communications from California State University, Chico, before launching what would become a twenty-year career as an equine photographer. She began writing fiction to pass the time during long days in the show arena, channeling her love of horses and the Old West into a series of Western historical’s. Her debut novel, Where the Wind Blows, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award as well as the Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Readers’ Award. She and her husband have two grown sons and live in the Pacific Northwest.

The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy (High Sierra Sweethearts #1) 4.5 stars!

I love to read stories based in the old west with strong women characters and this book didn’t disappoint.  I picked the book up yesterday and never put it down until I was finished. I had to see it to the ending.  It was a very entertaining read.  Not really as complex as some books get but then I don’t always want them that way.  I enjoy a good yarn, strong characters, great elements of the old west and Mary Connealy didn’t disappoint me in the least!  The romance was believable but the ending left me just a little curious…….it was obviously leaving it open for the next book in the series there were a few things that were unfinished but I’m sure Mary Connealy will take care of those in the next book. 

The story of Trace and Deborah was fun to read, enjoyable and I wanted to see the end of their chase to find the people that attacked her wagon train and killed everyone in it except herself her sister and two children.

The book had mystery, romance, suspense and elements of the old west and wagon trains, cowboys and Indians and I enjoyed it very much. 

I received this book through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program in exchange for posting an honest review which you see above.  Just receiving the book to me doesn’t mean I will absolutely give it five stars I try to be as honest as possible.

Description as found on Good Reads:

She's the only witness to a wagon train attack. Keeping her safe, though, means his world is about to be turned upside down.

When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes an attack by the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he's finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail. He'd hoped the days of driving off dangerous men were over, but the latest attack shows otherwise.

Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace becomes an accidental guardian when he offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until they can safely continue their journey. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing.

Trace and Deborah find themselves drawing ever closer as they work together to bring justice to the trail and help the group survive the winter--but every day closer to spring means a day closer to leaving the mountains forever.