Where Hope Begins by Catherine West - A Beautiful Messy Complicated Love Story 5 Stars!

This is a love story, a complicated messy, love story.  Savannah Barrington founds out her husband of over 20 years wishes to leave her for someone else and she is so broken.  It’s been twenty years and she didn’t see it coming.  She and her husband had lost a child and their marriage just kind of fell apart.  She kept moving as though nothing was wrong but she was shutting her husband out as if he wasn’t hurting also.  Eventually he turns to someone else.

She runs away to her parent’s lake house in the Berkshires.  There is an old woman who is very wise and her son and grand daughter whose laughter leaves her shaken at first.  She finds herself drawn towards the son, but he isn’t someone who can have anyone in his life.   She finds out her husband doesn’t want to give up, he decides he wants to fight for her marriage.  Savannah has a lot of grief and wrestling with her feelings about God, while she works in an old greenhouse with her neighbor and visits the towns old book store.  She finds eventually that she may have to forgive the unforgivable. 

This book is about someone whose life is messy and complicated in nature and is really a great read. I received this book through NetGalley.com, and am writing this review as I really enjoyed reading this book.  It gave me a lot to think about myself and I truly loved the book.
I gave it five stars.  #WhereHopeBegins #NetGalley

Description as found on NetGalley:

Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness . . .

Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.

But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.

Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectations.

Ways to Win Books To Read / Reviews of Books I've Won!: Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn – 5 Stars – This b...

Ways to Win Books To Read / Reviews of Books I've Won!: Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn – 5 Stars – This b...: Jennalyn meets the main character Emily Winslow at the grocery store and invites her over to a luncheon she puts together with other fri...

Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn – 5 Stars – This book is an inspiration!

Jennalyn meets the main character Emily Winslow at the grocery store and invites her over to a luncheon she puts together with other friends, some are new to the group, they all meet about once a month to discuss whatever is on their mind that day.  Usually they are connecting with one another as they do have similar problems within their lives, and they find themselves connecting with God at the same time.  This group of “Haven Makers” discover friendships and joy in creating the families they all wish to create.  Emily has a husband Trevor and a daughter Audra.  They move from living with his parents in North Carolina, to California as Trevor is given a car lot by his Uncle.  He has goals he wishes to meet, so that he can provide for his family, and has trouble hitting those goals.  He and Emily struggle within their family as his family keeps upping the stakes in offers of help so that they will return.  They are very positive that this was to be only a temporary move.  Emily and Trevor didn’t have the same thing in mind.  They struggle to decide if California will be their forever home or not.  They struggle with their trust in faith in God and in their marriage.  The book was really well written and the characters were really well thought out.  Emily’s insecurity’s in making friends in her new city was something that I had struggled with myself when I made a move in the first year of my marriage.  I think this book has something in it for everyone to connect with, and I will be looking forward to reading some other books written by Robin Jones Gunn.  This book is truly an inspiration.

I received this book due to becoming a part of the WaterBrook & Multnomah "Launch Team".  I’m encouraged to post a review on their Facebook page for the book which I will be doing today with this review.  I found this book truly inspirational!  I gave it five stars!!  #BecomingUs #RobinJonesGunn

Description as found on GoodReads.com: From the author of the best-selling Christy Miller and SisterChicks series comes a new book of community, friendship, and circling the hard things of life with God and loved ones around a table.

Five young moms, including beloved Gunn character Christy Miller, gather to share meals and soon become unlikely best friends. The regular gatherings provide opportunities for the women to reveal their stories, and those life stories endear them to each other. They experience their lives naturally meshing as they raise their children together in community. In Becoming Us the group find ways to challenge, encourage, and help each other become the nurturing mothers they wished they'd had when they were growing up. They unite to be remembered for what they do as moms and not for what was done to them

Nothing But Trouble by Amy Andrews - 5 Stars!

Nothing But Trouble by Amy Andrews

This was quite the love story.  It hit Cecilia Morgan (long before it hit her boss Wade Carter) but worked she for him cleaning up his messes running at two am for things, being at his beck and call as his personal assistant.  He was self-centered and took her for granted.  When he decided he was going back to his home town to write the book about his life, she sure didn’t want to go.  She had decided to end her employment with him, but his Father’s health faded and he had to go back home and help with the farm.  For Wade’s Father CC decided she would stay, for a while.  When she gave Wade notice, her bombshell hit him like a bomb.  He couldn’t quite wrap his head around her telling him no, she is the only one who ever had.  He got her back to his home in Credence Colorado and the bickering really started, they were like an old married couple.  He finally figured out he didn’t want her leaving.  So when she does how does he get her back?  Do something she’ll never see coming!

This is quite the yarn, a well-played dance between the two, before they both realize they are in love with the other.  Will he be too late?  You’ll have to read the book. It is really a good read!

I received this book through Netgalley.com on the hopes that I would write a favorable review for the author which I am as I truly enjoyed this book.  Pick it up you’ll be happy that you did!  I have a new author that I will look for future books from!

#NothingButTrouble #Netgalley

Description as found on Netgalley.com:

For five years, Cecilia Morgan’s entire existence has revolved around playing personal assistant to self-centered former NFL quarterback Wade Carter. But just when she finally gives her notice, his father’s health fails, and Wade whisks her back to his hometown. CC will stay for his dad—for now—even if that means ignoring how sexy her boss is starting to look in his Wranglers.

To say CC’s notice is a bombshell is an insult to bombs. Wade can’t imagine his life without his “left tackle.” She’s the only person who can tell him “no” and strangely, it’s his favorite quality. He’ll do anything to keep her from leaving, even if it means playing dirty and dragging her back to Credence, Colorado, with him.

But now they’re living under the same roof, getting involved in small-town politics, and bickering like an old married couple. Suddenly, five years of fighting is starting to feel a whole lot like foreplay. What’s a quarterback to do when he realizes he might be falling for his “left tackle”? Throw a Hail Mary she’ll never see coming, of course.

Advance Praise

"It's got a Jill Shalvis/SEP vibe and I had a smile on my face all the way through. Loved every minute.” –USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader

“This is just heaven from start to finish...” - Bananas are Tricky

“Straight up, Nothing But Trouble is a feel good, family centered, hometown romance with a golden cast that I just can't get enough of.” - Tome Tender

“The family, the town, and the side romance are just magnificent.” - Crystal Perkins, author of Gaming for Love

“Nothing But Trouble by Amy Andrews is another fabulous read with standout characters who grab your attention in this not to be missed novel for your reading list.” –Talking Books

“The chemistry between CC and Wade was explosive and you could feel it coming off your kindle.” - Stacy J., Goodreads review 

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon – 5 Stars!!

I loved this book!  It was a great read.  I loved that she time travels in Ireland back in time, and how her knowing things that are going to happen in the future of Ireland and her family members really endangers her life!  Will she be able to live happily in the past, or will she somehow revert back to the future at any time.  That’s the real question after she gets there and finds that she is happy and wants to stay!  This book was a little slow for me starting up, but I was coming down with something and kept laying it down.  I was reading when I couldn’t sleep….then falling asleep.  Today I got to a certain part in the book and then I couldn’t put the book down, I am still not feeling great but I don’t want to stop reading this book until I get to the end.  The author did such a great job writing this story, her historical study of the characters and weaving Irelands real history into the story of the political upheaval of the times she just did such a great job at keeping me interested in it and I was really invested in the characters and had to find out how things were going to work out for all of them and how she was going to wrap up the ending which she did splendidly!!  Loved the ending!

I believe I received this book through Good Reads from either the author or the publisher on the premise if I like it I may post a review. I did and am doing that here!  I gave it five stars!

Here is the description of the book as found on Good Reads:

In an unforgettable love story, a woman’s impossible journey through the ages could change everything…

Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.

The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.

As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make?

The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton – 5 Stars!

This was a really good read.  It keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end. I kept wondering….why am I still reading this where is this going.  The main character is a pretty sick girl.  She was bullied at a girls school which impacted her greatly.  She has this boyfriend who is a pilot and she is so eager to get married that she really pushes him until he asks her to move out.  She then finds herself a job as a flight attendant and spies on him constantly. She knows all of his passwords, she stalks him on social media, she plans constantly for the future, she is going to let him have his space and then move in for the long term and plans on him taking her back and marrying her…..

This was the ultimate catfishing game with only one person being the victim she goes after.  I just couldn’t believe how far she would go in order to get her crazy wishes and in the end there is the greatest surprise to the ending.  I would describe this book as being unusual, riveting, creepy, twisted, well planned, catfishing to the infinity!! 

I received this book through a drawing on Good Reads it was sent by the publisher or the author on the premise that I may enjoy it enough to offer up an opinion, a recommendation, of which I am, have here in my own words and give 5 stars!

Description as found on Good Reads:

YOU’VE NEVER READ A LOVE STORY AS TWISTED AS THIS.

Juliette loves Nate.

She will follow him anywhere. She’s even become a flight attendant for his airline so she can keep a closer eye on him.

They are meant to be.

The fact that Nate broke up with her six months ago means nothing. Because Juliette has a plan to win him back.

She is the perfect girlfriend. And she’ll make sure no one stops her from getting exactly what she wants.

True love hurts, but Juliette knows it’s worth all the pain...

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella (Goodreads Author) 4 Stars!

Cute book. Kept my interest.  A good rule to learn people are not always who they say they are.  Fixie Farr works for her family’s business, and has been in love with Ryan her brothers’ friend for years.  She thinks he might be the “one” even though he leaves her behind and goes to Hollywood.  She meets a really nice young man in a coffee shop, when she minds his laptop while he takes a call and the roof collapses due to water damage on top of his laptop, where his entire business is held.  He writes her an “IOU” that she thinks of as a joke until she decides to use it to help Ryan when he comes back to town and says he’s broke.  This book has a really interesting story along with quite a few “lessons” that anyone should realize when reading is the backbone of the story.  I did enjoy it, I give it 4 Stars and recommend it for light reading to anyone loving these types of stories….

I received this book from the author, Goodreads and the promotional people, in hopes that I would like it and give it an honest review which I’ve done.  The thoughts above are my own.  #GoodReads #IOweYouOne #SophieKinsella

Description from Good Reads:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything

Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” But since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will? It’s simply not in her nature to say no to people.

So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, Fixie not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. Turns out the computer’s owner is an investment manager. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, Sebastian scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. But Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?

Then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. She wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. And Seb agrees, until the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants? (less)

Once A Midwife (Hope River #3) by Patricia Harman – 5 strong points

What a great book.  So very interesting.  It’s about Patience Hester a midwife who has a practice during the beginning of World War II.  Her husband is a conscientious objector but won’t register for the draft as one.  He served during World War I and he absolutely doesn’t want to kill anyone.  He puts his family in a very uncomfortable position as he an be jailed for this.  Bitsy, Patience’s old friend comes back to Hope River and she helps a lot with the midwife business and supports her friend.  Bitsy happens to be African American.  She brings a young man with her who she treats as her son.  She does get a job in the factory that makes things for the war, falls in love with the boss who happens to be white and that’s another problem because they wish to marry.  That in many states is illegal.  The story was very interesting from the beginning to the end.  I found the book enthralling and a fast read.  I loved the book.  I have never read the other books in this series and that didn’t keep me from enjoying this book.  I do hope at some point to read the others.  Great book!

I receive the book from Good Reads and the publisher as promotional material for which I’m publishing this review which is my own opinion.

Description as Found On Good Reads:

Welcome back to Hope River in New York Times bestselling author Patricia Harman’s newest novel as midwife Patience Hester, along with her family and friends, face the challenges of the home front during World War II.

The women of Hope River trust midwife Patience Hester, whose skill in delivering babies is known for miles around. But though the Great Depression is behind them, troubles are not, for Europe is at war…and it can only be a matter of time before the U.S. enters the fray.

And while some are eager to join the fight, Patience’s husband, Daniel, is not. Daniel is a patriot—but he saw too much bloodshed during the First World War, and has vowed never to take up arms again.

His stance leaves Patience and their four children vulnerable—to the neighbors who might judge them, and to the government, who imprison Daniel for his beliefs.

Patience must support their family and fight for her husband’s release despite her own misgivings. And with need greater than ever, she must also keep her practice running during this tumultuous time…relying on generous friends, like Bitsy, who has returned to Hope River, stalwart neighbors, and her own indomitable strength to see them all through

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris – 5 Stars!!

I’ve never read anything by this author.  I will in the future.  This book was one that grabbed me from the first page.  I couldn’t put it down, I carried it around from room to room and finished it quickly.  I loved the story, it wasn’t a pleasant story of course because of the subject matter, but Heather Morris did her best with the historical background.  She drew me in and kept me captive till the last page.  If you have read stories about Auschwitz, or not, this story stands out from the rest.  As soon as I saw the cover of the book, I knew I wanted to read it.  I’m so glad that I did.  It was a captivating, moving story. I recommend it highly!

I bought this book from Costco, and thought it needed a great review so that others will pick it up and read it also.

The description of the book as found online:

The #1 International Bestseller & New York Times Bestseller

This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.

“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”—Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.

A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.

Year One: Chapter 1: Chronicles of The One, Book 1- by Nora Roberts – 5 Stars

This is NOT Nora Roberts usual romance.  There is romance in the book but it is not the main story, it is a thing that happens in the middle of people fighting for their lives.  This was so exciting to read…heart pumping….people dying left and right but some people living and they know not why.  They band together to fight those that are evil people who lived who like to take and destroy lives and living.  There are fairies and shape shifters and people who can just look at a candle and light it….and then bigger things.  I never thought I would like to read a book that had these types of people in them….but I was hooked.  I’m now reading book 2….no spoilers from me but it seems to be just as great.  You won’t want to put this one down and it will stay with you after the last pages.  Buy this book!  I did and it was so unexpectedly great!

I thought I would leave a review as this book was so great it needed to get the word out.  Buy it you won’t be disappointed!

Review as found online:

A stunning new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author—an epic of hope and horror, chaos and magic, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives…

It began on New Year’s Eve.

The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed—and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.

Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river—or in the ones you know and love the most.

As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.

In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.

The end has come. The beginning comes next.

A Season of Grace (Under Northern Skies#3) by Lauraine Snelling - 4 Stars

I love Lauraine Snellings books, at least those I’ve read so far, I know there were quite a few.  This book is a historical romance based in 1910 Minnesota.  There is also a bit of mystery as Nilda Carlson was accosted by Dreng Nygaard back in Norway, that that affects her interaction between possible suitors, she is always cautious when it comes to men.  She has a couple of suitors, but then as she is settled in a home with her younger brother having traveled from Norway, and slowly adjusting, she sees Dreng Nygaard again. He’s come from Norway and she’s afraid of him.  The author assumes you’ve read the previous two books, she doesn’t go into this book building on the past stories. She just digs in.  The book is very sweet when it comes to romance, filled with prayer and the bible, and the things that Nilda counts on to keep her safe and happy.  The book holds your interest and is easily read in a day or so, and you’ll be able to read also, about felling trees, making butter, building a home, weaving rugs, etc.  All the things they would have done in 1910 Minnesota.  I gave the book 4 stars.

I received this book through NetGalley.com and the publishers as a promotional piece.  I’m providing a review of the book of my volition.

#NetGalley.com #ASeasonOfGrace #LauraineSnelling

Description as found on NetGalley.com

In 1910 Minnesota, Nilda Carlson's dreams are coming true. Though her first few months in America were difficult, her life now resembles the images that filled her daydreams in Norway. She and her younger brother Ivar live in their own house, just a short distance from her older brother and his family. Together they work the farm and fell trees for lumber. They plan to grow a dairy herd, weave rugs out of their own wool, and make skis to sell. Everything is going right.

The only thing missing from Nilda's life is love. But though she has two suitors--a quiet schoolteacher and a handsome lumberjack--Nilda feels hesitant. A terrifying experience in Norway has made her cautious where men are concerned. When she thinks she sees the man in question, all her fears come flooding back. Is it possible the danger has followed her across the Atlantic? If Dreng Nygaard is truly in Minnesota, all of her dreams for the future could come crashing down around her.

One Tough Cowboy by Lora Leigh; Veronica Chadwick - 3 Stars

One reviewer said that Lora’s Books can scorch the ink of the pages….so right.  If explicit sex scenes are not your bag, then this author is not for you.  Samantha when young used to follow Hunter around and some times bother his girl friends as he was older.  She leaves town and when her Aunt dies, under suspicious circumstances she comes back.  Hunter loses a loved one also under circumstances he isn’t falling for.  The plot gets really good with so much more going on intrigue, sex trafficking, guns blazing and a showdown…. but they are all interrupted by Hunter and Samantha having sex scenes.  Some times they interrupt the story line that I’m interested in and it goes to far for me.  I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought it would.  I found myself skimming through the sex scenes to get back to the rest of the story.  That is not how I usually read a book.  I wish there were more of the mystery they were trying to solve.  Not so much nakedness and some of it seemed unbelievable to me.  I gave this three stars…..a quick read but not really my cup of tea in totality.

I received this book through NetGalley.com and the publisher in the hopes that I would provide an honest review which I’ve done.  #OneToughCowboy #LoraLeigh #VeronicaChadwick

Description as found on NetGalley.com –

First in a brand-new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick about one man’s pursuit of justice—and unbridled desire. 


LAW AND ORDER. 
For as long as Samantha can remember, Hunter—a man as strong as steel, with a heart of gold—has been her hero. It came as no surprise to Samantha when she found out that the ranch-hardened cowboy who always protected her from bullies went on to become the town’s sheriff. What does surprise her is how incredibly hot he still is. And how much she still wants him…


PRIDE AND PASSION

And, lo and behold, Hunter still has feelings for Samantha. The long-smoldering heat of their innocent flirtation has grown into a full-raging fire. But when tragedy strikes, and their small-town community is shattered, Hunter vows to do everything he can to keep his childhood sweetheart safe. But can Samantha trust that Hunter has her best interests at heart…and that, after all these years, his love is true?

“Leigh’s books can scorch the ink off the page.”—RT Book Reviews (less)

The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas by different authors - 5 Stars!

The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas of Love Through the Generations

Four Christmas novellas by four different authors, all connected as the stories are all about a broach that brings the wearers true love.  The stories are all in different era’s yet still connected by the broach that has been passed from Mother to Daughter for almost two hundred years.  I loved all of the stories, each so different yet connected.  The stories were rich in content and well written characters, the stories linked together and so heartwarming!  Each a holiday story with a feel-good ending!!  I give this book 5 stars.  I truly enjoyed the stories.

I received this book through NetGalley.com for promotional purposes.  I’ve decided to write this review of my own volition as I loved the book…..#NetGalley #TheChristmasHeirloom #KristiAnnHunter #KarenWitemeyer #SarahLoudinThomas #BeckyWade

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Perfect for the Christmas season, four beloved authors bring their bestselling, award-winning talents to a multigenerational collection of romantic holiday novellas. In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?

in Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can't help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.

in Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.

in Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.

in Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love? (less)

A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer - 4 Stars!

I love this author!  She always writes such great stories that pull at the heart strings that are so full of rich historical background.  Once again, she has done her a great job with this book.  The background history being that of the International Cotton Exposition and the silk trade, how the silk is gotten and how it is put on a loom, she has a girl who knows how to work a loom with cotton on it, and so she is able to secure the job in the Women’s section of the Exposition of setting up the silk on a similar loom and working it all day while two other women tell visitors the story of the background to silk. The book is full of action, romance, betrayal and history.  I won’t tell you the story here as the description tells you the setting of the story and the characters.  This book was well paced, I wanted to keep reading, it’s plot is so well done and the people’s stories that were the forefront of the book were so well thought out and interesting.  I rated this book a 4.  If I could it would have been 4.5.

I received this book free from NetGalley.com for promotional means, and my review as shown above was absolutely voluntary. #NetGalley #ASilkenThread

Description as found on NetGalley:

For readers who love a heartwarming romance and a rich historical setting comes a tale of a young woman with a heavy burden, the International Cotton Exposition, and the pursuit of true love.


Eighteen-year-old Laurel Millard, youngest of seven children, is expected to stay home and "take care of Mama" by her older siblings, but Laurel has dreams of starting her own family. Operating a silk loom at the Atlanta Exposition will give her the chance to capture the heart of a man wealthy enough to take care of Laurel and any children she might bear, as well as her mother. Brendan Rochester's parents have given him an ultimatum: settle down with a wife or lose his family inheritance. At the Exposition, Brendan meets Laurel. Marrying her would satisfy his parents’ command, she would look lovely on his arm for social events, and in her besotted state, he believes she would overlook him continuing pursuing rowdy adventures with his unmarried buddies. Brendan decides to woo Laurel. Willie Sharp is not well-off and must take on an extra job at the Atlanta Exposition as a security guard. When mischief-makers cause trouble in the Women's Building, Willie is put in charge of keeping the building secure. He enjoys visiting with Laurel, who seems like the little sister he never had, but his feelings for Laurel change to something much deeper. Can Willie convince Laurel that he can give her better life--even with so little to offer? 

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)