Book Review of Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey

Fantastic book! Pettrey rounds out her series within another victory.


Dani Pettrey, author of the Alaskan Courage Series presents the final book in the series and the final McKenna sibling to find love. And it was definitely Reef's time!

If you've been following the series you will probably agree that it was time for "bad boy" Reef to settle down. If you're new to the series, you might find a hard time understanding the full extent of the love story. However the plot of the story could probably stand alone, the cast of characters might feel overwhelming. So, I recommend reading more than one. If you are just starting out with the Alaskan Courage and you don't want to read all four previous stories, try starting with Shattered. It is book 2 but it introduces the kind of person that Reef is ... was. Love can change any heart.

Here is the Publisher's blurb:

Growing up, goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and troublemaker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now paired together on Yancey’s search-and-rescue canine unit, they begin to put aside old arguments as they come to see each other in a different light.

Then a call comes in from the Iditarod that will push them to their limits. Kirra’s uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing. Frank’s daughter has been kidnapped. In order to save her, the man must use his knowledge as a mechanical engineer to do the kidnapper’s bidding or she will die.

Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl’s life, but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen.

My thoughts on this book are quick and painless today. I really enjoyed the story. The plot was fantastic and exciting. I enjoyed the ticking time bomb of the race ending equaling disaster. Then as each hour and day passed the suspense was ramped up further. The setting of the Iditarod was unique and fun. I have never read a story from that perspective. Overall I am filled praise for the final chapter of this family saga. A great read.

My only concerns are few and perhaps a little petty. I found a lot of repetition in the wording. I assumed it was because the couple drives, flies and traverses over alot of ground in the short time of the story which made for a lot of "he held the door for her" kind of repetitive statements. Also the massive amount of travel made it hard to keep the setting straight and where each of the characters actually was.

As for the romance of the book, I really enjoyed the story of Reef and Kirra. It was nice to see Reef mature into a strong and capable partner for Kirra. He lost his 'black sheep' persona and was able to present himself as a great hero.  Sometimes the slow brewing of a love story from characters who have know each other for a very long time is a deeper, more mature form of love story. I really liked it.

However my best point for Pettrey's story was the handling of the sensitive topic imbedded into the plot. I do not want to add a spoiler here, so you won't know what I truly mean unless you read the story, but Pettrey does an amazing job. Sometimes, as a writer you want to portray the deep anguish a characters feels without softening them into a wad of saggy Kleenex. Again ... kudos to you Dani! I think you truly succeeded at making Kirra strong and vulnerable at the same time.

I have read all five of the Alaskan Courage series and have reviewed them on this blog as well. If you are interested in checking them out, here are the links to my reviews. Submerged. Shattered. Stranded. Silenced.

So, if you like adventure and fast paced suspense you will enjoy this story. If you like sweet romance with a strong faith element, then you will like Sabotaged. If you're still on the fence, visit Dani Pettrey's website for some fun facts and interesting info on all the books. Or read a beginning chapter excerpt.

Thanks to Bethany House and Dani Petrrey for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to rate it positively.

Book Review of The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller

This is the first time I've read Judith Miller and it was a delightful read. During my research for this book and blog I discovered that Ms. Miller loves history and traveling. That definitely rings true as this story is rich in detailed history and information. It was fun to read about the brick making process.


The Brickmaker's Bride is book 1 in a new series by Judith Miller titled Refined by Love. An excerpt is available from the publisher.

First things first - I love book covers. and this one was so intriguing to me. I found myself referring back to it several times as I read. The beautiful young woman on the front has a lifetime of stories written in her eyes and was a perfect match for the Heroine Laura Woodfield.

The story takes place beginning in 1868 as America is rebuilding after the war. Down in the Tygart Valley of West Virginia one family in particular is trying to recover after losing the patriarch of their family. Laura and her mother decide to sell the beloved business, a brick yard. Laura holds it incredibly dear to her heart as she spent many hours there as a child alongside her father. It is important to her that the yard be sold to the "right" people. However at the point the story begins there haven't been many buyers or offers at all. Except one ... Ewan McKay and his uncle Hugh Crothers, Irish immigrants.

The hero of the story, Ewan is an interesting character. He is grounded in his faith, loyal to his family and determined to work hard with honesty and integrity. A wonderfully created contradiction to his abrupt, rude and addicted Uncle; who happens to hold the decision making reins and the purse strings in their fickle partnership. Once the sale of the brickyard is agreed upon Ewan must immediately balance his self-centered relatives with the kind and generous Woodfield family. This tension makes for excellent story-telling. Miller creates many entertaining scenes both funny and bittersweet to showcase all that Ewan is juggling.

His noble motivation that moves him forward despite some drastic and crazy odds is the desire to bring his three younger sisters across the ocean to America to live with him. He is their only immediate family.

Laura agrees to help Ewan establish business contacts, set up records and workers all in the hopes to see her father's life work succeed beyond him. Ewan gratefully accepts but soon finds himself drawn to her in a manner other than business. The love story between these two characters is slow and steady - like burning a brick for a lifetime of sturdy strength. The romance is sweet and without blemish.

I want to address the plot point of Laura being courted by another gentleman, Winston Hawkins, but I feel unable to say my peace without adding spoilers. So, I will say this ... by the end of the book I can only congratulate Judith Miller for writing a great love story. At first I didn't agree with the two men - polar opposites with one completely and notably unworthy of the heroine. It seemed no competition. Yet the author added the twist of a secret that binds our heroine to follow a path she doesn't want to in regards to a marriage partner. This is the element of the story where the faith aspect felt the most real. By the end of the story we see how often we view our options and our opportunities through the lens of our weaknesses. Yet our loving Lord and Saviour sees our future days unencumbered by anything.

The side plot of Ewan's aunt, driven only by climbing the social ladder at the expense of every person around her is at times entertaining and also poignant. The damage that can be done to our relationships when our motives are not of God is astounding. Miller shines a light on the effects of materialism and greed through the lens of the aunt and uncle.

This is a solid story with enjoyable characters, deep and abiding faith woven through and a wonderfully gripping historical base. I definitely would recommend this to others.

Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to receive this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review. This thoughts are my own and I am not required to review it positively.


Opps! I forgot the back cover blurb. Sorry ;)

In the clay-rich hills of the newly founded state of West Virginia, two families tentatively come together to rebuild a war-torn brickmaking business.

Ewan McKay has immigrated to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial help. Uncle Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, and it's Ewan's job to get the company up and running again.

Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he quickly feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Resolving that he'll make the brickworks enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Ireland, Ewan pours all his energy into the new job.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work is put in jeopardy. As his hopes for the future crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. Can she help him save the brickworks, and will Ewan finally get a shot at winning her heart.

By the way, if this topic intrigues may I recommend the family, dove approved movie The Last Brickmaker in America.  Check out the trailer.

Book review of A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears

An historical romance with a western flair and a new up and coming author - what's not to like? That's how I felt when the book A Bride in Store arrived in my mail box. Only that feeling didn't survive to the last page for me. This was not a story I enjoyed. After reading many other reviews on line I see that I am in the minority though ... so please check around before making your own decision. An excerpt from the book is available on line by the publishers.

Melissa Jagears' second book, following her debut A Bride for Keeps continues on in the little western town of Salt Flatts, Kansas in 1881 with a new mail order bride arriving a tad too soon. Here is the Publisher's blurb:

Impatient to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store, mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell sets out on her travels a week early. But her plan goes sadly awry when her train is held up by robbers who steal her dowry and Axel, her groom-to-be, isn't even in town when she finally arrives.

Axel's business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend's mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store--where she quickly proves she's much more adept at business than he ever will be.

The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. However, their troubles are far from over when Axel finally returns, and soon both Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams--or if God has a new dream in store for them both. 

Let's start with characters. This isn't a typical western in my mind. If you're looking for a cowboy or two this isn't the book for you. However our main male character of the story, Will Stanton does a very good job of playing the adorably sweet,and superb gentleman hero. He felt well-rounded and easy to like. The only thing he needed was a little more of a backbone.

Our female counterpart, Eliza Cantrell was not as endearing. She felt too spoiled, too selfish and too whiny to me. I understood as the book progressed that these were characteristics that she needed to work on and she did. However, I couldn't find that one character strength that drew me to like her. She did however, have the backbone our hero lacked.

The other characters in the story were well done. The author does a good job of not writing to the stereotypical quirks and traits. Her ensemble of characters were fun and interesting.

I did not read book one in this series, A Bride for Keeps, and I did not feel it affected my understanding of the characters. However there was one character, Jonesey, that I could not figure out why he was there - so maybe that was a carry-over from story one. Other than that I feel this book can be a stand alone.

The story premise was interesting and drew my attention from the back cover. However I found the story moved very slowly at times with not enough at stake for me. The tension needed to drive this story forward was weak and sometimes implausible.  I would have liked to see the characters do more and think less. There was too much "I think I should-- no I can't" inner dialogue going on. Both the main characters could have overcome most of the obstacles by having a little chat by the half way mark of the book.

Overall, I struggled to finish the book. If I didn't have to write this review I would've shelved the book. I liked the idea and the characters were fine, but the story had no draw and no excitement for me. I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend but I will give this author another read when she publishes again. As her own characters would attest ... everyone deserves another chance.

Thanks to Bethany House and the author for the opportunity to receive this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review of Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Sarah Loudin Thomas' debut novel is a delightful read. I loved the cover with its simplistic picture filled with so much hope and promise. That's exactly what this book leaves with you.

Publisher's Blurb: In a Drought, It's the Darkest Cloud That Brings Hope

It's 1954 and Perla Long's arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.

Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor...until he meets Perla. She's everything he's sought in a woman, but he can't get past the sense that she's hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla's unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.

The story of Perla and Casewell infiltrated my heart with its simple but profound message. We are all forgiven. *If we choose to accept it.*

The characters in the story were well rounded individuals. I enjoyed them all - even crusty ol' John. He grows on you as he travels his own journey of understanding and accepting the greatest gift of all. But truly my favorite was the little child, Sadie. I flipped the last page of the book still believing she was the true miracle in the story. Now I hope those aren't spoilers. All that to say Loudin Thomas did a marvelous job of introducing fine characters that came alive within the story, growing in their struggles and in their faith.

That brings me to the next praise - the faith of the story. Loudin Thomas is not shy in her display of God in this book. Some might criticize this, but not me. I love a book that digs deep into the heart of God and the faith journey of the characters. Yet, the message remains simple - forgiveness is available to all, no matter what you've done.

The setting of the story did not stand out, but was woven nicely through the story with the dialogue and the characters.

This delightful story takes the reader on a journey of acceptance and understanding. The plot moves like a gentle flowing stream. Unlike the premise of the story, the plot does not dry up! Although it isn't the type of story that kept me up late at night, reading into the wee hours of the morning, it pulled my reader's heart through page after page to find the sweet ending.

Overall, a very pleasant and encouraging read! Check it out! There is an excerpt for you to try at the Publisher's webpage. Also, an interesting note is that Sarah Loudin Thomas wrote a novella, Appalachian Serenade that is available on Kindle. (It is free at the time of writing this post.) It is the story of Delilah, Perla's Aunt in Miracle in a Dry Season.  Available for you as well is a video of the author. Check them both out!

Thanks to Graf Martin, Bethany House Publishers and the author for my free copy of this book. I received it in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to review it positively.

Book Review of Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund

I was completely captured by Jody Hedlund's latest novel!

Michigan Territory, 1814

A voyageur and a young woman swept up in a time of upheaval and danger
discover firsthand the high price of freedom.
The British Army has taken control of Michilimackinac Island and its fort, forcing the Americans to swear an oath of loyalty to the crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a fur trader who returns after being away from the island for years, only to find the family farm a shambles and those he cares about starving and at the mercy of British invaders.

Torn between the adventurous life of fur trading and guilt over neglecting his defenseless mother, Pierre is drawn deeper into the fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique MacKenzie, a childhood friend who's grown into a beautiful woman. She now finds herself trapped by the circumstances of war and poverty, and the cruelty of her guardian, Ebenezer Whiley.

As tensions mount and the violence rages on, Pierre and Angelique must decide where their loyalties rest and how much they'll risk for love.

Captured by Love was a deep and abiding love story that I suspect will stick with me for awhile. The characters felt alive on the page with anxiety and passion that I couldn't help absorbing. The book was hard to put down. The action wasn't intense and edge of your seat, but the love story was. The obstacles that this couple faced were challenging and seem to mount higher with each turn of a page. It felt much like plucking the petals of a daisy - they will be together; they won't be together; they will ... they won't. It pulled me through the story with a fierceness many stories lack.

The conclusion of the book, and the love story, didn't come with a crash or boom, instead it gently led the characters to a very natural ending that didn't feel contrived, forced or unrealistic. I enjoyed this part of the story the most.

Another awesome aspect of the story was the obviously powerful attraction and passionate bond between the two main characters. It at times felt so powerful that it would lead the hero and heroine to fall into sin. However Hedlund portrayed their angst/desire for each other beautifully and yet within the bounds of Christian fiction. The spiritual journey each character had to travel revealed the often times, very real emotions of lust, passion and sexual desire. Yet, this was perfectly balanced with their love and commitment to follow God's will and plan for each of their lives. Sometimes faith can be arduous. Well done, Jody.

The setting was beautiful and devastating at the same time - a war-torn isolated island of such breathtaking beauty in contrast to a harshness of survival. I felt the setting played a key role in the plot, keeping the reader entrenched in the emotions of the story.

Jody Hedlund did a fantastic job with this story. The writing felt so natural and flowed with ease. I have only read a few of her books to date, but she is closely becoming one of my tops! Captured by Love is the third book in her Michigan Bride Collection and from the tiny bread crumbs dropped in the final chapters I will bet there is another one on the way. (?) I have not read book 1, Unending Devotion or book 2, A Noble Groom in the series yet. This did not affect the enjoyment of this story at all. Check out her book links page where you can click on any of the books and find fun facts, chapter excerpts and reading discussion guides. Enjoy!

A definite recommended read for those who love epic love stories and historical backgrounds. A beautiful bouquet!

Feel free to check out Jody's blog if you are interested in writing. She has won awards for how helpful and fun her blog is. She is also active on facebook and twitter. On her website is a media page where she shares links from her book blogging tour she made this July to celebrate the release of Capture by Love. Be sure to check out the fun!

Thanks to Bethany House and the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. I was not required to review it positively.

Book Review of Stuck Together by Mary Connealy

When a lawman who values order gets stuck with a feisty crusader who likes to stir things up, there's going to be trouble in Texas! 


Stuck Together is the third book in Mary Connealy's Trouble in Texas series. Book one was Swept Away and book two was Fired Up. The trilogy follows the lives and troubles of a group of men who met in the war and have bonded closer than brothers. They now all live in the same small town in Texas called Broken Wheel.

Publisher's Blurb:
Now that she's settled in town, Tina Cahill is determined to get Broken Wheel's saloon closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.

Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is showing signs of dementia. And his surprise sister quickly falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince suddenly has a lot of people depending on him, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them.

With nearly every other man in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with strong-willed Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her crazy causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.

What I liked: Stuck Together is another notch in Mary Connealy's belt in telling entertaining, romantic comedy. This story is a lighthearted read filled with fun and adventure.

The heroine, Tina Cahill was fun. Her natural penchant for trouble combined with her fragile self-esteem made for a character you could root for. Vince seemed like an appropriate match for her. He's smitten with her from the first moment he saw her, but restrains due to his own hurts and fears of every having a family. His restraint only feeds her inner turmoil that she is unlovable. The cat-chasing-his-tail conundrum created by these two makes the pages easy to turn to find their resolution.

The mystery side of the plot was engaging as I couldn't guess the trouble maker until the characters started to figure it out. Also the tension that Connealy added in page after page pushing "Invincible" Vince to the edge was enjoyable to read.

What I didn't like: Jonas' story. I was very disappointed with this part. If you've read along with the series so far you will understand what I'm talking about. If you are just joining with the Trouble in Texas Series now, you may not find anything out of joint at all.

Jonas is the last leg of The Regulators group to fall in love. Instead of giving him his own book like the others, he is given a few chapters throughout this one. It is a whirlwind romance ending in a proposal after a couple days. Then the rest of the book the two lovebirds sneak off constantly, returning with messed hair and disheveled clothing. He is the town Parson! I absolutely did not like this part of the book.

I also found the writing disjointed. It felt "narrated" most of the time. It made the reading choppy for me. This series has not been as good as her earlier one The Kincaid Brides.

I would recommend this book to others who are familiar with Mary Connealy and like romantic cowboy comedy. However this is not a good one to start out with if you've never read her before. She has a new book coming out in September titled Tried and True, book one in the Wild at Heart series.

Thanks to Bethany House and the author for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not expected to review it positively.

Book Review of Silenced by Dani Pettrey

A fantastic read! Dani Pettrey's fourth installment in the Alaskan Courage Series is out and she hasn't missed a beat yet!


Jake Knew Something Was Wrong. 
But He Never Guessed How Wrong. 

A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.

Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine. 

Silenced was an exciting read filled with an amazing cast of characters. Most of them are all familiar to readers who have been following the series all along. I read this book from that perspective, having started with Dani and the McKenna clan in book #1 Submerged. I am not a good person to ask how the story holds its own to a reader just joining the fun. However, each of the past characters plays a supporting role in the book, continuing on with their story lines slightly. This makes the characters more fleshed out then just names and casual mentions. 

I have been looking forward to this story line since the middle of book #3 Stranded. Kayden always drew my curiosity in the ways she poked and prodded at Jake, hoping to prove him a fraud. In book #3 we all got a glimpse into his secretive past making us all, Kayden included, like him a little bit more.

Now in Silenced we have the full growth of that change into a budding romance. And a sweet one at that. Jake is

Book Review of Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell

What a wild, fun ride for readers who love humor, history and endearing, captivating characters.

Publisher's Blurb:

A girl with the best of intentions. A heart set on Hollywood. An empty pocketbook.
That's all it takes for Ellis Eton to find herself working as a telephone operator for a look-alike friend. For Ellis, this job will provide not only acting practice but the funds to get her a start in the movies. She's tired of always being a disappointment to her traditional Boston family, and though she can't deny the way he makes her head spin, she knows she's not good enough for Griffin Phillips, either. It's simple: avoid Griff's attentions, work, and get paid. But in typical Ellis fashion, her simple plan spirals out of control when she overhears a menacing phone call...with her very own Griff as the target.
With an endearing heroine as her lead, Siri Mitchell takes readers on a madcap tale of love and discovering one's true desires!

This is my first read from Siri L Mitchell. It was a wonderfully fun read - like taking a trip down the rabbit hole on the heels of Alice in Wonderland. The characters were lively and fun; especially the main heroine, Ellis Eton. Mitchell writes her in first person point of view and brings the reader right into the crazy and roller-coaster-ed thoughts of this undoubtedly ADD character. It was at times dizzy-ing to keep up but I felt that Siri Mitchell did an excellent job of bringing a balance back to the reader.

The story was

Book Review for Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate

When I saw the front cover of Lisa Wingate's newest book I knew I wanted to read it.

I'd always wanted to try out one of Lisa Wingate's books so this looked like the perfect opportunity. However, it turned out nothing like I had expected. This is a hard review for me to write. I never wanted to be the one poor review amidst a slew of positives ... yet here we go.

I did not enjoy this story like I had hoped I would have. The premise attracted me at first.

With love and loss tangled together, how was she to know where her life would lead?

Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father's unfinished destiny. When she's offered a production assistant's job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father's footsteps suddenly seems within reach. The reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry. A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream.

But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region's folk songs. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.

When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood--including Blake Fulton, Allie's handsome neighbor on the film set--seems to be hiding secrets. Allie doesn't know whom she can trust. If she can't find the answers in time, history may repeat itself...with the most unthinkable results.

What's not to like about that you ask? I love suspense, romance, western flair and the whole filming plot thread drew me in. However, probably the biggest problem for me was the constant flip between present and past. The main story is about Allie Kirkland but is countered almost equally with a story about Bonnie Rose a young woman from 1861.

Both stories are written well and I loved the first person point of view. However every time the switch was made it jolted me from the story and I felt the overwhelming urge to close the book. It was like dragging myself from page to page. I kept it up, hoping I would settle into the flow. Unfortunately, I didn't.

On the bright side, I enjoyed the characters in the story and there was enough surge to keep me wondering what was next. I truly believe if the chapter changes hadn't been such a jolt, I would have enjoyed either story line immensely.

Unfortunately I did not finish the book, so I can't speak to the ending (and for that I am sorry) but I made it half way. The last straw for me was being almost 200 pages into the story and finding what should have been the first line of the story. The moment that the reader goes, "oh, this might get interesting".  That was where I quit. It was like starting over again and the haul had been too sluggish to re-commit.

It is important to note that the basics of story-telling were there and done well. So for many readers who can enjoy the inter-mixed story lines, the writing is superb.

The plot was interesting; the film industry, the colourful secondary characters, the mysterious cowboy. It was all well done. The historic story of Bonnie Rose was moving and had me cheering for the strong, determined young woman on every page.

The setting was intriguing. I especially loved the basement of the old theater. I felt cold and cramped every time I read those parts. It was amazingly written.

To recap, I didn't enjoy the structure of the teeter-totter stories. It made it difficult to stay invested. Without that aspect I think the story was strong and well written. I urge you to look around and check other reviews of this book, as I have and there are so many lovers out there. Here is one particular review to read from someone who thoroughly enjoyed the book - and finished it!

And despite my disappointment with Wildwood Creek, I will definitely consider reading another book from Lisa Wingate.

Thanks to Bethany House for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review of The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

I am not typically a Regency reader. This book was a new adventure for me... and one that I enjoyed. Even though it was the cover that convinced me to open the book. It was the fantastic story world and time-specific prose that kept me there!

Finding himself the man of the family, and with no other options, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But Alec is stunned to learn the village is controlled by a wealthy widow who has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in Miss Julia Midwinter, the widow's daughter. While initially wary of Julia's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul -- and a hidden sorrow of her own. Julia Midwinter is instantly intrigued by the handsome dancing master -- a man of whom her mother would never approve. She cannot fathom why he would leave London -- or why he evades questions about his past. Together, can Alec and Julia bring new life to this quiet village -- and to one woman's hardened heart?

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen reads a lot like a Jane Austen novel. The writing and style give you a feel from the past beginning from the first words. I struggled a little getting into that flow, as it is not my typical style of reading. However, once I did catch on to the prose I enjoyed it very much. It truly gives the feeling of an escape.

Although I found the book long and at times slow to answer my burning questions, it kept me moving and reading at a steady pace. (There were a few late nights.) The plot was intriguing, but at the beginning of the book I had my doubts if it would hold my interest at the pace it was taking. (So, if you are starting the book - hang in there ... don't put it away quite yet.) Once the intrigue of the staunch Matriarch's past caught me, I was hooked. The sweet and satisfying romance of the story was evident but took a side seat to the drama of the story. Very well done.

The characters were rich and enjoyable for me. Typically I do not like a large cast, but this one felt right. The many villagers and local families added so much to the story. I especially enjoyed the two Dancing Masters in the story. I found Julia Midwinter a little pesky to like at times - almost like a younger sibling. However Klassen did a great job of showing Julia's character arc. She grew on me.

Overall, I would have to say that Julie Klassen has done a great job. She presented a thorough, and rich story of endearing but flawing characters amidst a stunning backdrop of the drastic class structure of England in the 1800s. This is a real winner! 

I recommend this book - especially if you are already a fan of Regency novels.

Discussion questions are available at the back of the book as well. Julie also has an excerpt of the novel on her website - books page.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group". 

Book Review - A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano

Miss Arabella Beckett, defender of the down-trodden women of America, is returning from her travels in support of the women's suffrage movement when she makes a simple offer of assistance to a young woman in need. But things go sadly awry, and both ladies soon find themselves in dire need of rescue. Arabella, always loath to admit she needs help, is particularly reluctant to receive assistance from the arrogant, narrow-minded knight in shining armor who shows up just in time.

Private investigator extraordinaire Mr. Theodore Wilder is on an assignment that began as a favor to his good friend Hamilton Beckett, but swiftly evolved into a merry chase across the country. He is already in a less than pleasant mood, and when Hamilton's sister turns out to have radical ideas and a fiercely independent streak, he's at his wit's end. 

Much to their chagrin, Theodore and Arabella's paths continue to cross when they return home to New York, but the most unusual feelings beginning to grow between them certainly can't be anything serious. When the trouble Arabella accidentally stirred up in her travels follows her home and threatens her very life, the unlikely couple must face the possibility that they might have landed in the most peculiar circumstance of all: love.

This is the second book in the Ladies of Distinction Series by Jen Turano.  To see my review of Book 1 (A Change of Fortune) visit this post.

Similar to the first book in the series, A Most Peculiar Circumstance is set in 1880 soon after the end of book one.  The heroine, Miss Arabella Beckett is travelling to further her passion, the Women's Suffrage Movement and is absent for the exchange of vows for her brother Hamilton and Lady Eliza (book one). Thankfully for new readers of A Most Peculiar Circumstance, you will not be lost if you haven't read book one.   

One strength of the novel is

Book Review - Over The Edge by Mary Connealy

Over The Edge, book 3 in Mary Connealy's trilogy, The Kincaid Brides was exactly what I anticipated.

After reading book 1, Out Of Control and book 2, In Too Deep, I have been eagerly awaiting the finale to Seth Kincaid's life story. His plot line was so intriguing through the first two books and Mary did a good job of finishing up with Seth, Callie and the surprise extras - Connor and Heath.

Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he's never been the same. He was always a reckless youth, but now he's gone over the edge. He ran off to the Civil War and came back crazier than ever.

After the war, nearly dead from his injuries, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he's got a lot of excuses, but his wife isn't happy to find out Seth doesn't remember her. Callie has searched, prayed, and worried. Now she's come to the Kincaid family's ranch in Colorado to find her lost husband.

Callie isn't a long-suffering woman. Once she knows her husband is alive, she wants to kill him. She's not even close to forgiving him for abandoning her.

Then more trouble shows up in the form of a secret Seth's pa kept for years. The Kincaid brothers might lose their ranch if they can't sort things out. It's enough to drive a man insane--but somehow it's all making Seth see things more clearly. And now that he knows what he wants, no one better stand in his way.

As with her previous books, Mary's brand of humour and romance made for a light and fun read.  I enjoyed the introduction of Callie, Seth's forgotten wife.  She was entertaining and unpredictable. The beginning of the story was incredibly thought up - a great way to jump into the story.

The new character in the story, Heath was also a fun addition.  I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it by explaining his role. Yet he provided a fresh set of eyes on the entire plot of the Kincaid brothers.  I would have liked more description of Heath to round out his character.  It will be interesting to see if he gets a book of his own some day.

One element that I did not enjoy as much was the ending.  It was predictable and felt repetitive.  I think that the elements Connealy needed to get out from the ending were there and it brought the story to a nice, complete closure.  However I would have liked to see something a tad more unique.  This should not deter you from choosing her book.

I would recommend this story to any fan of Christian historical fiction with a light, humorous side.

Book was given free of charge by Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review for Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

A mother's love.  A sister's promise. Will two women find the path to save a young woman's life?


Patti Lacy wrote a powerful story about two cultures and two women who collide over their love for one special girl.  Lily, a young girl in a Chinese Orphanage is adopted and relocated to the Long Horn State in the U.S.A. She is renamed Joy and expected to live the life of an American girl.

Gloria, Joy's adoptive mother, struggles with a deep fear that she will lose Joy, so she holds on to her with an iron grip.  Too tight - to the point of pushing her away.

Many years after her adoption Joy is tracked down by her adoring sister, Kai who has spent her life on the mission to reclaim Lily into her Chinese family. Kai brings a sense of family Joy has been missing.  She also brings bad news of a genetic disease, PKD, that has attacked the Chinese Chang family and fears it may be poised to take Joy as well.

This story is moving and deep as it follows the roller coaster ride of international adoption, diverse cultures, teenage angst and rebellion, and life changing illnesses.  Patti Lacy has also pulled back the veil of the Chinese Cultural Revolution in this story of healing and restoration.  The story line is definitely worth the read.

As a reader I struggled with the lay out of the story.  The backstory, flashbacks and switching view points made the beginning half of the story difficult to follow and frustrating to continue on.  The two main characters, both women, were not easy to relate to from my perspective.  However, by the middle of the story I was engaged and invested in the characters plights. There were elements of the story that I struggled to see the connection to the plot.  This slowed down the flow of the book. The ending/epilogue felt a little rushed and disconnected but by the wrap up of the story I was able to see what Lacy was trying to show.

The aspects of the story I enjoyed were redeeming.  The transitions in the characters was realistic and understandable.  The faith issue was handles well without cliché or contrived 'Christianese'.  A strong voice for Kai helped the cultural differences to stand center stage at all times.  I felt the character of Kai was the most interesting and compelling.  Kai's story became more of the focus of the plot than Joy.  The research Lacy must have done for the story was extensive, but her accounts showed a confidence and power.  There were many emotive experiences she needed to draw from.  Well done.

My recommendation for Reclaiming Lily is to readers who are looking for a deep story, written with poetic prose and rich historical basis.  The story will touch your heart and leave you encouraged.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review A Woman's Guide to Fasting

Lisa E Nelson has written a wonderful book to guide women through the maze of fasting as a spiritual discipline.  I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to every PERSON out there.  Not just women.  However it is a nice book to share with a few close girlfriends.

Lisa offers women an easy to read and easy to put to practice approach to fasting.  She tackles common questions, concerns and worries that I know have been on my mind.  I have never fasted before this book and I will definitely be doing it after.

Lisa is not legalistic or suggest in any way that I would be a better Christian if I did this.  Instead she dives into the heart of God and how we can follow after it in many different ways.  Fasting is just one of them.  But I must add that this book did more for my entire spiritual walk than just specifically for the idea of fasting. Lisa is an encourager.  She does a fabulous job of encouraging me in every aspect of my journey of faith.

Her writing style is relaxed and soothing.  It feels like having a coffee with Lisa at a quaint little tea house.  She fills each of her points with abundant scriptures.  You become friends with her before you finish the book.  She shares a lot of insight from her own life.  I particularly loved her section on the experience of 9-11 and how her husband and family was affected that day and how God used fasting to call her spirit into prayer.  Very powerful!

Pick up this book.  It is a must read! In fact, I will tell you that I normally give away my copies of review books to my library. However this one is staying right where it is - on my bedside table.  (Well, after I loan it out to my friends that is.)

Thank you Lisa for gently calling me to a closer relationship with my heavenly Father.  May He bless you as you continue to touch the lives of other women.



I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an HONEST review.  I am not required to provide a positive response.