Review of The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel

The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel

The Joy of Falling takes you on a journey with two women who have both lost their husbands in the same accident. The two sisters-in-law share the loss, but their grief and lives are very different. They, along with their husbands’ friend, decide to do an ultra-marathon that their husbands had signed up for in New Zealand. Neither are prepared for the challenges that this trip and marathon will present them with. Not only do the physical challenges of a multi-day 155-mile race hit them, but they must face fears, lost dreams, an unknown future, anger, and grief. Both ladies have hurts and memories, and must reconcile their past and present before they can face whatever the future brings. Their stories stir emotions and give a face to the pain that is lived out in the midst of loss. The New Zealand setting is vivid and realistic. (You may wish to travel there!) The story will touch your heart, and even as you feel their pain, you sense the hope found in faith and move forward with the characters in to a new and fuller life.

Review of The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

I had a hard time starting this because it tackles some hard issues. But as I read, I got immersed in the stories and in the characters’ lives. The details in this story deepen the story and make it real. This book is exquisite in taking 2 timelines and making them both go full circle to totally relate to each other. I had never heard about the lost friends published in a newspaper so past slaves could find family and others. This is a slice of history that is sad, but also showed people of incredible fortitude and strength who never gave up. It also shows people who truly care about others, both in the past and in more recent times. I can’t stop thinking about the story and all the characters in it. They have become real to me. It is a must read.

Review of A Mother's Secret by Gabrielle Meyer

A Mother’s Secret by Gabrielle Meyer

A Mother’s Secret has all the right elements for a good story. It has a beautiful setting (in my hometown!), a dilemma to solve, a jilted romance that begs for rekindling, and the sweetest children. I love that Gabe includes children in her stories! I also love how she uses the places she loves in her stories. I can envision all the scenes and can put myself into it. Her main character, Joy, is a mom and foster mom who has the privilege of living in a historical mansion to raise her family until her benefactor dies. Will she have to move? Her former boyfriend is charged with making sure the house is sold. How will they reconcile their past relationship when in a situation that sets them at odds? How do the children figure into all of it? It is a sweet story that makes you realize the value of relationships and home. It is an enjoyable read that gives you all the good feelings!

Review of The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze

The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze
Abby had waited long enough to find the man who was responsible for her father’s death, and by default, her mother’s as well. She would help to find him no matter what. If taking a job as a school teacher in Nebraska was how she could help catch him, she would do it. She enjoyed teaching, and even if it was different than she expected, she could handle it. She was unprepared though for her contact to be a past beau, one that had hurt her mightily. Life in the small town was a challenge. Relationships were strained at times. There were different expectations and rules than what she was used to. Yet the people were what made up the town and the children are what touched her heart. The story involves mystery, counterfeit money, intrigue and romance in a historical setting. Of course, weather plays a part in the story as evidenced by the title. The blizzard is based on a real life historical event. It is an enjoyable read with lots of historical tidbits in there to enjoy. I love the Mayflower Bride series and this is another story on the series that does not disappoint!

Review of Before and After

Before and After by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate

Before and After does not read like Lisa Wingate’s novels, but it takes her book Before We Were Yours into the realm of reality. It is the true stories of orphans who survived the scandal that came out of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The novel captivated its readers and made you wonder if it could be true. This book shows you it could be. It chronicles the stories of many who came through the process and how it affected them and even the next generation. Some of the stories are heart rending and others are stories of triumph and overcoming. Many who shared their stories never thought they would have a voice to tell what it was like. Many told their stories at the urging of their children.  The stories show reunions, some heartbreak, and unexpected connections that help them to heal. It is a story that should not have to have been written, or shared, but because it happened, the sharing inspires hope and restoration. If you read Before We Were Yours, this is a must read to complete the story and to answer more questions.

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson Review

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson

After reading this book, I wanted to start planning a trip to Savannah. The history and the descriptions captivated me. I also loved her characters in this story. Anne moves to Savannah looking to re-start her life after some bad decisions that continued to haunt her in her old home.  She finds her new identity as a tour guide telling pirate stories especially, and dresses like one, too. Yet even in a new place in a new costume, can she outrun her past and how it has defined her? Through a beach find, some historical research, and a cute guy, she finds more than she was looking for.

Sometimes we can get stuck living in the shame of the past, and it immobilizes us. We cannot enjoy the present nor look to the future. Both Anne and Carter must discover what can take them past where they are stuck. Grace becomes a real and attainable gift and changes both their futures. If you like pirates, romance, history, some mystery, and a hope-filled story, this is for you. It has so much to offer; you won’t want to miss it.

The Brides of Big Valley Review

Review of The Brides of Big Valley

The Brides of Big Valley is a set of 3 novellas written by Wanda Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter. Each story relates to each other, but has unique characteristics in that each is set in a different distinct Amish community within Big Valley. Each story ends with a bonus recipe, too. They are all romances, each with a different twist. If you like Amish fiction, this won’t disappoint you. You will learn about different groups of Amish and you will see how those differences impact the people. The stories are stories of faith, family, and love. They are truly enjoyable.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”

Review of The Express Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

The Express Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

The Pony Express has always fascinated me, and this book has that, as well as a young woman running the station! It would have been an unusual situation, but it worked. She has taken over after her dad dies. He leaves behind a mystery as to her identity that she must figure out. The story also includes intrigue and romance. Faith is woven throughout the story, and we see God’s redemption as it changes the characters. I enjoyed this story in The Daughters of the Mayflower series. I definitely recommend it, especially to lovers of historical fiction, but to anyone who likes a good story.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”

Review of The God Dare by Kate Battistelli

Review of The God Dare by Kate Battistelli

This book is very readable, but took me longer to read it than usual. I needed to savor it, ponder it, and feel it deeply. It challenged me to think about what God wants from me. Battistelli uses personal stories and Biblical stories to make her points. She encourages you to think through the Scriptures and restates her bullet points, as well as giving discussion questions. This would be an excellent study to do with a group. I enjoyed it for my personal study and would recommend it for either way. If you want to dig deeper and see how God wants to use you, get this book!

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.”

Review of The Noble Guardian

The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep

The Noble Guardian continues the saga in Regency England. You may recognize some of her characters from her other Bow Street Runners books, yet it can stand alone as you get into the story. This story is filled with action, adventure, and intrigue. Add to that some romance, compassion for a sweet little girl, and plenty of drama. The story will captivate you and keep you reading. It’s a tale of a journey with surprises, scares, and an ending that is different from what was intended for all of them. I learned more about this time period because of the details, but it was the story and characters that kept you coming back for more!