Twilight at Blueberry Barrens... a book review

by: Colleen Coble
Series: Sunset Cove #3

Thomas Nelson Publisher

ISBN: 9781401690304
Available September 20, 2016: print, e-book, audiobook

Fiction / Christian / Mystery / Romance

Publisher's Description:

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family's blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she's forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living. Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won't be enough.

When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it's almost too good to be true. And maybe it is because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens invites you back to Folly Shoals - a small town nestled on the shore of northeast Maine.  We are able to renew our "literary friendships with Claire, Kate, Luke and many others.  As Kate and her sister Claire are looking for the Puffin's nesting ground on the cliffs of Folly Shoals, Kate notices not one, but two lifeless bodies higher on the cliffs.  Who can they be? What happened? 

Since taking charge of his brother's two daughters, Drake believes he is being followed.  When his home is broken into, he decides to investigate the murders on his own.  After the sheriff determined the cause of his brother and sister-in-law's deaths as a murder/suicide, Drake arrives in Folly Shoals to spur the investigation of his half-brother and sister-in-law as murder, not a murder/suicide. 

Colleen Coble has once again created a story so real and intriguing that I read it in one sitting! Not only do you have the murder to solve, but two other "odd" happenings in Folly Shoals.  As the story lines intertwine and the attraction between Kate and Drake heats up, the pages cannot be read fast enough!

My rating:   A       4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary digital copy of Twilight at Blueberry Barrens from Thomas Nelson Publisher and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

Unlucky in Love... a book review

Unlucky in Love

by Maggie McGinnis

ISBN: 9781101967775

Series: Whisper Creek #4

Available: October 11, 2016

Publisher: Loveswept

Sold by: Random House

Genre: Romance

Publisher's Description:

After Alexis Maguire's wedding day comes and goes without a groom, she decides that it's time for a change. Tired of being the dependable, steady—and apparently boring—one, Alexis hopes that a cross-country road trip will help her loosen up and find her inner sparkle. Her first stop is the Whisper Creek Ranch, where the hot wranglers are sure to bring out her inner party girl. The trouble is, she can't stand pretending to be someone she's not—especially around the cowboy who tempts her to stay put.

Gunnar Peterson has spent six months working at Whisper Creek, and he's never been happier. Having grown up an army brat, he's ready to put down roots, and the only thing missing is a woman to share his life with. When Alexis blows into town, Gunnar thinks he may have met his match, despite the wild-child facade he sees right through. But Alexis swears she won't settle down anytime soon—so it's up to Gunnar to convince her that what she's looking for . . . is right here.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

From the first book Accidental Cowgirl, I enjoyed meeting the "ranch hands" and their way with the ranch's guests.  Each book invited me back to a place of family, warmth, and charm - a step back in time to overflowing hospitality.  Unlucky in Love is no different.  I was able to meet up with old "literary" friends and meet a few new ones along the way. 

This book focuses on Alexis and her determination to live life fully and to the brink.  What she learns along the way is a lesson to which many of us can relate!  Throw in a hot, down-to-earth cowboy, and the sparks are surely going to fly!

My rating:  A     /    4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary digital copy of Unlucky in Love from NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my honest review.

Happy reading,

     Ellen

Defender by Diana Palmer ... a book review

Defender

Series: Long, Tall Texans

ISBN-13: 978-0373789733
Publisher: HQN Books

Available: June 28, 2016

Publisher's Description:

The man who shattered her trust is back to protect her… New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer delivers a breathtaking story of second-chance love.

When Paul Fiore disappeared from Isabel Grayling's life, he told himself it was for all the right reasons. She was young and innocent, and he was her millionaire father's lowly employee.

Three years on, Paul is the FBI agent assigned to Isabel's case. Too late, he realizes what life in her Texas mansion was really like back then—and how much damage he did when he left.
Once love-struck and sheltered, Isabel has become an assistant district attorney committed to serving the law, no matter how risky it gets. But right now, the man she can't forgive is the one thing standing between her and a deadly stalker. She knows Paul won't hesitate to protect her life with his own. But if she can't trust herself to resist him, how can she trust him not to break her heart all over again?

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Oh my... once I began this book, I did not want to put it down!  Unfortunately, I did have to go to work and cook and clean..... my apologies, I digress!

Isabel and Merrie appear to have it all... a wealthy family, a doting father, personal bodyguards, and a loving housekeeper, Mandy Swilling.  As the story develops, we are drawn into the tension between Paul and Isabel, the girls and their father, and too many unanswered questions regarding the father and his business dealings.

As I neared the end of the book, I was enjoying how Diana Palmer was tying up all the different story lines.  Then, when I went to turn the page to the next chapter, I realized I was at the end of the book!  Since this ended with a cliffhanger, I look forward to the next book and continuing the story of Isabel, Merrie, Paul, and Mandy!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Defender from HQN Books and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy reading,

   Ellen

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard... a book review

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

by Susan Meissner

Penguin Random House LLC

January 5, 2016

ISBN 9780451475992

Women’s Fiction / Historical Fiction

Publisher’s Description:

“In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship.

Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind ends up in Christine McAllister's vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie...

Los Angeles, 1938. Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey's zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood's glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman's deepest desires collide. What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future.”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I love reading Susan Meissner’s novels!  Her style of writing draws the reader into the lives of the characters as they share their story.  I find myself cheering them on in good times and walking alongside them in bad times.  I found myself relating to both the main female characters: Audrey and her desire to fulfill her dream, and Violet wanting a good man and family.  Each woman overcomes many obstacles on their way to happiness.

I enjoyed the storyline setting during the filming of Gone With the Wind.  I am not up on the history of the making of the film, but Susan Meissner seamlessly weaved the girls’ story in and around the set, filming, and the “behind the scenes” work.  I easily pictured the secretary pool and the trolley rides to and from work.

So, grab a copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard and get lost in glamorous times past!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Stars Over Sunset Boulevard for my honest review from Penguin Random House LLC and NetGalley.

Happy reading,

     Ellen

Eve... a book review

ISBN: 978-1-5011-0142-7

Available: September 2015

Publisher: Howard Books: An Imprint of Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Eve by Wm. Paul Young takes an elaborate look at Creation and God’s unending love, grace, and mercy.  Woven into a story of one girl’s search for meaning in her broken life, we find ourselves seeing a new side of God and His all-consuming desire of reconciliation with us.  It did take a while for me not to focus on the characters titles: Collector, Guardian, Healer, Mender, Scholars, and Engineer just to name a few, but to focus on their jobs and accomplishments.  As I neared the end of the story, I saw truths in my own life which were mirrored in the novel, Eve.  This will be a story which will be revisited often – in book and in thought. 

A few of the many nuggets gleaned from this story:

“Prayer is mostly about talking to God – about life and people and what is before us and who matters to us in that moment” (p. 101).  ~ Gerald

“… trust is about relationship, not power.  When two dance, each is always respectfully attuned to the other.  There is a timing of relationship, and that is Ruach’s (the Holy Spirit) playground” (page 257).  ~  God / Adonai

I received a free copy of Eve from NetGalley and Howard Books for my honest review.

Happy Reading!

      Ellen

The Lost Codex... a book review

The Lost Codex

An OPSIG Team Black Novel

By Alan Jacobson

Available: November 3, 2015

Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

Mystery / Thriller / Suspense/ Spies and Politics

ISBN-13: 978-1504003636

 

Publisher’s Description:

In a novel Jeffery Deaver has called “brilliant,” two ancient biblical documents reveal long-buried secrets that could change the world as we know it.

n 930 CE, a revered group of scholars pen the first sanctioned Bible, planting the seed from which other major religions will grow. But in 1953, half the manuscript goes missing while being transported from Syria. Around the same time, in the foothills of the Dead Sea, an ancient scroll is discovered—and promptly stolen. Six decades later, both parchments stand at the heart of a geopolitical battle between foreign governments and radical extremists, threatening the lives of millions. With the American homeland under siege, the president turns to a team of uniquely trained covert operatives including FBI profiler Karen Vail, Special Forces veteran Hector DeSantos, and FBI terrorism expert Aaron Uziel. Their mission: Find the stolen documents and capture—or kill—those responsible for unleashing a coordinated and unprecedented attack on US soil.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I first met Karen Vail in Alan Jacobson’s novel Spectrum, published in 2014.  She works as an FBI profiler; and in this new book, she has teamed up with other FBI agents known as OPSIG operators (Operations support Intelligence Group) to carry out covert, deniable missions around the world.

This novel begins in Washington, DC and travels the globe in search of two ancient Biblical documents which could change the world.  It is fast-paced with many twists and turns along the way.  Once I was hooked on the prologue, I did not want to put it down! 

Fantastic, action packed novel with well-developed characters… live life on the edge with FBI profiler Karen Vail, Special Forces veteran Hector DeSantos, FBI terrorism expert Aaron Uziel, and many more!  I look forward to many more great books from Alan Jacobson.

I received this e-book from Open Road Media and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

         Ellen

Lorie's Heart... a book review

Lorie's Heart

By Amy Lillard

Kensington Publishing

Wells Landing Series

ISBN: 978-1-4201-3457-5

Amish Christian fiction / Mystery

Publisher’s Description

Welcome back to Wells Landing, Oklahoma, the tranquil Amish community where still waters run deep and a brave young woman sets out to discover her faith, her family, and herself…

Lorie Kauffman is grief-stricken when her father passes away unexpectedly. But her heartache quickly turns to bewilderment when she discovers he'd been leading two lives—one of simplicity and hard work in Wells Landing, and one fraught with painful ordeals in Tulsa. As she starts digging into her family's past, Lorie finds herself torn between the Amish world and the Englisch world—and she's no longer certain where she belongs…

Lorie knows that if she leaves Wells Landing, she may never be able to return. But what if her destiny lies in the outside world—the world her father knew so well? Change is never easy, but with a bit of courage and the help of a handsome and kind-hearted Englischer, she just may find the peace, acceptance, and love she's been longing for…

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

As I turned the last page of this wonderful book, I knew I was going to miss these characters - new found friends.  I rode the emotional "roller coaster" along with Lorie as she began unraveling her father's past.   Lorie not only has to grieve in the Amish way, but she also feels compelled to learn of her father’s life away from the community.  Will her desire to know the truth about her father draw her closer to the Amish community or the Englischer world?  Amy Lillard brought these characters to life in believable situations and real-life problems.  I look forward to reading the other books in this series: Caroline's Secret and Courting Emily.

Happy Reading!

     Ellen

Awake... a book review

Awake

by Natasha Preston

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Teens & YA, Mystery, Thriller

Available: August 4, 2015

ISBN 9781492618522

Publisher's Description:
Scarlett doesn’t remember anything before the age of five. Her parents say it’s from the trauma of seeing her house burn down, and she accepts the life they’ve created for her without question—until a car accident causes Scarlett to start remembering pieces of an unfamiliar past.

When a new guy moves into town, Scarlett feels an instant spark. But Noah knows the truth of Scarlett’s past, and he’s determined to shield her from it...because Scarlett grew up in a cult called Eternal Light, controlled by her biological parents.

And they want her back.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

At first, I did not know what to expect from this book.  I usually do not enjoy books in which the chapters are written from each character's point of view.  Yet, this technique did not leave me scratching my head or wondering what is going on. 

The idea of have no memories of the first four year of your life does not seem strange.  I do not have clear memories from my early years.  But when peculiar flash backs begin occurring after the car accident, Scarlett pushes her parents to reveal the truth of her early years.

Natasha Preston has penned  "a coming of age" story with a twist - boy meets girl with frightening, repressed memories.  This book has it all... suspense, mystery, and a bit of romance!  The storyline had me hooked from page one and did not end until I finished the last page!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Awake from NetGalley.com and Sourcebooks Fire for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

Once Upon a Cowboy... a book review

Once Upon a Cowboy

A Whisper Creek Novel, #3

by Maggie McGinnis

Random House Publishing Group

Available: June 30, 2015

ISBN: 9781101884966

Contemporary Romance

Publisher's Description:

 
Yoga instructor Jessalyn Alcott radiates peace, calm, and serenity—on the outside. Inside, she still feels like the broken, desperate girl from the trailer park. She's got dark secrets she can't share, which is why she never lets her relationships go beyond the third date. But when she travels to the Whisper Creek dude ranch for a friend's wedding, Jess is enchanted by a cowboy whose deep blue eyes, dimpled smile, and rock-hard body make it tough to remember why she keeps running scared.

Cole Driscoll has struggled to find his place on a family ranch where he's always played second fiddle. His future might be uncertain, but he's sure of one thing: He wants Jess by his side. Easier said than done. When it comes to getting close, she's full of excuses, and he longs to fix the hurt he sees in her eyes. Now that she's at Whisper Creek, there's nothing he wants more than to break down the walls around her heart and heal her pain with the power of love.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *

Maggie McGinnis has outdone herself in Once Upon a Cowboy.  In this third book of the Whisper Creek series, we come alongside Jess, the last of the three college friends who are slowly marrying off to Whisper Creek men.  We meet all three in Accidental Cowgirl; but Jess' story in Once Upon a Cowboy brings home what many women survive: abuse from the ones who should be protecting them. 

Maggie has penned a heart-felt story of how the past not only affects your past, but also your present and future.  As Jess' story unfolds, she realizes she must face her demons from the past if she is ever going to move forward.  Unfortunately, I could relate to the emotions Jess was reliving.  I laughed with my character "friends," felt my heartbreak as Jess' story slowly unfolded, and cheered her on as she began trusting others.

Thank you, Maggie McGinnis, for bring these characters to life in your Whisper Creek series!

I received a complimentary e-copy of Once Upon a Cowboy from Random House Publishing and NetGalley for my honest review.

Happy reading,

     Ellen

Inside the O'Briens... a book review

An amazing and heart-rending read....

an insider's look showing how to live well, and die honorably, with Huntington's Disease.

by Lisa Genova

Publisher: Gallery Books

Available April 2015

ISBN 9781476717777

Medical Fiction

Publisher's Description:


Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s Disease.


Huntington’s is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment and no cure. Each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting their father’s disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic fate. While watching her potential future in her father’s escalating symptoms, twenty-one-year-old daughter Katie struggles with the questions this test imposes on her young adult life. Does she want to know? What if she’s gene positive? Can she live with the constant anxiety of not knowing?


As Joe’s symptoms worsen and he’s eventually stripped of his badge and more, Joe struggles to maintain hope and a sense of purpose, while Katie and her siblings must find the courage to either live a life “at risk” or learn their fate.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Never having read any of Lisa Genova's previous books, I was totally unprepared for the open and honest portrayal of a family living with Huntington's Disease... the ups, the downs, the anger, the fear.  We have been given a gift to not only learn about the disease itself, but also the challenges and unknowns for families living with this horrendous diagnosis.


Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bate College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.  With her training in the neurosciences and her wonderful storytelling, she has crafted a story with characters who could very well be our neighbors.  We are given an "insider's" look into the devastating physical and emotional challenges of families living with Huntington's Disease.


I look forward to reading Still Alice about a Harvard professor who suffers early onset Alzheimer's Disease.  Then, just maybe, I will see the motion picture created from the book.


I received a complimentary e-copy of Inside the O'Briens from NetGalley and Gallery Books for my honest review.


Happy reading,


    Ellen

The Amish Clockmaker... a book review

Which is more important - seeing your own family is taken care of or

helping another family who experienced personal tragedy in the past?

The Men of Lancaster Series, book 3

ISBN: 9780736957380

Available: February 2015

As Matthew Zook begins to expand his family’s Amish tack and feed store, he soon realized he does not own the one small plot of land he needs to make the expansion possible.  He quickly learns that the management building a resort next to his property has been trying to locate the previous owner to buy the land for their use.

To settle the dispute of the rightful owner of the land, Matthew must seek out Clayton Raber, the former owner of the store and land.  Yet, there is a dark cloud following Clayton.  His wife died under mysterious circumstances decades earlier and he was the arrested for her murder.  Although all charges were dropped, his family and church felt he was guilty.

Clayton left his church and family and was never seen again.  Now, Matthew must locate Clayton and try to convince him to sign the land over to him and not the resort.  With few leads to follow and Clayton’s family refusing to help, will Matthew locate Clayton before the resort does?

My rating:

A

4.5 out of 5 stars

I always enjoy reading about the Amish and their simple ways of living – add a mystery that spans decades, and you have a winner!  This story weaves in numerous subplots apart from locating the previous owner.  As Matthew begins his search, the readers get a wonderful glimpse into the lives of the Amish – their love of family and their strong faith in God.  I found myself cheering (silently, of course) Matthew on and felt the emotions of learning of one character’s battle with an often misunderstood mental illness. 

As much as I enjoyed the second book in the series, The Amish Blacksmith, I felt a deeper connection with the characters and storylines in The Amish Clockmaker.  Kudos to both Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner for a wonderful, insightful novel.   I look forward to reading the first book in The Men of Lancaster County Series: The Amish Groom.

I received a complimentary digital copy of The Amish Clockmaker from Harvest House Publishers and NetGalley for my honest review.


Happy Reading,


     Ellen

The Last Sicarius... a book review

The Last Sicarius

by Van R Mayhall Jr.

iUniverse LLC, Bloomington Indiana

ISBN-13: 9781491721087

Genre: Christian / Mystery / Thriller

Are the Gospels of Judas and possibly a diary of Jesus' earthly ministry worth dying for? 

Will they prove the Christian faith or destroy it forever?

Biblical intrigue

Theological thriller

Mystery

Suspense

Good versus evil

After surviving the Kolektor's rage and murderous plot against her and those she cares about, Chloe Lejeune returns to Louisiana to continue translating the ancient manuscripts of Jesus' earthly ministry found in the oil jars.  Yet, when a Vatican official turns up to have lunch with her, she soon realizes the mystery behind the ancient jars and evil is not finished.  Along with her son, Pope Francis "charges Chloe to find the cache of jars and keep them away from their adversaries" - the rightful heir of the Kolektor's organization.

Once again, Chloe works with Vatican officials and her son J.E following biblical clues to locate the Cave of Jars before the Kolektor's heir does.  As each clue brings them closer to the jars, it also brings the evil heir-apparent one step closer.  Who will find the cave first?  Will there be any survivors to the last stand between good and evil?

Van R Mayhall Jr once again has drawn the reader into the biblical narrative and locations.  With each twist and turn, you want to cheer on Chloe and her band of scholars and military Vatican guards.  Yet, the evil heir stays on their heels, or, even one step ahead.

I enjoyed The Last Sicarius as much as the first book, Judas the Apostle.  Unfortunately, the beginning of The Last Sicarius did not flow as smoothly as I had hoped.  In his attempt to make this book a "stand alone" in the series, Van R Mayhall Jr adds background information on the characters and basic plot from the first book into the beginning chapters of this one.  This strategy took away from the opening scenes of the new book.  I believe an introductory chapter summarizing Judas the Apostle would have achieved a smoother transition between the two books; thus, allowing the second book, The Last Sicarius, to stand alone.

My rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

A

Please note: I received a complimentary digital copy of The Last Sicarius from NetGalley.com and iUniverse Publishing for my honest review.

Happy reading!

     Ellen

Judas the Apostle.... a book review

Judas the Apostle

by Van R Mayhall Jr.

Published: September 2013

iUniverse LLC, Bloomington Indiana

ISBN 9781491703328

Judas the Apostle gives The DaVinci Code a run for its money!

Could the ancient manuscripts give a first-hand account of Jesus' earthly ministry?

Biblical intrigue

Theological thriller

Mystery

Suspense

Good versus evil

After the death of her father, Chloe returns to her childhood home in Louisiana to learn his death was far from a home invasion gone badly.  When she is given a hand-written letter from her father during the reading of his will, she embarks on a mystery of biblical proportions.

The mysterious jar and its contents bring both a future and a possible ending to any who come in contact with it. Will the ancient text prove beyond a shadow of doubt the ministry and mission of the Catholic Church?  Or, as the evil nemesis desires, disproves the basis of the Catholic religion once and for all. 

Immerse yourself with Chloe as she and other scholars try to unravel the mysterious Gospel of Judas before their time runs out!

My rating: 6 out of 5 stars, A++

I loved the way Van R Mayhall Jr intertwined biblical archeology, the study of ancient languages, and a riveting plot to make this a must read.  I was hooked from page one with the story ending much too quickly.  Good news - - - - - The next book in the series, The Last Sicarius,  was published on February 6, 2014. 

So, do you know who the Sicarii are?

Happy Reading!

     Ellen

Please note: I received a complementary digital copy of Judas the Apostle for my honest review from NetGalley.com and iUniverse Publisher for my honest review.

Captured.... a book review

ISBN: 9781497692510

Available: January 27, 2015

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

When I read the description of the book, I was intrigued by the premise -

You are diagnosed with a brain tumor and only have 6 weeks to live.  How would you choose to spend your last hours, days, weeks?

Before I began the book, I mused how I would spend the remainder of my time here on earth.  I would choose to spend my time with family and close friends.  I cannot change my past, but I can speak life and love to those around me.

In Captured by Neil Cross, Kenny Drummond is informed by the doctors that he has six weeks to live.  As he processes the news, he makes a list of people he either wants to thank for helping him in the past or those he wishes to ask forgiveness from for past misdeeds.

What begins as a positive use of his remaining time turns into a downward spiral into all that is evil when he begins searching for a childhood friend, Callie. In all the different directions the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his childhood friend could take, this one had never crossed my mind.

Although I did not fully enjoy the storyline, Neil Cross' skill with the pen shines through.  His skill with the written word draws the reader into the story and allows them to feel the emotions as Kenny lives out his last days.  Add in some unexpected plot lines and you have an intriguing storyline.

My ratings:

2 out of 4 stars for my enjoyment

3.5 out of 4 stars for Neil’s writing style

I received a complimentary e-copy of Captured by Neil Cross from NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for my honest review.

Blessings,

    Ellen

Love Unexpected... a book review

by Jody Hedlund

Available: December 2014

Beacons of Hope Series, #1

Baker Publishing

ISBN: 9780764212376

Publisher’s Description:

All Emma Chambers ever wanted was a home, but when her steamboat sinks just outside Presque Isle, Michigan, she’s left destitute and with no place to stay.

Then a traveling preacher comes up with a solution that will help both Emma and another: marriage to the local lighthouse keeper. He’s just lost his wife and needs help caring for his child. After a hasty wedding, she finds herself heading to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger and his toddler.

Emma soon suspects Patrick may be hiding something from her, and then she hears a disturbing rumor about the circumstances surrounding his late wife’s death. It seems as if her wish for a home and family of her own could end up leading her once more into turbulent waters.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I enjoyed the Beacons of Hope series prequel Outof the Storm which introduces the reader to the lives of the lighthouse keepers stationed on Michigan’s Great Lakes in the mid-1800s.  Love Unexpected picks up in June 1859 with Patrick Garraty maintaining the Presque Isle Lighthouse.  Jody Hedlund continues to show the reader the hardships of living and maintaining a remote lighthouse.  How does a single father keep up the rigors required of a keeper and raise an energetic, strong-willed toddler at the same time?

Jody reminds the reader that we all have baggage from the past – some stays in the past while others resurface.  She has woven a story of God’s grace and forgiveness around the story of Patrick and Emma; one that we can learn from.  God does forgive us when we ask, but we also need to seek the forgiveness of those we love.

Although this book is not listed as historical fiction, Jody Hedlund based this series around real people and their stories.  She did weave in fiction to enhance the storyline.  All in all, this is a great read!

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars       A+

I received a complimentary e-copy of Love Unexpected from Baker Publishing and NetGalley for my honest review.

Blessings,

     Ellen

A Light in the Darkness... a book review

A Light in the Darkness

By Jane Kirkpatrick

ISBN: 9780800722319

Historical Fiction / Christian

Publish Date: September 2, 2014

Revell Publishing

Publisher’s Description –

Letitia holds nothing more dear than the papers that prove she is no longer a slave. They may not cause white folks to treat her like a human being, but at least they show she is free. She trusts in those words she cannot read--as she is beginning to trust in Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant cattleman who wants her to come west with him.

Nancy Hawkins is loathe to leave her settled life for the treacherous journey by wagon train, but she is so deeply in love with her husband that she knows she will follow him anywhere--even when the trek exacts a terrible cost.

Betsy is a Kalapuya Indian, the last remnant of a once proud tribe in the Willamette Valley in Oregon territory. She spends her time trying to impart the wisdom and ways of her people to her grandson. But she will soon have another person to care for.

As season turns to season, suspicion turns to friendship, and fear turns to courage, three spirited women will discover what it means to be truly free in a land that makes promises it cannot fulfill. This multilayered story from bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick will grip readers' hearts and minds as they travel with Letitia on the dusty and dangerous Oregon Trail into the boundless American West.

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Historical Fiction is a genre that weaves a story within a particular time and place.  As a home educator, my children read historical fiction to gain a better understanding of the life and times of different cultures and eras.

A Light in the Darkness is a wonderful story of the hardships of a freed slave, Leticia, in the states (Kentucky and Missouri) and in the unknown Oregon Territory.  History books give a one-sided view - facts only.  YET, Jane Kirkpatrick weaves this story from the perspective of a freed woman who is not seen as a full person anywhere.  We meet Leticia in 1842 when she received her freedom papers and follow her life through 1856 and beyond.

The book is slow to grab your attention; but as the reader gains a fuller understanding of Leticia’s situation, you are pulled into the story and begin speculating how her life story ends.  I enjoyed learning more details about how women, especially freed slaves, were treated not only during the long trail ride but also after they reached a supposed “free” territory. 

Jane Kirkpatrick shares her research and information at the end of the book.  She put great thought and research into her writing to portray Leticia’s life as truthfully as possible.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars      A-

I receive a complimentary e-copy of A Light in the Darkness from Revell Publishing and NetGalley for my honest review.

Blessings,

     Ellen 

Spectrum... a book review

Spectrum

by Alan Jacobson

The Karen Vail Series #6

ISBN: 9781497641938

Available: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Open Road Media

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Publisher's Description:

New York City: home to world-renowned museums, theater, restaurants, iconic sports franchises. Central Park. Wall Street. And an infamous serial killer who’s terrorized the Big Apple for decades.

The year is 1995 and the NYPD has just graduated a promising new patrol officer named Karen Vail. The rookie’s first day on the job is anything but easy when she finds herself at the crime scene of a young woman murdered in an unusual manner. Vail is unsure of what she’s looking at or what it means—but it’s a case that will weigh on her mind for nearly twenty years.

As the years pass, Vail’s career takes unexpected twists and turns—as does the case that’s come to be known as Hades. Now a skilled FBI profiler, will Vail be in a better position to catch the killer? Or will Hades prove to be Karen Vail’s hell on earth?

The character who has captivated readers worldwide—and who won the praise of literary giants Michael Connelly, James Patterson, and Nelson DeMille—returns in a story that captures the experiences that shaped the revered profiler and made her the top cop she is today.

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This is the first Karen Vail Series that I have read.  I was not disappointed!  Since the storyline followed her law enforcement career from rookie cop to FBI profiler, I did not feel lost at all.  Having never lived in NYC, Alan Jacobson has written this book so realistically that I feel as though I am a local New Yorker.  His research into not only the setting and characters, but also the crimes and police work shine through in this terrific novel.

The multiple storylines, which at first seem odd, are woven together so well.  I can't say enough about this book.  I will be reading the first 5 books in the Karen Vail series very soon!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A+ all the way!

I received a complimentary e-copy of Spectrum from NetGalley and Open Road Media Publisher for my honest review.

Blessings,

    Ellen