Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne

 

Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne

 

Summary:

Ruth Defies Authority to Hold on to her Family Farm
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
 
Ruth Helmuth has never been rude in her life; trust her to choose the bishop of her Amish community for her first time!

Ruth has worked hard to keep body and soul together since her husband, Levi’s, death. She tends her herd of goats, making her living from the milk and fiber she gets from them, all while running a farm and household by herself—and very competently, thank you! How could she imagine the bishop suggesting she should give it all up to another family, who will “make better use of the space”?

Enter widower Jonas Hershberger, owner of a pair of adorable dimples and father of a charming 4-year-old daughter. Jonas is in need of a larger place to house his growing business. Ruth’s big red barn may be just the ticket. Little Abigail is in need of a new mother. Ruth might be just the ticket there, too!

Can two independent souls learn to work together for their mutual good? And will they be willing to explore what grows between them?  Or will Ruth’s fear over her “big secret” and Jonas’s caution about allowing someone new to get close to his young daughter, kill their love before it has a chance to grow?

Luckily for both of them, God’s plan involves the stubborn pair getting a little help in the form of a wise, elderly friend; a quirky orange kitten; and a smart little girl who takes one look at Ruth and decides she would make her the perfect new mother!

 

Review: 5-Star

This is one of those page-turners which you can’t put down so you read from cover to cover in one sitting.  The flow, the editing along with the character development is spot on. I don’t know what else to say.  The characters felt real, and the way the emotions were captured was brilliantly done as I could feel each emotion and they were spot-on.  I will most definitely read other books written by this Author and I’ll let all my friends who enjoy this type of book know that this is a must-read.

 

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review

Double Take by Lynette Eason

 

Double Take by Lynette Eason

 

Summary:

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he's rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it's not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

 

Review: 5=Star

Wow, just Wow… I read this story in one sitting I couldn’t put the book down didn’t want to miss a thing. My Kindle powered down and I looked at the clock it was way past the time for me to be able to go get more feed for my horses and I had to feed horses in the dark, but I put my Kindle on the charger and came back inside to finish the book about 1 am. I’ve struggled to find faith-based thrillers. Most are missing that spark that keeps you reading, but this one from the very first page to the last page kept me reading. The flow was perfect and the character development was spot on.  They felt so real and the writer put me right there I could picture everything in my head.  I look forward to reading more from this author just found myself another author to follow.

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review

Miracles at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

 

Miracles at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

 

Summary:

Returning to the fan-favorite world of Promise Lodge, the small-town Missouri setting for her beloved Amish inspirational romance novels, Charlotte Hubbard charms readers with a Mother’s Day themed tale perfect for fans of Shelley Shepard Gray and Beth Wiseman!

A season of change has blessed the Amish of Missouri’s Promise Lodge, as mothers-to-be anticipate the arrival of their little miracles and one young man’s life is about to take an unexpected turn as he sheds his bad boy reputation and embraces the value of faith and hard work.

Long-time residents of Promise Lodge welcome a wave of newcomers that includes a pretty potter who’s come to help an expectant couple, and a hard-working dairy expert ready to manage the herds on the expanding Burkholder farm. Then there’s Isaac Chupp, the handsome, charming son of a notoriously unyielding Bishop from nearby Coldstream. Isaac has recklessly rebelled against his dat, and his bad boy reputation precedes him. Now he seeks a fresh start, applying for work at Dale Kraybill’s bulk store.

Proving himself reliable while Dale takes off for his wedding trip is Isaac’s bold first step. But more miraculous awakenings may come as he settles into the warm new light of the faithful community. And while Promise Lodge celebrates an abundance of newborns as summer turns to fall, Isaac discovers a kindred soul who has her own share of challenges. In helping her, he just may find his true purpose in loving selflessly, building up, and giving back . . .

 

Review- 3-Star

I struggled to read this book not because it’s poorly written, but I couldn’t connect with the storyline or the characters. I would read a few pages maybe a chapter at a time. It didn’t hold me like most books do. I could easily put it down and do other stuff.  The editing was spot on and that’s the only reason it’s getting a 3-star review.

 

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review

Her Secret Hope

 

Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray

 

 

Summary:

Almost two years after Lilly Kurtz first traveled to Pinecraft, Florida, with friends, she's decided to make a fresh start there. She's ready to be new-and-improved Lilly, a Lilly without a past, a Lilly with no secrets. At first, everything goes well. She gets a job, her coworkers feel like family, and she enjoys reconnecting with her friends. But it turns out the past is reluctant to be left behind.

When Lilly meets hardworking farmer Eddie Byler, she can't get him off of her mind. But then she discovers that Eddie actually lives just a few miles from her hometown in Ohio. Lilly knows that he's not going to like it when he finds out what secrets she's been running from. And she knows she could never follow the man she's falling in love with back to a place where she's never felt accepted.

Will Lilly have to give up on love in order to find peace? Or could it be that love is actually the solution to all of her problems?

 

Review: 3-Star

I enjoyed the story but didn’t love it.  The book was easy to put down and do other stuff and then pick back up read a chapter or two and then go do other stuff. I had trouble connecting with both the storyline and the characters.  I know part of the problem was I couldn’t picture the setting of the book in either place.

Happily Ever After on Huckleberry Hill

 

Happily Ever After on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand

 

 

Summary:

The endearingly irrepressible matchmaking grandparents Anna and Felty Helmuth have helped generations of their Wisconsin community find love over the course of USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Beckstrand’s beloved Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series – including fifteen happily wed grandchildren and counting!

But this time, things get tricky when twin sisters become entangled in a love triangle with the same man. All three will need to draw on their deep faith - and the advice of Anna and Felty - to find their happily ever afters.

Sensible and cautious, Naomi Coblenz lives to help everyone else be happy—particularly when it comes to her twin sister, Ruth. So Omi certainly can’t admit she’s always loved handsome Bo Helmuth, since he and Ruth have begun courting. To look out for her sometimes-thoughtless sister, Omi even poses as Ruth on a ride home alone with Bo. But it doesn’t take Bo long to see the truth—and really notice Omi for the first surprising, hopelessly-wonderful time . . . 

Bo thought he was in love with the vivacious Ruth. But he can’t stop thinking about Omi’s kindness and understanding, especially since she refuses to hurt her sister. And he can’t figure out a way to tell Ruth they aren’t really suited for each other. His only hope is that his ever-resourceful Dawdi and Mammi can help faith guide the way—and at last claim a happy ending for all.

 

Review 4-Star

This was a new author to me and to me the story started a little slow, which made the book was easy to put down, but by the 4^th chapter of the book it turns into one of those page-turners that you can’t put down until you finish reading. I will definitely be checking out the rest of this series and any other book by this author. The editing in this book was spot on, which make a book more enjoyable, the over all flow of the story was hit and miss as I said it took me a few days to read the book cause it was so easy to read a chapter and put it down until I got to the 4^th where the story to me came alive and I sat and read and finished it early the following morning without stopping. 

 

 

The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele

 

 

The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele

 

Summary:

Barbara Breaks from Amish Tradition to Express Her Artistry
 
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
 
Barbara Schwartz was born into a family of quilters, but she would rather eat dirt than partake in another quilting frolic or sew on another binding. When her parents send her to Indiana to help her grandmother in her quilting shop, she finds herself amongst a very different community. It’s only one summer and then she will be back in Kentucky where she belongs.

Melvin Bontrager’s world stopped six years ago when his parents died. Now when his only means of providing for his widowed sister and niece is threatened, Melvin finds his landscaping business disappearing too. When spring delivers a newcomer who is immune to his salty moods, Melvin does something he has never done before, accepts help. 

What blooms is the last thing Barbara ever expected, and everything Melvin could ever want. 

 

Review: 4-Star

I have always been a fan of authors who tackle the Amish communities as the heart of a love story.  I’ve never heard of Mindy Steele before, but the storyline sounded intriguing, so I gave it a whirl and I’m so glad I did. It’s a page-turner and one you don’t want to put down until you finish even if that’s 2 am. Mindy paints a pretty picture and you can see what she wrote about in your mind, she also really captured the emotions which is something not all authors do well.  The reason I didn’t give this book a 5-star rating is that there were just a few editorial errors and I hate editorial errors. They were small and spaced far between, but still there. These were sentences that you had to read a few times and still, they didn’t quite make sense in my mind, but I decided to leave it and go on with the story, which I truly loved. I look forward to reading more of Mindy’s stories in the future.

I received this book for my honest review by NetGalley

Second-Chance Horses

 

Second-Chance Horses by Callie Smith Grant

 

Summary:

From miniature donkeys to enormous draft horses, from regal Arabian stallions to sassy Shetland ponies, horses and other equines bring us delight and comfort whenever we encounter them. Even more so, perhaps, when humans and horses are brought together through a rescue. Whether someone has started a rescue ranch on purpose or circumstances align to match up the right horse with the right person, stories of second chances warm our hearts and restore our hope.

This emotional and inspiring collection of true stories introduces you to a pony who helps a little girl get over her fear of riding, a donkey who discovers his purpose protecting vulnerable lambs, blind horses who teach their human about courage, and even a pony who somehow figures out how to drive a golf cart. By turns humorous and heartwarming, these delightful tales are the perfect companion for those times you long to slow down, take a load off, and enjoy the ride.

 

Review: 5-Star

This book really touched my heart.  You see I rescued my first horse a PMU Foal in the Spring of 04 before he was even born and got him home as a weanling in Oct of 04. That same year I bought a mare and her 15-month-old colt whose name is Chance and is my soul-horse. I’ve then started being a QT(Quarantine) Hub for horses coming off the kill lots I currently have 3 mares from the kill lots that are mine, and I just recently gave a 4^th away to a friend cause the mare took to her. I know how sometimes it seems they’ve rescued us not us rescuing them. Each of these stories touched and made me remember why I used to be a QT Hub sadly I had to give it up because I lost my husband and now live on a fixed income that doesn’t allow me the freedom I once had. If I had the funds, I’d gladly get back into it.  I’ve seen so many wonderful horses come out of the kill lots,

The Book of Love By Kelly Link

 

The Book of Love by Kelly Link

 

Summary:

In the long-awaited debut novel from bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, three teenagers become pawns in a supernatural power struggle.

“A dizzying dream ride you will never forget.”—Leigh Bardugo
“An astonishing, gorgeous novel.”—Holly Black
“An incredible achievement.”—Cassandra Clare

The Book of Love showcases Kelly Link at the height of her powers, channeling potent magic and attuned to all varieties of love—from friendship to romance to abiding family ties—with her trademark compassion, wit, and literary derring-do. Readers will find joy (and a little terror) and an affirmation that love goes on, even when we cannot.

Late one night, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves beneath the fluorescent lights of a high school classroom, almost a year after disappearing from their hometown, the small seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts, having long been presumed dead. Which, in fact, they are.

With them in the room is their previously unremarkable high school music teacher, who seems to know something about their disappearance—and what has brought them back again. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the three agree to the terms of the bargain their music teacher proposes. They will be given a series of magical tasks; while they undertake them, they may return to their families and friends, but they can tell no one where they’ve been. In the end, there will be winners and there will be losers.

But their resurrection has attracted the notice of other supernatural figures, all with their own agendas. As Laura, Daniel, and Mo grapple with the pieces of the lives they left behind, and Laura’s sister, Susannah, attempts to reconcile what she remembers with what she fears, these mysterious others begin to arrive, engulfing their community in danger and chaos, and it becomes imperative that the teens solve the mystery of their deaths to avert a looming disaster.

Welcome to Kelly Link’s incomparable Lovesend, where you’ll encounter love and loss, laughter and dread, magic and karaoke, and some really good pizza.

 

Review: 4-star

To be honest if I could give it a 3.5-star that is what it would have received. The storyline is very intriguing, but at times the it was dry and I struggled to finish the book.  I feel this was more me than the story itself. And here’s the reason why I feel it’s between that 3.5 and 4-star.  The Charters all come alive and you feel them as real people not just a person in a fictional story. The flow of the story is flawless, the editing is top notched as I didn’t find an errors. You can feel all the emotions and these are what I look for in a good book. Will I read another book from Miss Link Yes. 

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

 

The Heirloom by Beverly Lewis

 

The Heirloom by Beverly Lewis

 

Summary:

This heartwarming prequel to The Shunning is a tender story of love, belonging, and the courage to move forward.

After her widowed father remarries, nineteen-year-old Clara Bender is no longer needed to help run his household. Marriage seems like her best hope of moving out, but there are few young men in her tiny Indiana Amish community. When she comes across letters from her mother's aunt Ella Mae Zook, she sets off to visit Lancaster County's Hickory Hollow to decide where her future lies.

Ella Mae is not quite ready to move from the farmhouse where she and her recently deceased husband spent over fifty happy years, but her children are eager to resettle her, making Clara's visit seem like an answer to prayer. The two women form a warm bond while restoring an heirloom wedding quilt and sharing their lives, with Ella Mae confiding about a tragedy from her courting years. Eventually, Ella Mae suggests Clara stay for the summer, allowing Ella Mae more time with her and giving Clara an opportunity to meet the area's eligible young men. But when the unexpected happens, will Clara find where her heart truly belongs?

 

Review: 5-Star

First, I want to say I didn’t not read the summary before requesting to review this book.  Miss Beverly is one of those Authors I’ve never seen a bad book come from so I requested it solely off her name. This book is one of those books you start reading and can’t put down until you finish it. And I mean once I started it, I couldn’t put it down and read it from front cover to the end all in one sitting and yes, the sun was raising when I was just finishing up the book and went and got a few hours of sleep.  As always with Miss Beverrly’s books the story line grabs you and you are sucked into the Amish world.  The Characters feel so real they could be your next-door neighbor, or the person who lives down the street. The flow of the story line is flawless. The way you can feel each emotion and picture the scenes in your head makes it like watching a movie or tv show.  As I said before I didn’t read the summary so I didn’t know this was a prequal, but part way through the book you can tell that it is and it just warms your heart even more. 

Thank you, Miss Beverly, for always taking us a on journey worth our time and money.

I received this book for free for my Honest Review from NetGalley

  

The Passing Hour

 

The Passing Hour by Leslie Gould

 

Summary:

After the death of her parents, Mennonite Brenna Zimmerman relocates to the Lancaster County farm of her Old Order Amish grandparents. There, she befriends Rylan Sanders, a disabled veteran, and commits to rising above her own grief to help him as much as she can. But when things take a turn for the worse, Brenna finds herself at a loss for what to do.

As Brenna struggles, her Mennonite friend Johann Mazur, a soldier in the Ukrainian Army, encourages her to distance herself from Rylan. But when she discovers that Rylan's army buddies are withholding secrets that could help with his psychological healing, Brenna is torn between her feelings for Johann and her commitment to help Rylan.

Inspired by the story of her distant relative who served with the Red Cross and supervised German POWs during World War II, Brenna considers her own future and must decide whether she has the courage to give up the comforts she craves for the life she truly wants.

 

Review 3-Star

The story in whole is very well written.  The charters are all well developed and feel real.  The editing is spot on. Now this is why only the 3-star review lack of research on how the VA works along with how the Reserves work. As veteran who first served as a reservist then active duty, I understand how both works. In this day an age it’s so easy to find the information or find someone who is willing to give you that insight. First when you join the reserves you have twelve months to complete basic training and yes you can go to reserves meetings before you go to basic training and then your job training but you don’t get paid and you can’t use the GI-Bill as that don’t become activated until you’ve been in for a full year that’s after basic and your job training and you aren’t eligible for deployment until you’ve completed both your basic and job training. Now for the VA.  I’ve never heard of a case worker.  When you start the process to be seen at the VA you are signed to a medical team and all questions go through that team, or if they can’t answer the question, they will refer you to what ever part of the VA they think will have the answers you are looking for.  Please take the time to do the research.

 

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

 

 

Dragon Rider by Taren Matharu

 

 

Summary:

Can an orphan captive learn the secrets of the Dragon Riders to stand up and avenge his people?

Jai lives as a royal hostage in the Sabine Court—ever since his father Rohan, leader of the Steppefolk, led a failed rebellion and was executed by the very emperor Jai now serves.

When the emperor’s son and heir is betrothed to Princess Erica of the neighboring Dansk Kingdom, she brings with her a dowry: dragons. Endemic to the northern nation, these powerful beasts come in several forms, but mystery surrounds them. Only Dansk royalty know the secret to soulbonding with these dangerous beasts to draw on their power and strength. This marriage—and the alliance that forms—will change that forever.

But conspirators lurk in the shadows, and soon the Sabine Court is in chaos. With his life in danger, Jai uses the opportunity to escape with the Dansk handmaiden, Frida, and a stolen hatchling. Hunted at every turn, he must learn to cultivate magic and become a soulbound warrior if he has any chance of finding safety, seizing his destiny…and seeking his revenge.

 

Review: 3-Star

 

This book was just alright.  I struggled to get into the storyline and could put the book down for days without even thinking about it. The only positive thing I can say is that it’s well edited.

 

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review

 

Hunting the Truth

 

Hunting the Truth by Kathleen Donnelly

 

 

Summary:

“Hide, Maya. Don’t let the bad people find you.”

Those are the last words Forest Service law enforcement officer and K-9 handler Maya Thompson ever heard her mother say.

Returning to the Colorado mountains, ex-soldier Maya is no longer a scared little girl. She’s here to investigate her mother’s cold case, but fear creeps in when it comes to her personal life—things are getting serious with sheriff deputy Josh Colten.

After new DNA evidence surfaces, both her beloved grandfather and Josh warn her away from the case, suspecting that she could be the next victim. But Maya doesn’t listen.

Instead, Maya and her K-9 partner, Juniper, track a suspect deep into the forest and directly into grave danger…

 

Review: 5-Star

Over the passed few years most of the mysteries I’ve read we not up to par, with what I expect out of a good mystery, and this was the best by far.  I don’t’ give many 5-star reviews because most books seem to have editorial problems or something wrong within the story line.  Kathleen captured me from the very first page and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it. Stayed up until the sun was raising the following morning. One of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I know need to go back and ready Chasing Justice. I just found a new Author to look forward to her books coming out. I honestly can’t say enough about the book except it’s a true page turner and once you start reading you don’t want to quit.

 

I got this book for free from NetGalley for my honest review.

 

 

 

 

 

Frontier Overland Company

 

Frontier Overland Company by Willam W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone

 

 

Summary:

From the bestselling masters of Old West fiction comes a bold new saga of the American frontier.

Set amid the sprawling plains and majestic mountains of Wyoming Territory, this is the epic story of a legendary stagecoach line—and the brave men who built it, drove it, and risked their lives to keep it running . . .

Founded in 1866, The Frontier Overland Company was no ordinary stagecoach operation. To begin with, its founding partners met in a Wyoming saloon brawl. After a raucous burst of punching, cursing, and chair smashing, the last two men standing become friends for life. Two kindred souls with the same fighting spirit, Tucker Cobb and former Texas Ranger Butch Keeling agreed to launch a business together: a brand-new stagecoach line through the wilds of Wyoming . . .

They called it the Frontier Overland Company. And a legend was born.

Cobb and Keeling knew it wouldn’t be easy. The nation was still healing from the War Between the States. Red Cloud’s War—an armed alliance of Lakota, Northern Cheyennes, and Northern Apaho against the United States—was heating up fast. And wealthy railroad magnates were itching to lay track for their western expansion to the Pacific. But it was one ruthless businessman—King Charles Hagen—who posed the biggest danger of all. He saw Cobb and Keeling’s fledging company as a direct threat to his growing shipping empire. And, unfortunately for them, he decided to squash their little stagecoach business while they’re escorting a young woman to see her dying father, an army colonel, at a Wyoming fort. To make things worse, Red Cloud’s on the warpath—making Wyoming Territory is about to become hell on earth.

This is the thrilling story of The Frontier Overland Company. This is how dreams are made. How legends are born. And how two fearless men staked their claim in America. The rest is history.

 

Review:  3-STAR

I wish I could have given this story a better rating, but sadly I could not. This story is riddled with poor editing.  There is trouble with the timeline of events, missing words or use of the wrong word as well as mix-up in names. If these errors were not present, I surely would have given it a 5 star, as the storyline is wonderfully written, and the characters are well-developed and life-like.  I halfway expect poor editing from people who self-publish, but not from a publishing company that’s been around since the 70’s. It starts out with little errors and as the story progresses they come closer together, like the end of the story was rushed through the editing process.

 

I received this book for free from NetGalley for my honest review

 

The Baby Left Behind by Jen Craven

Summary:

Take him. Please forgive me. Cate grips the note with trembling hands, looking down at the delicate bundle on her doorstep. As she reaches down to the baby, she knows she has finally got everything she’s ever wished for. But is he hers to take?

Cate tries not to cry as she closes the door on the nursery room once again. All she has ever wanted is to be a mother. Cursed with a medical condition that means she is unable to have children, her only option is to wait for a call from the adoption centre. But that call feels like a lifetime away.

Then she hears a faint cry from outside her house. She’s convinced she’s imagining it, that the grief is starting to overwhelm her. But when she opens her door and looks down, her heart swells. By her feet is the most perfect baby curled up in a soft blanket.

As the newborn’s eyes light up, Cate feels instant love for him. She knows she can’t just accept a stranger’s baby – she has to call the police. But as she picks him up, it all finally feels right. This is where the baby belongs.

But when her darling baby is rushed into hospital, Cate knows that in order to save his life, she needs to expose the lie she has been so desperate to hide. Can Cate discover who the child’s real mother is? And if so, will she be able to make the hardest decision of her life to protect the child?

Review: Wow, I don’t give out many 5-star ratings but this book sure earned it. The story grabbed me from the very first page and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.  One of the most page-turning books I’ve had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. The editing was spot on I didn’t find any grammatical errors or paragraphs which read funny. The flow was flawless. The characters are very well-developed and very life-like. With the book starts out with Cate your heart goes out to her and you can see where she’s coming from and why she did what she did, but then your heart goes out to Jade and what she’s dealt with. So, like the Judge; you can’t just look at facts you have to look at laws and I’m so glad I’m not a judge as I’m not sure even the Law would have helped me decide what to do. But I feel the story had the best ending as someone who has seen what drugs can do to a person's life and that a baby can be their saving grace I was rooting for Jade, but I also was rooting for Cate.  The only thing I can say is that I wish that the sentence where Jade told the EMTs that she had PCOS it would have told me what it was cause I had to stop reading and go look it up as I’ve never heard of it before.

I received this book for free from NetGally for my honest review.