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.