"The Captive Bride" by Michelle Griep - a French and Indian War adventure

Daughter of a Mohawk leader and a captive, Mercy Lytton straddles multiple worlds as she takes on the role of a scout. She is hired with a group of men to transport a shipment of stolen gold to the British, posing as a settler's wife. The only man available to send with as her husband is a condemned traitor--offered a stay of execution if he can succeed in this mission. Elias Dubois is grateful for the reprieve, but he has a mission of his own that isn't completely in line with with the rest of his companions. Of course, this is all dependent on them not being killed on the way by the French, enemy tribes, or thieves. And as they get a glimpse into each other's characters, Mercy and Elias find themselves in a different kind of danger--a danger to their hearts.

I really enjoy stories set in the French and Indian War, and this one is no exception. There's lots of action and adventure and a marvelous sense of the untamed wilderness. Twists and turns abound, with a number of fun surprises. Honor and dishonor are not relegated to specific sides in the war.

I really liked Elias--he's my kind of hero. He's woods-savvy and deadly, yet he is always a gentleman, even in the wilderness. He treats Mercy with both honor and respect, and always like a lady, even though she is more at home scouting the trail than in a town. He's stealthy, sweet, smart, and faith-filled. I loved it every time the author revealed another of his surprising skills, backstory, and personality. It took me longer to warm up to Mercy, a very strong woman, but stubbornly anti-feminine to begin with. But she softens as the story continues, and it eventually reveals the reason for her attitude, which also helped me like her more.

This is my favorite book I've read by the author so far, and it just bumped up into first place for the Daughters of the Mayflower series (which are by a number of different authors). It is most enjoyable.

Thank you Barbour and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Daughters of the Mayflower
1. The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
2. The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo
3. The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep
4. The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
5. The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear
6. The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall

The Darkwater Saga by Patrick W Carr

I had considered the reviewing each book of the trilogy separately, but the reality is they could be one near-1500 page volume, so close do the books follow on each other and so intricately are they entwined. There's hardly any repeat of information from the previous books (which I, reading them all in the course of a week, appreciated, but I feel for anyone who had to wait a year to complete the series).

Willet Dura, an investigator in the king's service, suffers from the aftereffects of war, one of the more peculiar traits being a subconscious knowledge of when a murder has occurred in the city. His investigations lead him from mysterious murders to secrets sects and an evil from the Darkwater that could spell the end of humanity.

This is one intricately-plotted story. Nothing is wasted; everything is important enough to come back again, no matter how inconsequential it seems at the beginning. The world-building is incredibly intricate, with complex politics not only amongst monarchs and their courts, but also within the church (and their relations to said monarchs), and even those politics vary by region, as they would in real life. From one kingdom to the next, cultures change, traditions differ, accents appear. There was a ton of thought put into building this world.

The characters, no matter how young or old, wise or foolish, all have their flaws, and all are given ample opportunity to grow. It's discouraging at times how long it takes the members of the Vigil to trust Willet, but in spite of his frustration and anger, he doesn't give in to pettiness, but learns profound grace, as they themselves also learn. I liked how the author created Willet; there is no doubt he's a good guy, but he is much darker than the typical hero, and he stands out all the more for it.

As allegory goes, it isn't nearly as heavy-handed as CS Lewis. There are many parallels with the bible--Lucifer's fall, the triune God, gifts of the Spirit; there are also many parallels with today's church, in both its truth and brokenness, that can convict from this fantasy world as easily as straight up admonitions from ours. There are powerful examples of grace and redemption, especially in the final volume. The author does an incredible job of pointing to truth while remaining true to the spirit of his story.

While I enjoyed the earlier volumes of the story, the final is truly the masterpiece. I can't see any way it could have more fittingly concluded the story. It's bittersweet, as the best heroic tales are (such as Lord of the Rings), and the world can never be as it once was, but maybe--in time, when healing has run its course and some of the horror has washed away--it can be better, and they'll be better prepared when evil raises its head again.

A 5-star series.

The Darkwater Saga
0.5: "By Divine Rite" (prequel novella, highly recommended for a deeper understanding of the world and Willet Dura)
1. The Shock of Night
2. The Shattered Vigil
3. The Wounded Shadow

Susan May Warren's "Storm Front"

When a tornado hits a small town in Minnesota, a number of track students go missing, as well as PEAK Rescue leader Chet King. Ty Remington, along with the rest of the PEAK team, come out to search for him. What Ty isn't expecting is to run straight into photographer Brette Arnold--the woman who stole his heart two years ago. Can they find the missing before the next storm hits?

Ty is definitely my favorite of the PEAK guys--he's wounded and sometimes down on himself, but he's not prone to idiotic decisions. He's genuine. Incredibly sweet. Never gives up hope. And he has a protective streak (or maybe a hero complex) that has him stepping in time and time again to rescue whoever needs help. He is undeniably the best.

Having seen people going through breast cancer, I had no trouble picturing the emaciated, short-haired Brette we see in this book. Given all that she has been through, I can understand how she has utterly lost hope and cares so little for her survival. But that's why Ty is such a great match for her--he refuses to let go of hope, loves her where she's at.

It was fun having this book take place in Minnesota (being the best state, of course). As I've come to expect from this series, the adventure was intense--nature is forceful and capricious enough almost to be its own character. This might be my favorite of the series thus far.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Montana Rescue
1. Wild Montana Skies
2. Rescue Me
3. A Matter of Trust
4. Troubled Waters

5. Storm Front
6. Wait For Me (November 2018)

"How to be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living" by the Babylon Bee

With a biting, satirical style reminiscent of The Onion, How to Be a Perfect Christian takes a humorous look at the quirks of cultural Christianity while subtly challenging the reader to search for more than a cultural faith.

If you read A Modest Proposal in high school English and came out believing that Jonathan Swift was advocating the eating of babies to alleviate the Irish potato famine, then you probably shouldn't read this book. Because like A Modest Proposal, How to be a Perfect Christian is a very pointed satire, and none of the advice in it should be taken literally.

If you are looking for a book that gives practical advice on how to improve your walk with Christ, then this probably isn't the book for you. Does it include truth? Yes. The gospel? Yes. But this is first and foremost a satire: it's pointing out traps we fall into as we strive to be the perfect Christians, rather than obtaining perfection through the Holy Spirit and Christ. And it's doing it in a way that sounds like it's advocating one thing, but in truth it's advocating something quite different.

Conclusion: If you don't get satire, don't read this book.

That said, this is an incredibly funny book for Christians who appreciate satire and sarcastic humor (and know when not to take the written word at face value). It makes fun of all the nit-picky little things we do that don't actually have a bearing on our salvation, as well as things that we sometimes elevate to greater importance than, say, the gospel, salvation, and glorifying God.

There were a few moments when the satire felt uncomfortably pointed and hit closer to the home than was fun, but that's basically the point of satire: to point out the follies of a system in order to redirect it to what it should be. And this book certainly does that.

Thank you, WaterBrook Multnomah, for the complimentary book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Rachel Dylan's "Lone Witness"

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson is the lone witness to a gang-related double-homicide. Though threats against her are escalating, Sophie is more concerned with prosecuting her latest case--an embezzlement case that might be more than it seems.  Private security guard Cooper Knight comes along side to protect her, but as the danger increases, will he be able to keep her safe?

It was interesting seeing yet again different aspects of the justice system; the first book in the series was an eye-opener for me, and this one managed to cover significantly different ground. I really enjoyed the legal aspects of the story--both Sophie's prosecution case and her trial as a witness. I have to say, both cases went in directions I did not anticipate, and that makes it all the more enjoyable for me, though I'd have loved to see more of Sophie in her role as a prosecutor. I also had fun trying to determine if/how the two cases would intertwine (not an uncommon occurrence in a suspense novel).

I thought the Ashley-Patrick dynamic was an interesting one--and more dynamic, actually than the romance between Sophie and Cooper--even though this secondary couple's relationship isn't a romantic one (though I would lay even odds it could go that way). I'd had high hopes for both Cooper and Sophie after the first book, so it was a little disappointing to realize I'd have enjoyed the story just as much or more if there had been no romance at all.

However, it is a solid legal suspense. It would make a great courtroom drama for TV.

Thank you Bethany House for the complimentary book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Atlanta Justice
1. Deadly Proof
2. Lone Witness
3. Breach of Trust

"The Accidental Guardian" by Mary Connealy - High Sierra Sweethearts, book 1

Trace Riley has lived on his own in the High Sierras since his wagon train was attacked when he was fifteen. As the unofficial guardian of the trail, it riles his temper to come across another burned-out wagon train. But this time there's a surprise: a pair of grown sisters and the two children they were watching who managed to survive. Deborah Harkness hadn't been able to save anyone else when she crept back to the wagon train, but she got a good look at one bandit's face. As the lone witness to murder, she's in danger if the bandits ever find out. But Trace is willing to lay down his life to keep her (and her sister and their wards) safe.

When battling stress and busyness, sometimes it's nice to relax with an entertaining romantic comedy with cowboys.

As has been the same with I'm pretty sure every Mary Connealy book I've read (and at this point there are a great many of them), I spent a delightful afternoon devouring the story. I enjoyed the new setting--I don't think I've ever read a book set in Nevada before--and the historical tidbits that made their way into the story (like mention of the Donner Party). Maybe it isn't as funny as some of her books, but the adventure is there, and the voice is unquestionably the author's own.

I enjoyed that it's pretty easy to see where the series will go from here; it ramps up my anticipation level knowing who the characters are and some notion of the conflict to come. But on the other hand, because it ramps up my anticipation level, it's frustrating to know I have to wait until fall for the next book to come out.

Thank you Bethany House for the free book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

High Sierra Sweethearts
1. The Accidental Guardian
2. The Reluctant Warrior
3. The Unexpected Champion

Denise Hunter's "Honeysuckle Dreams"

In the wake of his ex-wife's death, Brady Collins discovers that his 9-month-old son may not be his, and the child's grandparents want to take custody. When his lawyer mistakes his best friend Hope Daniels for his fiancee and mentions that an impending marriage could sway the judge in his favor, he asks Hope to be his fiancee to help him keep his son. After consideration, Hope  agrees, even if it means possibly putting aside her dream job to help her friend in need. Of course, an engagement is no guarantee they'll win the case, nor a guarantee their hearts will be safe.

The author put serious thought into this book to keep the story believable, especially between two Christians of this day and age. I really appreciated the thought Brady and Hope put into getting married before they make the final decision; they act like intelligent adults!* And they're upfront and honest right away with the people who'd catch them out. What really makes it for me is that they go into it with the expectation that it will be for life, regardless of whether Brady actually wins the custody case or not. It isn't some grand deception that they're trying to pull over the judge; they are fully committing to a marriage. Which includes premarital counseling! Not just with some pastor they barely know, but a friend.

This is all not to say that things don't go wrong, but I feel a lot better about it when it isn't because they didn't use their heads to start start with.

Even in fiction, child custody cases are not for the faint of heart. I was reminded of a custody case a friend of mine was a witness for, and it was hard for me to read about the trial, simply because I had heard so much about the real-life case. But it is a well-written and emotional story.


*If you're going to do something that you worry might be incredibly stupid, you should at least do it with forethought and intelligence. This will impress the people you're trying to convince (including yourself), and you just might get away with it. Unless you live in fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Blue Ridge Romance
1. Blue Ridge Sunrise
2. Honeysuckle Dreams
3. On Magnolia Lane (Nov 2018)