Jaime Jo Wright's "Echoes Among the Stones"

Mystery begins to follow Aggie Dunkirk when she exhumes the past's secrets and uncovers a crime her eccentric grandmother has been obsessing over. Decades earlier, after discovering her sister's body in the attic, Imogene Flannigan is determined to find justice. Two women, separated by time, vow to find answers . . . no matter the cost.

Something about the story reminded me of the WWII film Mrs. Miniver . . . the era, of course, though this story takes place a year after WWII ended rather than during it (and in Wisconsin, not England). But there's also the unexpected and devastating death of not the soldier, but rather one on the home front who should be safe.

There's a strong theme about grief, and no hard and fast answers. But though there is no cure offered for getting over the death of a loved one, the author does offer hope for joy, even alongside sorrow.

Wright (as always) does a perfect job balancing the two timelines and keeping each one as enthralling as the other. It helps that they're pretty intimately intertwined, with the past timeline physically affecting the present timeline.

If you like the movies Casablanca and Mrs. Miniver, with their bittersweet endings, I'd encourage you to give this book a try. It might be a generations-old murder mystery rather than straight drama, but the 1946 timeline would have fit well with those films, and the present timeline completes it. Highly recommended!

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

"The Dating Charade" by Melissa Ferguson

Cassie Everson, after three years of terrible first dates, is ready to give up on marriage--and children--altogether. But when firefighter Jett Bentley reaches out, having remembered her from high school, she gives in to one more try at dating. No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

This is a story worthy of a comedy film. It's filled with all sorts of shenanigans and misunderstandings, with some pretty funny scenes first in Cassie's dating life, and then when both Cassie and Jett become guardians of three children each. It put me in mind of the hilarious but heart-warming movie Mom's Night Out (if you've seen it and enjoyed it, read this book!).

As fun as the story was, there was a lot of depth to the story too. Foster care is a big part of the story, and the author doesn't gloss over how challenging it can be--be it with toddlers or teens. And it isn't just the challenge for the adult doing the fostering, it's things that I wouldn't have thought of, like kids who eat sparingly and hoard leftovers for fear of going without, siblings not handling separation well at everyday functions (like church), or a bone-deep fear of abandonment that would push them to be the first to leave rather than be the one left behind. This is fiction, so it may still be prettier than what many foster families experience, but it was also eye-opening for me, who has no experience at all.

If you like books by Bethany Turner, Becky Wade, or Melissa Tagg, be sure to check this one out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Related novels:

The Cul-de-Sac War

Elizabeth Camden's "Christmas at Whitefriars" - an Empire State novella

Mary Beckwith lives in a magnificent English castle during the twilight years of the gilded age. With the help of an American millionaire, she has succeeded in renovating her beloved Whitefriars castle into a splendid estate just in time for Christmas. Everett Wooten has spent a fortune propping up Whitefriars to add modern conveniences and rebuild crumbling old walls. Even though he’s never met Mary, they have enjoyed a lively business correspondence over the nine years they have been working toward a renovation. Now he has finally come to see Mary and the castle in person, but nothing is as he was led to believe. Can a Manhattan business tycoon and an English lady come to an accord, or will their joint venture in Whitefriars result in heartbreak for them both?

Something about the name Whitefriars had seemed familiar, but it wasn't until I started reading the story that I realized the novella was connected to the Empire State books. At last! We find out what is happening to Colin's sister in their moldering old castle in England, and how she has felt to be essentially abandoned in their ancestral home.

It's impressive how the characters shine, even in so short a story. Both Mary and Everett are complex--she loves people but cannot leave her reclusive home, and he's uncomfortable with people, yet he lives in one of the world's busiest cities. It was fun to discover Everett's hidden depths (and quirks), and to see Mary's heart for all her quirky (and next to useless) tenants. It was lovely to have a brief glimpse into the continued lives of Colin and Lucy, and Nick and Rosalind.

Empire State
1. A Dangerous Legacy
2. A Daring Venture
3. A Desperate Hope
3.5 "Christmas at Whitefriars"

"A Pursuit of Home" by Kristi Ann Hunter - Haven Manor, book 3

Jess has spent most of her life in hiding and on the move in an effort to leave the past behind her, finding a haven--if not outright a home--at Haven Manor. But when it turns out family she thought long dead might be alive and in danger, her secrets can only stay buried for so long. Desperation brings her to Derek Thornbury, the world's most annoying expert in history and art, to help her decipher the clues in an old family diary. Will their search to uncover the truth of the past lead to a future together?

Finally we find out the backstory of the mysterious Jess! My guesses regarding her history were woefully shy of the reality. With Jess's ties to the Duke of Marshington, I was not surprised when he and other characters from A Noble Masquerade made appearances. I will admit, Ryland, when not the hero of the story, can be exasperating. But it was fun to finally tie the Hawthorne House and Haven Manor series together, and to find out how Jess moved from one to the other.

It amused me highly that Jess, the highly efficient master of disguise and rather blood-thirsty former spy, is forced to work with the one person in this world who annoys her more than any other. And that Derek, so oblivious to the world and so obsessed with art, is able to catch her out when she's up to her tricks. It's pretty sweet justice. Of course, once they quit fighting so much, they balance each other beautifully and form a great partnership.

I really like how the romance played out. Enemies to lovers is a pretty popular trope, but the author keeps it believable with a slow change of opinions, a gradual softening toward one another, working toward friendship and then attraction (none of that getting-into-a-fight-that-ends-in-passionate-kissing nonsense). Come to think of it, I'm not sure they ever did kiss on page. But it was a delightfully satisfying conclusion regardless.

Haven Manor
0.5: "A Search for Refuge" (free prequel e-novella)
1. A Defense of Honor
2. A Return of Devotion

3. A Pursuit of Home (November 2019)

3.5: "Legacy of Love" (published in The Christmas Heirloom novella collection)

Related Series (takes place chronologically before Haven Manor):
Hawthorne House
0.5 "A Lady of Esteem" - a free novella introduction to the Hawthornes and friends!
1. A Noble Masquerade
2. An Elegant Facade
3. An Uncommon Courtship

4. An Inconvenient Beauty

Related Series (takes place chronologically after Haven Manor):
Hearts on the Heath
1. Vying for the Viscount
2. Winning the Gentleman

"The Bridge to Belle Island" by Julie Klassen

When one of the senior partners in their London firm is found murdered, Attorney Benjamin Booker is sent to a remote island in the Thames to investigate the dead man's wards. Though evidence suggests spinster Isabelle Wilder had a role in the murder, her crippling anxiety about leaving the island-such that she claims to have not crossed the bridge in over a decade--is a puzzling contradiction. As numerous individuals with ample reason to see the man dead convene on the island, Benjamin and Isabelle will have to decide whom they can trust.

This is unquestionably a murder mystery, complete with all the trappings: red herrings, lies, sketchy alibis, and an abundance of suspects and motives, but set firmly in Regency era England. The mystery is definitely what drives the plot, and I didn't feel it had the emotional depth and impact of some of the author's other novels, but the constant spiritual thread about anxiety and placing one's trust in God was certainly timely for me!

While I preferred Klassen's Gothic stories (The Tutor's Daughter, The Secret of Pembrooke Park) to this one, it was an enjoyable foray into the classic mystery genre. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, you won't be disappointed!

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

Splickety: Buckle Up

Writing flash fiction is a challenge (700 words makes for a mighty short story), but it's a lot of fun too. The September 2016 issue of Splickety was a contest issue, and I had the honor of submitting the winning story!

Transportation is so much more than how to get somewhere. It’s about speed, danger, near-misses, and thrilling journeys. Our Buckle Up issue packs it all, from elephants to gondolas, rollercoasters to buggies.

The winning story, “The Dewey Road” by Rachael Koppendrayer, is sure to transport you to another time in a way you’ve never experienced. Add a feature piece by Kristy Cambron and it’s an issue on the road to epic.

For those who aren't familiar with Splickety, it is a flash fiction magazine (also available digitally), full of short stories 1,000 words long or less. Each issue is on a specific theme, and stories can be submitted by anyone and are hand-picked by the editors. Unfortunately, as of December 2018, Splickety closed its doors, but Havok (formerly part of Splickety--the fantasy/sci-fi edition) emerged from Splickety's ashes in January 2019, with more opportunities for writing and publishing flash fiction. Check it out!

"Rondo Allegro" by Sherwood Smith - a classical-style story of the Napoleonic wars

Trading secrets for security, Anna Maria Ludovisi's dying father marries her to the British fleet's sacrificial lamb, Captain Henry Duncannon, known as the Perennial Bachelor. Mere minutes after the wedding, he sets sail. When French invasion threatens, Anna flees to Paris, where she becomes a professional singer in order to survive. Years later, Anna's opera company is traveling through Spain when events bring the long-missing Captain Duncannon and his forgotten wife back together again, as the English, Spanish, and French fleets converge for battle off the Cape of Trafalgar. For Henry Duncannon as well as Anna, everything changes: the demands of war, the obligation of family, the meaning of love, and the concept of home. Can they find a new life together?

One of my favorite books from my early teen years was Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel/Court Duel duology, and between that and her Wren books, it cemented her in my mind as a fantasy author. Thus it was a bit of a surprise to recently come across a historical romance for adults by said author.

She has absolutely captured the writing style of the classic authors a century and more ago--I would have expected someone of the generation of Baroness Orczy (The Scarlet Pimpernel) or Rafael Sabatini (Scaramouche and Captain Blood) to have authored this book. The story is told in third person omniscient, a point of view that I don't care for in modern literature, but it suits the time period and that classic writing style. Word choice, sentence construction, the use of foreign language without explaining every last phrase--it is all perfectly on point.

Another reviewer described this as more of a coming-of-age story than a romance, and that is a perfect description. There is romance (and clean romance at that), but it's far more the story of how Anna grows into a woman and, eventually, a true wife. Our hero has some growing to do as well, though he has already experienced much of the world by the time he is forced into marriage at the beginning of the novel. The book was longer than I expected, but I really enjoyed it for the detail that the author was able to capture.

And it isn't just drawing-room romance: there's a clear depiction of ever-changing post-terror France and her not-precisely-respectable musical scene. And it's the start of the Napoleonic wars, with naval battles and the threat of spies, and even some gore in the heat and wake of battle. There are clear contrasts and similarities between the countries Anna spends time in; it's interesting to see the ways Italy,  France, Spain, and England were the same and where they greatly differed.

Apparently this beloved fantasy author of my youth can still speak to adult me through her writing! Highly satisfactory.

Kara Isaac's "All Made Up"

Katriona McLeod loves her job as a professional makeup artist, but she has never been able to move past a broken heart. When the c-class reality show she is working has a number of contestants bow out because of illness, she and several other backstage employees get pulled in to fill in the numbers, with the expectation they will be voted off that night. But when it turns out the bachelor is Caleb Murphy, the man who broke her heart, and that he is desperate for an ally, she can't find it in her to say no. But Kat knows that even with what appears to be a second chance at love, there's a good chance her heart will be broken all over again.

If Kat McLeod hadn't been so intriguing during her appearances in the past three books by the author, I'm not sure I'd have read this book; reality shows, particularly dating shows, are really not my thing. At all. But it was Kat . . . And when it comes down to it, mega churches aren't in my realm of interest, yet Kara Isaac wrote a pretty spectacular book about one. And I have no desire to read about rowing or tabloid-related anything, yet Kara Isaac wrote a beautiful story involving both subjects. But I do like Lord of the Rings, so that's one out of four . . . So her track record is pretty incredible. It's a mark of a good author if she can take subjects of no interest--or even outright distaste--and create stories that are so intriguing, so emotionally investing, that I can't wait to finish them anyway. The characters, the romance, the emotional pull--everything is so well written.

I was pretty sure I knew what was wrong with Kat (besides her family issues), but I still cried to hear it spelled out. I don't want to go into spoilers, but it's a hard thing for a woman to live with. Very hard. And to think of the lost opportunities . . . No wonder she's a bit of a mess. But then, so are most of us, each in our own way.

Fun cameos from the other books, both an amusing and scary look inside reality TV, and real depth of character make for another great book!

Related novels:
Close to You
Can't Help Falling
Then There Was You

"Aiming for Love" by Mary Connealy - Brides of Hope Mountain, book 1

Growing up isolated in the mountains of Colorado with her two sisters, Josephine Nordegren has been fascinated by but has shied away from the outside world--one she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When Dave Warden, a rancher, shows up to their secret home with his wounded father, will Josephine and her sisters risk stepping into the world to help or remain separated but safe on Hope Mountain?

This was a fun concept for a story, with the girls growing up in such deep isolation. It was certainly entertaining that the girls grew up with some extremely skewed ideas, particularly their belief that a Danish copy of (presumably) Aesop's fables comprised the second book of the bible. But on the other hand, it was also a little more serious than I was anticipating, with how the curiosity and hunger for more human interaction in Jo warred with the fear of people in her older sister and caused genuine strife. They're a bit messed up, between the isolation and the fears their grandmother imputed on them.

The story ended rather abruptly--I wasn't expecting it to just be done (granted, I was reading on a kindle where it's much easier to lose track of how much is left than in a physical copy). But I guess I was expecting a bit more out of the climax too, which didn't help matters. There's definitely a lot that wasn't resolved, so I'm guessing that Mitch and Ilsa will be taking up the mantle in the next book. I'm really looking forward to seeing who will be capable of pulling Ursula from her hermitage.

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

Brides of Hope Mountain
1. Aiming for Love
2. Woman of Sunlight
3. Her Secret Song

"The Spice King" by Elizabeth Camden - Hope and Glory, book 1

Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building a successful global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Tasked with gaining access to the private Delacroix plant collection, Smithsonian botanist Annabelle Larkin unwittingly steps into a web of dangerous political intrigue and will be forced to choose between her heart and her loyalty to her country.

I have never known a better author than Elizabeth Camden for highlighting the nontraditional roles of historic women in the workplace, nor have I known an author better at dropping characters into the gray areas of morality and ethics that leads me to contemplate long after the book is done what I would have done in the characters' place.

I love botany (and utilizing many spices in my cooking), so I loved both Gray's and Annabelle's jobs in the botanical world. Aside from the malaria, I love the idea of traveling the world for the finest spices. I've probably commented on this for nearly every one of the author's books I've read, but it's so refreshing to see women upholding nontraditional roles--like Annabelle's job in the Smithsonian--without it being a book about women's lib. There's a lot of those those books out there, and good ones at that, but I really like that instead, these are about confident, competent women who have unquestionably earned their place already.

I writhed and squirmed for chapters after the generals confront Annabelle with their offer. It's hard to discuss without spoiling things, but it's one of those gray areas that felt wrong (especially how they want her to go about it), though I get why they ask her to. National security is something that our country takes seriously for a reason. If it had been about someone despicable, then I'd have cheered her on, but it wasn't. And maybe that says something about me, that I want to bend rules for people I like, while Annabelle staunchly stands by her beliefs, even when the results aren't what she ever wanted. I hope I'm never put in a position like hers!

Though the story is resolved, particularly in Gray and Annabelle's fight for food purity, I suspect there's still something fishy going on in DC, especially about the whole Luke situation . . . I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

Hope and Glory
1. The Spice King
2. A Gilded Lady
3. The Prince of Spies 

"The Lady and the Highwayman" by Sarah M Eden

Though headmistress of a girl's school and well-respected author of approved upper-class "silver-fork" novels, Elizabeth Black is also secretly one Mr. King, an author of penny dreadfuls--lower class serial novels that contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks. Fletcher Walker, formerly a street urchin, was one of the most successful authors in the Penny Dreadful market until Mr. King started taking his readers--and his profits. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the rights of the less fortunate. Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black, as she is well-known among the high-class writers and could potentially help identify Mr. King. Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to protect her secret identity, never envisioning it could lead to an adventure worthy of a penny dreadful.

This was delightful--whimsical and humorous, both proper and im-, clean and sweetly romantic.

The characters are clever and intelligent: there's a secret society that's actually good at being kept secret, and a writer under a pseudonym who's capable of protecting her true identity. Both Fletcher and Elizabeth are able to weed out more secrets from each other than anyone else is able to, but they're also clever enough to keep some of their secrets until a reveal of their choosing. They're well matched in both intelligence and kindness, with a heart for children and the under-served.

It isn't a fantasy, but the two penny dreadfuls (which have chapters interspersed throughout the book) both have a touch of the fantastic to them, heightening the fun of this fanciful story as they parallel the main plot.

If you're looking for a whimsical tale to brighten your day, look no further!

The Dread Penny Society

1. The Lady and the Highwayman 

2. The Gentleman and the Thief

3. The Merchant and the Rogue

"The Painted Castle" by Kristy Cambron -- Lost Castle, book 3

It was supposed to be a one-week job: survey an art find, collect a hefty fee, and use that to settle historian Kiera Foley’s life back into balance. But from the moment she sets foot in the East Suffolk countryside, the mysteries surrounding the old English manor and the enigmatic art thief who’s employed her stir more questions than answers. Then, Kiera finds the existence of a portrait captivating enough to upend all of her expectations. This one could be a twin—a painting so close in composition to a known masterpiece, it may be rendered priceless if it truly captured the likeness of a young Queen named Victoria. Set in three time periods—the rapid change of Victorian England, the tumultuous skies over England’s eastern shores in WWII, and modern day—The Painted Castle unfolds a legacy of faith, family, and stories that are generations in the making.

For the record--in case you misinterpret the book blurb like I did--Keira is not, in fact, working with a gang of thieves on any kind of heist. It's a legitimate job, being run by an alleged thief. Don't read with the expectation that they're all up to no good, or you'll suffer the confusion I did. It was just mysterious enough that I was able to misinterpret almost everything in the light of anticipated skulduggery, when in actuality, all was aboveboard, and Kiera is an inherently honest person who would never take a less than legal job.

Three storylines in three different time periods (present, 1940's, and 1840's), are woven together around the same English manor house and the same portrait hidden within. I didn't struggle to keep track of the different storylines, as each was fascinating in its own way, but, as  typically happens with multi-timeline books, I wish they all could have been developed more. They aren't actually dependent on each other, so I'd rather have read them as three stand-alone novels (particularly if they'd been expanded to full length) than mixed together as they are.

Amelia's story (1940's) ended up my favorite--it's the sweetest of the stories, the most hopeful, and the best contained within the limited page count. I think Elizabeth's (1840's) would have benefited most from expansion, given its rushed and more complex storyline, but I really loved the time period and subject matter--having seen the BBC Victoria television series, it was a lot of fun to experience this take on Queen Victoria's 'scandalous' portrait.

Winner of the 2020 Christy Award for Best Historical Romance.

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

Lost Castle1. The Lost Castle
2. Castle on the Rise
3. The Painted Castle

"The Griffon Heist" by James R Hannibal - Talia Inger, book 1

After a disastrous test, Talia Inger, rookie CIA agent, is sidelined to the Eastern European "Other" department, then sent to backwater Moldova for a short, simple mission to ensure the security of some revolutionary defense data. However, things start to go wrong when the facility is breached and Talia learns just who is after the designs. With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where only criminal minds and unlikely strategies will keep the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault, hovering in the mesosphere. Even Tyler is more than he seems, and Talia begins to wonder: Is he helping her? Or using her access to CIA resources to pull off an epic heist for his own dark purposes?

A cross between Mission Impossible and Ocean's Eleven (with a bit of Leverage thrown in), this book has all the intrigue of an international spy thriller combined with the scheming--and thieves--of a traditional heist. To me, the heist aspect makes all the difference, setting the book apart from so many other races to stop world destruction.

My initial impression of Tyler was womanizing slime, but I grew to respect him the more time we spent with him, even as I suspected some of his unshared history (and kept an open mind for a potential Sudden but Inevitable Betrayal--it's a spy story. You just can't trust anyone, even the people you love. Or hate.). Eddie's an adorable geek--I loved being able to follow his references to Star Wars, Star Trek, and other sci-fi/fantasy fandoms. The rest of the crew really grew on me too, questionable as they all are.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!

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.

Talia Inger
1. The Gryphon Heist
2. Chasing the White Lion

Jen Turano's "Diamond in the Rough" - American Heiresses, book 2

As part of a bargain with her grandmother, Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season, but society is unprepared for Poppy. Forced to travel to America to help his cousin find an heiress to wed, bachelor Reginald Blackburn is asked to give Poppy etiquette lessons, and he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.

Yet another entertaining novel from Jen Turano! It may not be my favorite of hers, but it was a delight to read, as expected.

There's a touch of My Fair Lady to this story, but Poppy is no Eliza Doolittle--she might be able to list off all the lessons she's supposed to be learning without issue, but take them to heart she does not. I think Reginald--for all his initial stuffiness and propriety--is the one who changes more over the course of the lessons, opening up to spontaneity and the joys of informality.

The secondary characters were spectacular in this book.  While other Jen Turano novels have precocious children and peculiar pets, this one has . . . Murray. Love interest? Nope. Relative? Nope. Dashing and brave brother-like friend? Well, yes, brother-like, and somewhat reluctant friend . . . At first I wondered who this guy was and what he was doing in the story, but he really grew on me. But then, I've known a lot more Murrays than Reginalds, and it was fun to see this one come into his own. Poppy's grandparents also proved much better than first impressions would have led me to expect. Looking forward to Beatrix's story!

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

American Heiresses
1. Flights of Fancy
2. Diamond in the Rough
3. Storing Up Trouble

"Yours Truly, Thomas" by Rachel Fordham - Azure Springs, book 2

For three years, Penny Ercanbeck has been opening other people's mail. Dead ends are a reality for clerks at the Dead Letter Office. When a letter from a brokenhearted man to his one true love falls into her hands, it becomes her mission to place this lost letter into the hands of its intended recipient. Thomas left his former life with no intention of ending up in Azure Springs, Iowa. All he wanted to do was run and never look back. In a moment of desperation, he began to write, never really expecting a reply. When Penny's undertaking leads her to the intriguing man who touched her soul with his words, everything grows more complicated. She wants to find the rightful owner of the letter and yet she finds herself caring--perhaps too much--for the one who wrote it.

Gentle and sweet, this prairie romance put me in mind of Janette Oke's novels. It's the kind that can renew one's faith in humanity--that though there is evil in the world, there is good too. Though there is hurt, there is also healing.

I loved learning about the Dead Letter Office in Washington DC and the clerks who did their best to get illegible and wrongly addressed letters to their intended recipients. Penny's fascination with letters was a good reminder of how encouraging and how potent the written word can be--deeply personal, yet written to be shared.

It's a sweet, enjoyable romance.

Azure Springs
1. The Hope of Azure Springs
2. Yours Truly, Thomas

"Finding Lady Enderly" by Joanna Davidson Politano

When a handsome stranger approaches Raina Bretton and offers her a chance for adventure, Raina can scarcely resist the lure. Rothburne Abbey has a unique position for her, one that will take her away from her hardscrabble life and give her a chance to be a lady--only dream for a rag woman. Though Raina has traded squalor for silk and satin, something about the abbey is deeply unsettling. As she wrestles with her true identity, the ruin, decay, and secrets she finds at the heart of the old mansion tear at her confidence and threaten to reveal her for who she really is.

I loved the mystery of Lady Enderly--finding out the true reasons that Raina needs to pretend to be her. I especially loved that it wasn't straightforward and easy to guess where the story was going. Raina is fairly street-smart, but she's also impulsive and a bit of dreamer, which gets her into this mess (and partly what keeps her from getting out). I enjoyed the little ways she finds to defy expectations, though, and the way she uses book quotes as secret communication with Sully.

Identity is without a doubt the theme of the story, focusing on the circumstances we let define us versus who we truly are--who God says we are. There's definitely an allegorical feel to the story, which seems a little heavy at times, but it certainly provides food for thought.

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

"The Killing Tide" by Dani Pettrey---Coastal Guardians, book 1

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. When investigative reporter--and Finn's boss's sister--Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she's back, the tug on Finn's heart is strong, but with the risks she's taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

This is one action-packed story! From bullets and knives to snakes and sharks to explosions and drownings, this book might just have it all. I enjoyed how the author wove together multiple cases within CGIS, as well as including the drug lord who's after Gabby. It could be a little confusing at times, but it all came together for a memorable climax. Looking back, there were clues to the identity of the Big Bad, but I never had a chance at guessing who it was (granted, I also drew a blank when the name was revealed, and it took until some more context was meted out to place precisely who it was).

Fictional investigative reporters tend to have a reputation for putting the story first, above relationships and common sense and courtesy, and Gabby fits the mold pretty well . . . I'd hoped for something a little different, but I did like that Gabby and Finn already had a relationship to build off of. I actually ended up liking a lot of the secondary characters better than the main couple, especially with all those dangling threads lurking in there to hook one into their stories. I'm guessing--based on the author's pattern in previous series--that they'll be the stars of future books, which gives me something to look forward to--I really enjoyed the crew, particularly Rissi and Evelyne.

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

Coastal Guardians
1. The Killing Tide

2. The Crushing Depths

3. The Deadly Shallows

Liz Johnson's "A Glitter of Gold" - Georgia Coast Romance, book 2

When pirate wreck tour guide Anne Norris finds evidence of an undiscovered shipwreck, she seeks the help of museum director Carter Hale to uncover the truth and treasure that could save her business. But can she trust him with her secrets and her heart?

As Anne says, everybody loves a good pirate story. While this isn't precisely a pirate story, it does reference pirates and the underbelly of colonial Savannah--with a lot of fascinating tidbits woven in. I loved the historical focus to the story. I also loved the story in the journal (the story within the story)--it's no wonder Anne was so fascinated by it that she was willing to step so far beyond her comfort zone to pursue the shipwreck.

It's not everyday that one reads about convicted felons in romance and Christian fiction--especially not when a main character has served a prison sentence. But it was a fascinating, heart-breaking aspect of the story that transformed shame into a powerful expression of the cleansing power of grace. Highly recommended!

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.

Georgia Coast Romance
1. A Sparkle of Silver
2. A Glitter of Gold
3. A Dazzle of Diamonds

"Fire Storm" by Nancy Mehl - Kaely Quinn Profiler, book 2

When FBI profiler Kaely Quinn reluctantly takes leave to take care of her ailing mother, she can't help but notice a connection between a series of house fires in the small Nebraska town. Concerned there may be a serial arsonist, Kaely offers her services to local law enforcement, never dreaming how close to home those fires will come.

If you haven't read book one, stop reading now--there are some major spoilers ahead for Mind Games, and the shock value is worth it, believe me. Don't ruin it for yourself. Plus, this book will just make more sense if you know more of Kaely's history.

It's really interesting reading from the perspective of a character with major psychological issues (Kaely's great at what she does, but she's a real doozy). I did like Mind Games a lot more than Fire Storm (mainly for that psychological blow out of left field), but I'm glad we can see more of Kaely--she's such a complex character, there's no way a single book could do her justice. She does make progress in this book, but she's got a long way to go . . . I'm still interested to see what happens next (and the description of the upcoming Dead End sounds fantastic).

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

Kaely Quinn Profiler
1. Mind Games
2. Fire Storm
3. Dead End (spring 2020)

"Now and Then and Always" by Melissa Tagg - A Maple Valley Romance

After traumatic circumstances forced her from her job as a nanny, Mara Bristol has finally found a refuge--an old Victorian inn on the outskirts of Maple Valley, IA. For the past year she'd been helping the owner, Lenora, take care of the inn, but when Lenora fails to return from a month-long trip and the bank threatens foreclosure, Mara worries she's once again alone . . . abandoned . . . about to lose the only true home she's ever known. Detective Marshall Hawkins is no closer to whole today than he was two years ago . . . the day his daughter died. Between his divorce, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on medication, his life is falling apart. And when a reckless decision on the job propels him into administrative leave, he has no other plan but to get in his truck and drive. A one-night stay at the Everwood was supposed to be just that. But there's something about the old house-or maybe its intriguing caretaker-that pulls him in. Together, Mara and Marshall set out to save the Everwood. But its secrets run deeper than they could have imagined.

Melissa Tagg's books just keep getting better and better. Set in the same quirky town as the Walker Family and Enchanted Christmas series, this has all the charm and heart of her other Maple Valley stories, but it has a mystery and touch of suspense to boot.

Like all the other Maple Valley stories, there's humor and quirkiness, but it's the emotional impact that gets me every time. My heart ached for both Marshall and Mara, for all that they have such different backgrounds. It was hard not to tear up just about any time Marshall's daughter was mentioned . . . or Mara's absolute aloneness and feelings of abandonment. But even if the grief will always be with them, there's so much hope, healing, and restoration. I like how another reviewer put it--"there's life beyond the brokenness."

If you want a story to tug at the heartstrings and romance to make you swoon, then look no further. Highly recommended. It's also the winner of the 2020 Christy Award for Best Contemporary Romance!

Maple Valley Romance

1. Now and Then and Always

2. Some Bright Someday

Related stories:

Walker Family
0.5: Three Little Words (novella)
1. From the Start
2. Like Never Before
3. Keep Holding On
4. All This Time

"A Maple Valley Romance" (published in Right Where We Belong collection of small-town novellas)

Enchanted Christmas Collection (now together in the omnibus Enchanted)
1. One Enchanted Christmas
2. One Enchanted Eve

3. One Enchanted Noel

"The Lieutenant's Bargain" by Regina Jennings

When a gunman attacks Hattie Walker's coach on her journey to an exciting art career in Denver, she is left stranded in the wilderness, only to be picked up by the local Arapaho tribe--a fate that just might be worse, if stories prove true. Lt. Jack Hennessy is called in from Fort Reno to rescue the tribe from the woman they offered refuge, and he is shocked to discover it is none other than the girl from back home that he'd never gotten over--not that she'd ever noticed him. In a burst of inspiration, he decides to play the hero and convinces the tribe to perform a ceremony to hand her over to him, little realizing that the ceremony they are all too happy to perform is a wedding . . .

Just as expected, I enjoyed the author's trademark humor and romance, but I found the setting and historical background of the story to be just as compelling.

Having studied the old military forts and Indian relations in Minnesota, I was excited to discover the tribal focus in this book. I was curious about how the author would treat the Indian schools; there was a lot that was wrong with them. A lot. But Jack Hennessy has a point in the story--better to go willingly to a school nearby than to be forced to one across the country where one may never see one's family again, where one will lose all connection to one's home, language, and traditions. The government did that, permanently separating many children from their homes by both distance and culture. I respect the fictional main character for building a relationship with the people with whom he was working, for not just expecting them to learn to be like him, but for studying their language and endeavoring to know them better--a mutual trade of ideas. His is an attitude that was frequently lacking amongst the American military and Indian agents. And I like that the portrayal of the cutting of Tom Broken Arrow's hair was treated with dignity and significance; not as just a common haircut, but as something sorrowful, something brave, something life-altering. It might just be the best scene in the book.

Hattie definitely starts out rather self-centered, but not unpleasant--I liked her throughout the entire book, which I cannot say for all heroines who start out ignorant and spoiled. But I really like how she grows and changes throughout the story, learning to recognize the beauty and significance in moments and emotions, not just pretty scenery. I especially loved her tribute to the school children. Even with how much I was cringing at the beginning (knowing how Jack's plan to impress the girl could only end in disaster), I really loved how the story unfolded.

Fort Reno
1. Holding the Fort
1.5: "Bound and Determined" (from the Hearts Entwined novella collection)
2. The Lieutenant's Bargain
3. The Major's Daughter

Ronie Kendig's "Storm Rising" - Book of the Wars, book 1

Tasked with capturing the ancient Book of Wars, Leif Metcalfe and his team are on the clock to prevent other interested parties from getting to it first--except that the infamous Bulgarian operative, Viorica, or the Wild Rose, snatches it out from underneath them. When Leif catches up with her, he forms a tentative alliance with the assassin, though he doesn't trust her and she doesn't trust him. But even working together, can they prevent a secret society from bringing about the end of the world?

This was a hard book to put down--between the constant action and the tension between rivals Lief and Iskra, it was easy to read just another chapter . . . and another . . . and another. I really liked Iskra, both her strength and the soft side that hasn't been lost in her life of abuse. She's a great match for Lief. And as for Lief--there is something going on in him that was not explained, only hinted at. I guess we'll have to wait for the next book to see if we find out what's been done to him. Curiouser and curiouser . . .

Sometimes I wished there was a little bit of an explanation of military terms--I still don't know what a KA-BAR is, or what SitRep stands for, or a lot of the other military acronyms--but it didn't prevent me from following the story.

If you like Indiana Jones and spy thrillers, this is a great combination of the two!

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

Book of the Wars
1. Storm Rising
2. Kings Falling
3. Soul Raging

Related series:
Tox Files
0.5: "The Warrior's Seal"
1. Conspiracy of Silence
2. Crown of Souls
3. Thirst of Steel

Abigail Wilson's "Midnight on the River Grey"

After her brother's death, Rebecca Hunter is taken under the guardianship of the man who was implicated in his supposedly accidental death. She accepts the circumstances only in an effort to learn the truth: whether her brother's demise was truly was an accident--or murder.

I do enjoy Gothic stories, and this one has all the right pieces--mysterious mansion, deadly bridge, suspect deaths, a heroine who is determined to get to the bottom of things--but I will admit this one wasn't my favorite.

Our hero is all things dashing and chivalrous. It's hard to believe he can maintain such a notorious reputation when he's actually very kind and good-humored--not dark and broody at all. He was impossible not to like. Rebecca, though, is impulsive, unconventional, and has a high opinion of herself. She is convinced of her own cleverness, but I felt she spent the entire book proving the opposite--her decisions come off as reckless and not thought-out at all.

The author did do a good job with the Gothic Regency setting, and the language feels authentic to the time period.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The Number of Love" by Roseanna M White - The Codebreakers, book 1

Margot De Wilde thrives working in Room 40, deciphering encoded transmissions and intercepted messages, but an unexpected loss sends her reeling. Drake Elton, wounded in the course of duty, is sent home to recuperate, where he gets to know the highly intellectual yet emotionally-disconnected Margot. Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

I loved learning about Room 40 and the WWI British codebreakers. Spying and cryptography are both fascinating, so it was exciting to discover both in the story--our hero being the spy, and heroine the cryptographer.

Margot wasn't the easiest heroine for me to connect with, but her vulnerabilities make her human and her wit likable. Having married into a family that loves taking things literally, I could appreciate her humor. Drake is all sweetness and charm, and he doesn't seem to take himself too seriously--he was easy to like. I think it would be very difficult for an ordinary man to love Margot in a way that speaks to her, so I was glad that Drake comes from a family with challenges; theirs aren't the same, but it's enough that he can figure out how to relate to someone as different as Margot.

I really liked Dot, her fears and all. Though fragile in big ways, she truly is a brave person in spite of it. I loved that her and Margot's friendship was such an important part of the story--it didn't feel secondary to the romance, as friendship so often ends up in books. It's just as important.

It was fun to have so many cameos from the author's previous two series, but I'm really excited to learn more about the belligerent Phillip Camden in the next book!

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

The Codebreakers (third chronologically)
1. The Number of Love
2. On Wings of Devotion
3. A Portrait of Loyalty

Relates series:

Ladies of the Manor (first chronologically)
1. The Lost Heiress
2. The Reluctant Duchess
3. A Lady Unrivaled

Shadows Over England (second chronologically)
1. A Name Unknown
2. A Song Unheard
3. An Hour Unspent

Codebreakers comes third chronologically

"The Medallion" by Cathy Gohlke

Sophie Kumiega, a British librarian married to a Polish pilot, is trapped in Warsaw when the Nazis invade. As oppression sets in, she cannot turn her face away from the people needing her help. Rosa and Itzhak Dunovich did not expect their first baby to be born in the ghetto, or that circumstances would tear their family apart. When faced with saving her daughter's life by giving her up, Rosa cuts her wedding medallion in half, keeping one piece for herself and sending the other with her child, hopefully to reunite all after the war.

Though not without hope, this is a heavy and heart-breaking story, depicting the horrors of the war against the Polish people and Polish Jews, the slow strangling and starvation, and finally destruction. I did not anticipate part two of the story; for all the atrocities of war in part one, it was the post-war part that was the hardest for me to read, between the personal stories of the characters and the very real fact that for many in and from eastern Europe, the end of the war did not mean the end of oppression or a happy ending.

It's very good. For a story based on horrible atrocities, it does have a lot of hope, incredible courage, and wisdom--just don't expect a light and wholly happy read.

Winner of the 2020 Christy Award for Best Historical!

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

"More Than Words Can Say" by Karen Witemeyer - Patchwork Family, book 2

After being railroaded by the city council, Abby needs a man's name on her bakery's deed, and a man she can control, not the stoic lumberman Zacharias who always seems to exude silent confidence. She cant even control her pulse when she's around him. But as trust grows between them, she finds she wants more than his rescue. She wants his heart.

There's just something about a marriage-of-convenience story--not just falling in love, but knowing that one has made a choice to love, even if the emotions aren't there yet. It's deliberate. It's a lot like a real life marriage, even when a couple is already in love--there has to be a deliberate choice to love, every single day. More than Words Can Say is an excellent example of that, even if it starts out as more of a business proposal than a proposal of true marriage.

Abigail is great--not some typical, waifish heroine, but a woman of physical substance. A woman of business, talent, and a delightful sense of humor, the perfect complement to Zach, who, incidentally, appreciates each and every aspect of his wife, even before their marriage. I also loved Abigail's sister--particularly both Abigail and Zach's relationship with her. Hopefully she'll get her own book!

It's a cute story, laced with humor and themes of forgiveness and faith.

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

Patchwork Family
1. More Than Meets the Eye
2. More Than Words Can Say
2.5: "More Than a Pretty Face" (originally published in the Serving Up Love novella collection)

Morgan L Busse's "Flight of the Raven" - Ravenwood Saga, book 2

When Selene Ravenwood turned her back on her clan, she expected to die--not marry the man she was assigned to assassinate. In the midst of learning how to be not only a wife but the wife of the Grand Lord of Maris, she is also learning how to use her dreamwalking abilities in new ways . . . ways which draw the attention of a dark power.

For all that it picks up immediately where the first book left off, this book is very different from the first. It's not as tense and political; rather, it's much more introspective, as Selene's powers are expanding and she is fighting for her soul. And it has significantly more romance, given that two people who were scarcely acquainted suddenly have to learn how to be married! (which was executed quite well, in my opinion.)

I loved the tension in the party at the very beginning, when Damien's guards don't know how to deal with harboring a self-proclaimed assassin. I'd have loved the tension to last longer, especially when it becomes clear people are associating her with strange dreams, but maybe we'll see more ramifications in the next book.

I really loved the first book, and while I enjoyed this one a lot, I was left wishing for more (just a couple hundred pages--no more than doubling its length). In any case, I can't wait for the next book to see how the series ends!

Ravenwood Saga
1. Mark of the Raven
2. Flight of the Raven
3. Cry of the Raven

"Wooing Cadie McCaffrey" by Bethany Turner

After four years, Cadie McCaffrey has given up on her boyfriend, and when a misunderstanding leads to a mistake and hurt, she finally sends him packing. But for Will, this is the beginning of his quest to become the man she needs, and he intends to win her back, using every weapon in his arsenal--be it the questionable guidance of his pro-athlete friends or tactics drawn from Cadie's romantic comedies. What could possibly go wrong?

If you're looking for a fun romantic comedy with a classic feel, look no farther! Not only does it have moments fit for film, it references a good number of classic films in Will's wooing of Cadie McCaffrey. I love the characters, including--or maybe especially--the friends and coworkers in all their imperfect glory. Darby is a wonderful best friend for Cadie, and Kevin and Ellis are an amusing pair of wingmen for Will. No man is an island, and Will and Cadie would be shadows of themselves without their friends backing them up.

But behind all the cute rom-com references and fun banter among friends, there is some hefty, rough reality to the story. Cadie and Will are both believers, but they're not immune to poor choices. Their relationship falls to pieces because they don't talk, and together they make a huge error of judgement that further degrades their relationship. At one point Cadie responds to the statement "All things are possible with God" with the thought, Not all things, of course. She's immediately wracked with guilt not just because she thought it, but because a part of her believed it. It struck me just as it struck her when I realized there are a few areas of my life where I fall into the same trap, even knowing the truth.

Wooing Cadie McCaffrey is a fun romantic comedy, but it isn't just fluff--it has grit. Highly recommended!

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

"A Reluctant Bride" by Jody Hedlund--Bride Ships, book 1

With no prospects for the future let alone her next meal, Mercy Wilkins signs up to immigrate to Vancouver Island, not realizing that she's agreeing to become a bride for one of the hundreds of single men in the colony. However, on the long journey across the oceans, her kind heart and unending wells of mercy catch the eye of the ship's physician, Lord Joseph Colville. Mercy finds herself acting as Joseph's assistant with the other brides, but the attraction between them is strictly forbidden--lest Mercy be shipped back to England or worse.

I didn't realize until I reached the author's note at the end just how much of the story was based on actual history, from the very ship itself and its trial-fraught journey to even the central love story. I love when a story is so deeply based off history! I had been aware of shipments of brides from the East Coast to Seattle, but I hadn't realized the British had sent brides too, just to the Canadian side instead.

Mercy is all things sweet and light, living up to her name. I can easily see why Joseph falls for her, but I feel like we're missing half the story--given the disparity between them in social station, education, and speech, they'll have a really hard road ahead of them (particularly by returning to London instead of staying in the colony where social positioning is much less likely to matter).

Though the focus was on Joseph and Mercy, I enjoyed (or in a couple cases, enjoyed disliking) a couple of the more prominent secondary characters. Mr Collins Mr Scott is just as obnoxious as Jane Austen's character, just with a couple daughters and a few more years of marriage added to him. But on the more pleasant end of the spectrum, I was intrigued by the bride Miss Lawrence. I can only hope we get her story next--there were so many tantalizing hints dropped that I wanted Mercy to spend more time with her than Joseph, just so I could find out more.

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

The Bride Ship
1. A Reluctant Bride
2. The Runaway Bride
3. A Bride of Convenience
4. Almost a Bride 

"The King's Mercy" by Lori Benton

Defeated on the fields of Culloden in the failed Scottish uprising, Alex MacKinnon is sentenced to indenture and deportation, where is sold to a Carolina plantation as their new blacksmith. Joanna Carey, the mistress of the house, has a different vision for the estate than her stepfather, and she finds herself confiding with Alex, a man from the simple roots that she wishes to return to. However, troubles plague the plantation, and as blame begins falling on Alex, he has to choose whether he will stay and fulfill his contract--and, just maybe win the woman he admires--or make a break for freedom.

Of all the retellings of fairy tales and Shakespeare plays and bible stories that I've read, I've never before encountered one inspired by Philemon (nor thought to look for one). But Lori Benton has done it, framed masterfully in the turbulent colonial era.

This is Alex MacKinnon's book. Joanna is a wonderful heroine, strong, compassionate, and captivating, but Alex is the one who drives this story, much as Willa was the driving force behind Burning Sky. His is a hard road--defeated in battle, imprisoned a year in the belly of a ship, sold as a slave--everything and everyone he loved and fought for gone. After all he has been through, it's easy to understand his rejection of faith, but it's inspiring to watch his return to it.

There is some significant darkness in this story, and it's not just the nature of the times, with slavery, the inhuman treatment of prisoners, and indenture (though it has its fair share of that too). But there's also grace and hope. Sacrifice. Choosing the right path, even when it's hard. I love how the title--the name for the stay of execution of prisoners by deportation and enslavement--has an entirely different meaning when the King refers to God, not a human ruler.

With and intriguing plot, compelling characters (besides Alex and Joanna, there's Jemma, Elijah, Reverend Pauling . . . a whole host of complex, relatable characters), and words of faith we could all benefit to hear, it's a book I highly recommend!

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

Related novels:

Kindred (takes place 40 years later)

1. Mountain Laurel

2. Shiloh (2021)

"A Return of Devotion" by Kristi Ann Hunter---Haven Manor, book 2

Daphne Blakemoor knows the father of her son, but even she is astounded when a man--who is NOT her son's father--shows up on her doorstep wearing her son's face. William, Marquis of Chemsford has no idea what to make of the odd housekeeper employed at his remote country residence, but something is definitely off. She is clearly hiding something--beyond her undeniable inadequacies as a housekeeper--but what, he can't put his finger on. Both Daphne and William have spent their lives hiding from their past, but together, they just might find a way to forge a new path for the future.

I loved Daphne. She's whimsical and day-dreamy, rather shy, and a terrible liar. She isn't spunky, nor quite the proverbial Mama Bear, but she is a brave Mama Bird, dragging her wing to lure the predator away for her nest. She's delightful. And I have to give credit William--though his decision process is maybe not the soundest (choosing to do whatever he thinks is the opposite of what his father would have done), he has a good heart: he cares as he learns Daphne's story. He knows where he has gone wrong, and he isn't willing to throw stones.

I love the humor in Kristi Ann Hunter's books--this one made me laugh out loud (as I said, Daphne is delightful, and prone to predicaments). But even more it had me tearing up over and over again as we learn more of her story, the hard and hurtful things she has endured through her own mistakes, the difficult decisions she has to make now as her son is growing up and distancing himself. Choices have consequences--and she has made poor choices. But God also has grace. And she has learned from her mistakes to move forward, raising up children to be wiser than she was.

This has been a spectacular series, touching on the people who are too often unseen and forgotten. It's a brave subject, and not an easy one, but one that is important to remember. I'm really looking forward to Jess's story; something tells me behind her terrifyingly competent, knife-wielding exterior is a woman just as in need of a haven (emotional as well as physical) as Daphne and Kit and all the other women they've helped. Highly recommended!

Haven Manor
0.5: "A Search for Refuge" (free prequel e-novella)
1. A Defense of Honor
2. A Return of Devotion

3. A Pursuit of Home

3.5: "Legacy of Love" (published in The Christmas Heirloom novella collection)

Related Series (takes place chronologically before Haven Manor):

Hawthorne House
0.5 "A Lady of Esteem" - a free novella introduction to the Hawthornes and friends!
1. A Noble Masquerade
2. An Elegant Facade
3. An Uncommon Courtship

4. An Inconvenient Beauty

Related Series (takes place chronologically after Haven Manor):
Hearts on the Heath
1. Vying for the Viscount
2. Winning the Gentleman

"Whose Waves These Are" by Amanda Dykes

When anthropologist Annie Sawyer is summoned to her great-uncle Robert's side in coastal Maine, Annie notices stone ruins on a nearby island that trigger both professional curiosity and long-ago memories. But with Robert in a coma, can she find answers---and mend the decades-old chasm in her family---before it's too late?

Some books are hard to define. This one doesn't fit cleanly into any genre--it's partly historical, partly contemporary; not a romance (though there is some romance in it), and I definitely wouldn't call it women's fiction--Robert's journey is truly the focus, more so than Annie's. But I would definitively say, if you're looking for a story to tug at the heartstrings, look no further. Like in real life, there's a lot of loss and hurt, but hope too. It's a beautiful tale of both building and release.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the author truly does have a beautiful writing style (even if most of this book was written in present tense, which I would always swap out for past if I could). Lyrical and lovely. And it's clear a great deal of thought has gone into it--in the metaphors of the sea and all its changeableness, of light in the darkness, of shelter in the time of storm. It's an inspiring tale.

It's also the winner of both the 2020 Christy Award for Best General Fiction and 2020 Book of the Year!

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

For an intro to Robert and Roy's parents, read Up From the Sea, a free prequel novella that takes place in the 1920's but touches on a mystery from the American Revolution!

"Sweet on You" by Becky Wade - Bradford Sisters, book 3

Britt Bradford and Xander Ford have been best friends for years, but unbeknownst to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long. When Zander's uncle dies, he comes home only to discover facts that indicate his uncle may not have been the person he seemed to be. As he and Britt work together to untangle the past, will the truth come to light?

Wow.

Read Then Came You, True to You and Falling for You, and then read this book. Wow.

People love to write headstrong, spunky, independent heroines. They're smart, fun, and what many of us dream we could be like. But to be honest, I get a little tired of them, as they rarely feel truly real. Britt Bradford is the epitome of headstrong, spunky, and independent, but unlike so many other heroines who answer to that description, she feels 100% real. Her flaws aren't limited to impulsively doing idiotic things that could get her killed--she has deep-seated pride. She's the strong one, the one who is never badly hurt, the one who stands strong for those who are. As different as my personality is from hers, I identified more with her (or rather, her flaws) than I have with a heroine in long time. When one is used to being the strong one--the one who stuffs the disappoints deep inside to be the strength for those who aren't strong--it's so hard to release it. To open up, be vulnerable, and share. To not be strong all the time. When Britt is finally forced to confront her flaws, it's powerful. And hard--seeing one's flaws splayed across a page isn't exactly fun, but it can be cathartic too.

At the same time, I also identified with Zander's introversion, and his struggle to hope:

When you prayed for something every day and heard nothing but silence for more than a decade, it ground down your hope like corn into cornmeal. Zander had begun to wonder if God could still be good while denying him the one thing he prayed for most. Could he depend on a God who refused to give him what he'd waited years for? 

The right answer was yes. God was still good. God was still dependable. However . . .

Maybe not everyone has dreams that they've been waiting on for years, but I think a great many of us do. And that's the perfect description when one has been waiting . . . and waiting . . . hoping, yet losing hope in each passing year. And knowing that God is still good and dependable through it all, even though it hurts.

The characters are great. The story is fun and exciting--more suspenseful than we typically see from the author! It's both humorous and cuts deep to the heart of an issue. And wow, can Zander speak when he lets his heart do the talking . . . He's wasted writing thrillers. Romance should be his genre. I highly recommend this book!

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

Bradford Sisters Romances
0.5: Then Came You (prequel novella)
1. True to You
2. Falling for You
2.5: "Because of You" (published in The Christmas Heirloom Novella Collection)
3. Sweet on You

"The Unexpected Champion" by Mary Connealy---High Sierra Sweethearts, book 3

Pinkerton Agent John McCall's task seemed easy--find a lost boy and return him to his grandparents back East. But he didn't count on the Nevada winter, or the trouble dogging the family caring for the boy, or the family themselves--particularly the child's feisty, woods-smart aunt Penny. When John and Penny are abducted together and then lost in the wilderness, they discover there's something more going on than meets the eye, and it's up to them to stop the ruthless man behind it all.

I loved how both woods-smart Penny and city slicker detective John were both able to shine in their skills--first Penny getting them through the wilderness, and then John in investigating in the city (which I loved--he's in his element there, in ways I did not expect). They're each a little different from the average hero and heroine, which made for a fun switch, and they really compliment each other well. Once they agree to be on the same side, that is.

It's a lighthearted, fun conclusion to the series, full of traditional Connealy chaos. I'd recommend reading the first two books first, as it picks up immediately where the previous book left off.

Thank you Bethany House and Goodreads 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

"The Artful Match" by Jennifer Delamere---London Beginnings, book 3

When Cara Bernay finds herself sacked after nearly losing a child in her care, she travels to London to stay with her sister, only to be sidetracked by a charming artist who finagles her a place to stay and work on her art. Henry Burke, Earl of Morestowe wants his emotionally unstable artist brother home, only to come across Cara as his brother's staunch defender. When it proves that Cara seems to have a good influence on him--and more importantly, Henry's recalcitrant ward--he is willing to overlook her mysterious background and questionable aspirations to invite her to stay with them a few weeks in the country.

Cara is very sweet and naive and especially good with children, but sometimes her impulsive (and frequently foolish) decisions threatened to drive me crazy. Just because things generally turned out all right is no excuse to, for instance, go home with a man she meets that day on the street, even if he appears to be a harmless, impulsive artist. She's a human trafficking statistic waiting to happen. I also didn't understand her reasoning for falling in love until the end when it was explained better--not sure if I missed it initially, or it wasn't explained until then--but it underscored her occasional lack of good sense (how could a penniless orphan suddenly believe she was destined to marry an earl?). But I did appreciate that as mad as she is at her sisters, Cara still clearly loves them--years of love don't turn into hate just because she's angry.

I guess one could call this a comedy of misunderstandings (not that it's particularly humorous, though it is fairly light in tone): a lot of grief and frustration could have been avoided if things had been talked through rather than allowed to fester into misunderstandings. Granted, without them we wouldn't have had a story, as Cara would have sensibly gone to her sister's and Henry and his brother might not have spent years of undeserved animosity. And then Henry and Cara would never have met, and they do actually balance each other out quite well.

It was nice to have resolve to things brought up in the first two books and interesting to catch a glimpse of the late Victorian art scene. I enjoyed seeing the different ways the Victorian era changed life for women throughout the series.

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

London Beginnings
1. The Captain's Daughter
2. The Heart's Appeal
3. The Artful Match

Lisa T. Bergren's "Verity"---The Sugar Baron's Daughters, book 2

After too long from hearing from her love the sea captain, Verity Banning decides to take matters into her own hands, starting an importation business and using it as an excuse to travel to the colonies in search of him. But instead of her love, she finds his brother--Ian McKintrick--and is swayed by his passion for the American patriot cause.

I enjoyed getting to know Verity more in this book. I admit, I didn't care as much for Ian--he's too volatile, too apt to shoot off his mouth, too likely to lose his temper. I did like how honorable he was in pursuit of Verity, though, making it clear where his allegiances lie. Verity, even as impulsive as she is, is good for him, tempering his volatility.

But the book was exciting, sailing between Nevis and New York several times, so we could really see the progression towards war. It was a unique angle of the American Revolution, seeing how it affected not just trade on the East Coast but the Caribbean island countries who relied on American imports. I'd never before considered the differences between those island planters who remained staunchly British with dreams and ties to home (England), versus the Americans who, though many were also of British descent like the islanders, saw themselves as Americans and not as British citizens living on American soil--two totally different mindsets. Near the end, the book started giving me anxiety. It was thrilling; I wasn't expecting the story to go in that direction (and I loved it), but my heart was pounding and it was difficult to calm down enough to sleep!

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

The Sugar Baron's Daughters
1. Keturah
2. Verity
3. Selah

Jen Turano's "Flights of Fancy"

Isadora Delafield, heiress to one of the greatest fortunes in America, finds herself the object of affection of a British duke. Given that he's an uncouth cad and suspected of murdering his three previous wives, Izzie decamps to safety in the country, where she becomes an unlikely candidate for housekeeping position. Ian McKenzie is knows hiring Izzie is a terrible decision, given her complete incompetence, but he can't help but be charmed by her unconventional manner. Granted, he's also desperate, and she makes him an offer he can't financially refuse. While Izzie is pretty sure she's dodged the trouble following her, the country turns out to have its own share of mysterious and dangerous doings . . .

Jen Turano consistently lives up to my expectations. If ever I want a romantic comedy to brighten my day, her books are always at the top of my list.

Though it may seem far-fetched to have an heiress who's never done a day's work in her life manage a household, this is largely negated by the utter chaos--and unusualness--of the household she is theoretically running. Izzie might be incompetent at basic household tasks like washing clothes and boiling water, but they're desperate, she's there, and she's willing to learn, which is theoretically better than no help at all. Jen Turano is the master of quirky characters and quirkier pets (not one, but TWO this time!).

The setting was very different from Turano's other books, mainly due to taking place on a farm (not even an estate). I enjoyed the relaxed country atmosphere and all the ensuing hijinks one can expect for a city girl out of her natural environment. The labor disputes were a surprise, given how serious an issue they were historically versus how the humorous I expect Jen Turano's books to be. However, she manages the issue with sympathy and aplomb while never losing the sense of fun.

Delightful as always.

American Heiresses
1. Flights of Fancy
2. Diamond in the Rough
3. Trouble in Store

"Far Side of the Sea" by Kate Breslin

When Lt. Colin Mabry, an officer working with MI8 decoding messages from France, discovers a message written to him from a woman he once loved and thought dead, he immediately rushes to France to help her, only to discover the message wasn't from the woman he knew--it was from a half-sister he had never heard of. Johanna Reyer works in a dovecote run by French Intelligence, and with the help of a diary she stumbled across, believes her sister to be alive and in the custody of a German spy, but she needs Colin's help to find her. With spies abounding and situations rarely what they seem, will Colin and Johanna trust each other enough to pull off the mission?

Spy, spy, counterspy . . . I enjoy a thrilling spy novel where one doesn't know whom to trust and things are rarely what they seem, and this one proved most satisfactory. I love the WWI setting, with all the touches that make it authentic--carrier pigeons, influenza, neutral Spain, the horses (or slaughter there-of, being as WWI was the war in which the most horses were killed). Breslin's stories are always captivating, and this was no exception.

I loved how Colin works around--and learns to work with--his prosthetic, and that Johanna is so affirming, expressing her belief that it doesn't make him undesirable or less of a man. They make a really good pair, with his love of order and attention to detail and her flexibility. Overall, it was a most enjoyable tale.

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

Related novels:
Not by Sight
High as the Heavens