"Stay With Me" by Becky Wade - Misty River Romance, book 1

When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents' past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge Mountains to chase down her family's secret. However, it's Genevieve's own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of a historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she's worked so hard to hide. Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He's spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?

Wow. I can always count on Becky Wade for a spectacular read, both fun and poignant, but this one tackles some serious things: addiction. Secrets. The weight of trauma. Grief. It was full of grace and hope, but overcoming was not easy, not for either Genevieve or Sam. Even if I've never experienced anything close to what Genevieve has, I could understand all too well that desire to hide the things that don't align with perfect Christianity, the fear of admitting those things to myself let alone to others.

Besides being convicting, emotional read, it also has Wade's trademark humor. And romance. Even a bit of mystery. Both the main characters and the supporting characters were characters worth rooting for (I loved Gen's sister especially), and I can't wait for the next book in the series! All in all a most satisfying read!

Winner of the 2021 Christ Award for Contemporary Romance.

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.

Misty River Romance
0.5: Take a Chance on Me (prequel novella)
1. Stay With Me
2. Let It Be Me

2.5: You and Me (novella)

3. Turn to Me

Becky Wade's "Take a Chance on Me" - a Misty River novella

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price. Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always. And Eli is set on convincing Penelope to give him one more chance.

A short, sweet story and lovely introduction to the town of Misty River! I love the author's writing style; there's just something about her turn of phrase that always makes me smile--a good-natured, self-deprecating humor that first captured me in My Stubborn Heart and is still evident in this short novella. The story is nothing world-changing, but it's cozy and warm, with a satisfying romance. I'm looking forward to the official book 1 of the series!

Misty River Romances
0.5: Take a Chance on Me (novella)
1. Stay with Me

2. Let It Be Me

2.5: You and Me (novella)

3. Turn to Me

Ronie Kendig's "Kings Falling" - Book of the Wars, book 2

Lief Metcalfe and his team, dubbed Reaper, need to recover the stolen, ancient Book of the Wars if they hope to stop the Armageddon Coalition and their pursuit of global economic control. But their attention has been diverted by a prophecy in the book that foretells of formidable guardians who will decimate the enemies of ArC. While Iskra Todorova uses her connections in the covert underworld to hunt down the Book of the Wars, Leif and Reaper attempt to neutralize these agents but quickly find themselves outmaneuvered and outgunned. The more Reaper tries to stop the guardians, the more failure becomes a familiar, antagonistic foe. Friendships are fractured, and the team battles to hold it together long enough to defeat ArC. But as this millennia-old conspiracy creeps closer and closer to home, the implications could tear Leif and the team apart.

Warning the First: this is not a stand-alone novel. Read book one first.
Warning the Second: this series is not finished (not until Nov 2020). Beware of impending cliffhanger.

This book picks up some months after Storm Rising, as ArC (the enemy) moves into the next phase of their potentially world-ending plot. I struggled with remembering what had happened in the previous book; this one throws the reader right into the thick of things, and there are a lot of nuances that I simply didn't recall.

I spent most of the book frustrated with Lief. He has obviously been whammied (to use a Warehouse 13 reference), and as such, I tried to offer grace--I mean, there's only so much you can expect out of someone who is under the influence of something way outside his control. It's understandable that he's become a paranoid mess with a major case of foot-in-mouth disease. But that didn't mean he was pleasant to deal with, especially as it causes conflict in his relationship with Iskra.

But on the positive side, it was extremely fast-paced, with loads of action. The supernatural elements are part of what sets this (and the Tox Files) apart, and intrigue abounds so that you can hardly know whom to trust. I loved spending time with the crew, especially Mercy and Peyton and Cell.

This book is definitely setting up for an explosive finish.

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

Lisa T Bergren's "Selah" - Sugar Baron's Daughters, book 3

Selah Banning has come of age on the West Indies island of Nevis, shaped by experiences far beyond the typical upbringing of a young British lady in 1777. With a heart for the slaves, Selah is drawn to Jedediah Reed, a young Methodist preacher who serves the slaves of Nevis and has settled at Selah's family's plantation. Their shared purpose brings them together--despite her guardians' concern with a romance that promises little security for the future. As Jedediah's faith and Selah's abolitionist leanings lead to changes on the plantation, the Revolutionary War continues to build in the States. With the threat of starvation and the conflict with island mogul Angus Shubert growing ever stronger, the future of the Double T and its people hangs in the balance.

Selah is definitely a crusader, sometimes to her detriment. I really enjoyed Jedidiah's surprising musical skill, though like Selah, I was rather frustrated with his moment of noble hypocrisy. I liked Keturah and Verity a bit more than Selah over all, but it was nice to see them all together again.

What most sparked my interest in the story was the effect the American Revolution had on the British-held Caribbean islands. I would have never thought about the islands living in next-thing-to-siege status, as trade between the two colonies had effectively stopped. The only legal goods came on British ships, but they were scarce, thus smuggling was common (with British soldiers willing to look the other way, if it was their only source meals). As the British often sailed through the isles on way to the colonies, it was the perfect place for spies. Who'd have guessed?

While the story wraps up Selah's romance, I was left wondering about other things--like Ian as he is privateering for the American colonies; Verity's enemies on the sea; island politics; the Banning sisters' abolitionist leanings and where it might lead. If the author felt like continuing the series, there's certainly a lot there for it!

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

Mary Connealy's "Woman of Sunlight" - Brides of Hope Mountain, book 2

After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters had never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, a new world was opened to them. Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home to discover a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when he follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten to an elf-like mountain woman. When dangerous men from his past track him down, he's determined to put a stop to them. But that means a journey to the city--and when Ilsa insists on joining him, the mismatched pair suddenly find themselves on a venture they'll never forget.

There's something rather poetic about reading a story about an isolated trio of sisters (who are just emerging from a quarantine themselves) while in isolation myself during the Corona Virus outbreak . . .

Ilsa might be ignorant after a life of extreme isolation, but she's not an idiot. The author strikes the right balance between innocence and maturity so that Ilsa is comedic in things she doesn't know, yet not awkwardly child-like in things a grown woman should understand. She also proves far more adaptable than her oldest sister, who is still living in true isolation in a high mountain valley, when Ilsa and Mitch end up heading to Chicago. Of all the Connealy books I've read, I think this one spends the most time in the city.

I realize this isn't precisely a mystery novel, but I was surprised to be surprised by the villain. I readily take things at face value (when not reading in the mystery genre, that is), and my assumption and back-up assumption for the villain turned out to be wrong. It's . . . actually enjoyable to to have that happen, especially when the villain makes sense, as this one does.

As the third book comes out this fall and Ursula ends her self-imposed isolation, may we also feel the delights of such freedom! I've found her the most intriguing of the three sisters, and based on the hints throughout these first two novels, Wax Mosby is proving the most fascinating of the heroes. I'm looking forward to 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.

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