"Swept Away" by Mary Connealy

If there is one thing Mary Connealy does well, it's a romantic comedy.  Clean, exciting, and just plain fun, her novels can beat your average chick flick film any day. 

Just as her Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters trilogies were all connected, now her new series Trouble in Texas follows the Kincaid Brides trilogy.  Luke Stone, the brother of Over the Edge's heroine Callie, is planning to start something akin to the next civil war when he heads home to reclaim his ranch from a land-grabbing murderer who killed his father.  On the way home, he encounters the half-dead Ruthy MacNeil who had just taken a trip downriver from her wagon train during a flash flood.  Since the nearest civilization outside of Broken Wheel, Texas (if you can call an Indian Territory town containing a whole three women civilization), is a couple days ride away, he brings her home with him and she buys into his fight for his ranch, along with some old friends of his from the War Between States. 

Luke certainly have their struggles with vengeance toward Flint Greer, and his friend Dare, a secondary voice in the novel, has some trouble reigning in his hate toward the wicked wife-beater.  No matter the temptation, though, these are good men trying to act within the boundaries of the law.  Judging by the men introduced, I believe we can expect them to be the leads in the subsequent novels. 

Of all Connealy's "romantic comedies with cowboys," Swept Away most fully embodies the spirit of a good old-fashioned Western, complete with a good old-fashioned, Wild West shootout in the suddenly deserted town.  This novel reads like a film, but no movie could capture Connealy's witty narration that typifies her books and makes them such a pleasure to read.

Highly recommended for all lovers of westerns and comedies!

Trouble in Texas
Prequel: "Closer than Brothers: Surviving Andersonville" (novella)
1. Swept Away
2. Fired Up
3. Stuck Together

"Runaway Bride" (follows Trouble in Texas and Kincaid Brides series; from the novella collection With This Ring?)

"The Tangled Ties that Bind" (follows Trouble in Texas and Kincaid Brides series; from the novella collection Hearts Entwined)

Deep and thought-provoking, Regina Jennings' excellend novel, "Love in the Balance"

In her sequel to Sixty Acres and a Bride, Regina Jennings writes a thought-provoking novel of much greater depth than the publisher's description leads one to expect.  Molly Lovelace is not a twittering, empty-headed flirt unable to decide which suitor she likes better, but nor is she a calculating gold-digger fighting to control her attraction to a penniless, handsome cowboy; no, she is a conflicted young woman who is trying to balance honoring her parents and following her heart.  She knows precisely who she wants to marry, but when he doesn't come through, she follows her parents' wishes instead, which essentially leads to her ruin.


Make no mistake, Molly makes her own share of poor decisions.  What she does to appease her family is not always right or wise and hurts others besides herself - she could choose a more honest route.  However, she does not deserve the censure of the town for the results of her choice, let alone her own parents' scorn when she followed their wishes in the first place.  In spite of their faults, Molly loves her parents and wishes to please them. On the other side of the scale, Bailey, the man she loves, has none of the characteristics her parents are looking for in a husband for their only daughter. How does one find the balance?

Bailey also has his share of problems that compound Molly's. For one, he takes and quits any number of jobs, never settling, while he knows Molly is waiting on him to have a real income before marriage. She does not require him to be rich, but as a woman who knows money and excels at accounting, she knows that a steady income is necessary.  Because of his struggle with lust, Molly's reputation, which would otherwise have upheld against scrutiny, instead suffers fatally.  Had he behaved honorably from the get-go, who knows how their story would have been different?  Their relationship is an accurate representation of couples still today - as with Bailey, many young Christian men want to behave honorably with the women they love, but they still struggle with temptation; Bailey's error, like that of many in the face of temptation, is the failure to flee the moment it arises. 

There was so much growth in the book - both main characters mature and learn from their mistakes, but without losing their personalities and changing unbelievably. While I was not always happy with their choices, I liked both of the characters, and I feel that Molly really got the short end of the stick a number of times - she was not solely responsible for her problems. Jennings did an excellent job with the characters and twists to the plot.

Love in the Balance begs the question, "when conflicted, how do we find the balance honoring our parents and our own hearts?"  Only God holds the answer, but thankfully we can seek advice from those God has given us - wise friends, mentors, pastors, and, of course, Himself. 

Five out of five stars.  I received a free copy from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review, which I am not obligated to make positive.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Ladies of Caldwell County
Sixty Acres and a Bride
Love in the Balance
Caught in the Middle 

Roseanna M. White's spectacular "Ring of Secrets"

In the first novel of her series, Roseanna M. White pits spies against each other in the American Revolution, through America's first spy ring, the Culper Ring. With the war well under way, New York City is a stronghold of the loyalists.  Winter Reeves, helping her childhood friend Robert Townsend, collects information of the Redcoats movements from her soldier suitors to be smuggled along the ring out to George Washington.  Bennet Lane, a professor from Yale, is watching and seeking to identify the patriot spies in New York, knowing that at least one moves among the elite.  The two find themselves courting, and, though each is devoted to their cause, falling in love.  

I really liked that the main characters, though essentially spies, felt like real people.  Winter struggles with hiding her personality and lying about her past to appease her abusive grandparents; she is hurting and alone, with only two people who truly care for her, neither of which can see her socially.  God is her main source of strength and comfort in her grandparents' loveless home.  When Bennet comes along, she appreciates that he can glimpse her real personality and humor beneath the empty-headed facade, even though it threatens her gathering of military intelligence.  Bennet, though typically bumbling with women, is drawn because of her personal intelligence.  However, he refuses to propose because of her flirtatious, empty-headed mask; he knows there's a real person in there, and he pursues her, not the lovely face.  He needs to know her true self before committing to marriage.  It speaks volumes of his integrity and wisdom in pursuing a wife; for a character, he has great depth of character.  

In her author's notes at the end, White includes details of the historical facts behind her novel.  Like the characters of her novel, in history patriots and Tories alike mourned the death of John Andre, and Benedict Arnold was trusted by none.  It is a good reminder that just because politics says that a man is an enemy, don't let your heart be closed to a good person, nor be blinded to a friend.

The plot was solid, the characters real, and the history fascinating,  For the sake of spoilers, I shall not reveal more of the end, but I admit to being blindsided, which is quite a feat.  Now I must reread it in my enlightened state and see what hints I missed!  I eagerly await the sequel, set during the War of 1812.  5 out of 5 stars!

The Culper Ring:
1. Ring of Secrets
1.5. Fairchild's Lady (novella)
2. Whispers from the Shadows
2.5. "A Hero's Promise" (short story)
3. Circle of Spies

How to love in spite of "unchristian" emotions

What do you do when someone you know, especially a friend, even a christian, grows increasingly unlovable?  How do you still love them when you have increasingly unchristian emotions, like bitterness, frustration, and anger, towards them?  A friend's cry for help over a friend (of my friend), led me to do some thinking about the subject.

Before we go any further, just remember that you know that you know that you know that you know who Jesus is.  And since you know who He is, you know what comes from Him and what is truth.  So don't doubt yourself, and even if you do, look in His word.  The bible will go a long way toward reminding you who He is!

That said, ultimately, you can't fix your friend, no matter what you do - God has to do that, and your firend has to be willing; just remember that he is not your responsibility.  However, I'm pretty sure you still need to love him anyway.  If there's one point marriage counseling and all the marriage advice books pound in one's head, it's that love is not an emotion, it's an action.  Bitterness, however, is an emotion - and you can still feel bitter at someone and love them anyway.  You can't really help emotions - even Jesus had emotions, like anger. 

1. Guard your heart first
So though you can't fix your friend, you can at least take care of yourself.  As a spiritual wreck, you're no good to anybody.  Think of "unchristian" emotions as temptation - the temptation to act in an unloving way.  You can choose to act on them or not.  Remember: being tempted is not a sin (Jesus was tempted but didn't sin; He was angry, but didn't sin in his anger!), it's acting on that temptation that's the sin.  While the bible doesn't say all that much about emotions as such, it does talk about temptation:

A. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make you a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." I Cor: 10:13.  So if you're about to explode, crumble, lash out, or whatever - just get out of there.  The bathroom is a grand excuse when others might fail.  Note, also, it doesn't say anywhere in the bible that God won't give you more than you can handle - He does that all the time, it's why He's here - it proves that HE can handle it.  You just won't be tempted beyond what you can handle. 

B. "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Matt 26:41.  So one major way to guard yourself is to pray, pray, pray.  Pray that God will guard your heart in this incredibly difficult situation, as well as change his.  Your job is to look after yourself first, because if you are dead, what good are you to anyone else?

C. "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."  (James 1:12).  God will bless you for not acting on your frustration and bitterness (and remember, retreat is recommended in the bible, ergo it is not sin when it prevents you from sinning).

2. Show Love Anyway (the tricky part)
It can be super hard to show people love when you're frustrated and they make you unhappy.  I don't know how much time you can spend with your friend and still be whole-hearted, so you have to figure that out yourself, but in what time you can give him, always love, even if you only spend one evening with him every other week. 

Try to show love through what truly makes him tick (not to pander depression neediness, since I don't think that helps overly).  For useful advice, Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages comes to mind; while geared toward married couples, it has sound advice on how to show love to anyone.  The five "languages" are physical touch (hugs are good), quality time (that might be hard when he makes you not want to spend any time with him, but activities that he enjoys that leave less room for talk might work), words of affirmation (honest compliments that you really mean), gifts (self-explanatory), and acts of service (help them out).  Usually people have one or two that are especially meaningful to them.  Sometimes it feels a little clinical when you don't actually like the person in the moment, but you're still showing God's love and not acting on sinful impulses.  It means God is winning in your life, and using you to touch his at the same time!  Win-win, even if it's not the most fun.  And remember, take care of your spiritual health first!

3. When in doubt, Get More Help
Not so much for yourself (well, do that too, whenever you need it), but if there's anyone in a position of higher authority whom your friend respects, see if you can talk them into talking with him.  I'd say that as a friend alongside him, you are too much on the same level as him, but appealing to a respected higher authority might help him.  If nothing else, it should remove some of the burden from your shoulders.   Talk to pastors, professors, grandmas, bosses - anyone your friend looks up to. 



Above all, trust Jesus.  Trust His word.  And pray, pray, pray, and fast for their heart, that they would open it to the love of God, and that that love would be made clear in His actions and your own. 

Lisa Wingate's leisurely read, "Firefly Island"

In her latest novel, Firefly Island, Lisa Wingate flies through the story of love at first sight and a whirlwind romance, and then her rather whimsical writing ambles through the adjustment to a new life post-wedding in the slower-paced south.  Transmogrifying from a Washington, D. C. legislative assistant to a stay-at-home country mom, Mallory has a lot to learn, but life in Moses Lake, Texas turns out to be a little more exciting than she expects.  Besides, politics is politics, whether on Capitol Hill or in the boondocks. 

Most novels end with the wedding, not begin with it, so you never really know how it works out for the newlyweds.  Not so with Firefly Island.  It was fun to read about Mallory's adjustments to married life and her struggle to stay herself in this completely new role.  What she does not seem to realize is that being part of a couple means change.  No matter how well you may know each other prior to marriage, knowing each other as a couple is a completely different world.  Both parties must bend and flex in order to survive as a couple, and it does not mean "losing yourself," but rather growing more into who you are.  Marriage is stretching for the heart, mind and soul - it highlights the flabby, underused parts that need work (often a lot of work), and it gives greater confidence in the toned parts at which one already excels.  Everyone has to give and take.  Mallory discovers a number of places for growth, from ugly white upper class attitudes to the rather spoiled, uncompromising behavior of a youngest child, but throughout the book she is working through them to reach her potential. 

I do wish we had gotten to know her husband Daniel better; he remains in the background too much to really get a feel for his personality and feelings.  Besides his green eyes and dark hair, all I really know about him is that he is generally easygoing, is passionate in the bedroom, and will occasionally completely lose his temper - nothing much new from chapter six onward.  What makes him tick?  Besides love at first sight and love of his son, why are he and Mallory so great together?  He just seems kind of out there instead of in tune with his family, job, etc.  What does he need to change to make their marriage work?  To me, the novel has more to do with the other man in her life, her new stepson Nick, than her relationship with her husband. 

In the blogging world, when life goes wrong for the blogger, there are two main responses: a) humor, and b) a rant.  Wingate did a good job portraying Mallory as the humorist blogger, whose many mishaps - though perhaps unpleasant at the time - translate well into comical memories, which, in conjunction with her epiphanies and other sundry country experiences, make for an interesting blog.  However, it is very difficult to believe Mallory could have drummed up several hundred followers in only a couple weeks, even with all her acquaintances back east, every Moses Lake resident with internet access, and a blurb in the middle of an article of one "Women's Day" magazine.  She could have dredged up several hundred page views maybe, but followers?  I am skeptical.

Overall, it was a pleasant novel with enough of a mystery to make it more than just a drama.  A little predictable and light on God (Mallory prays on occasion now that she's married), but a nice leisurely read - nothing spectacular.  It has little connection to the others in the series, so it works as a stand-alone.  Three stars.  I received a free copy of this novel from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program.  I was in no way required to write a positive review. 

"Shattered" by Dani Pettrey - great mystery and great relationships

Dani Pettrey writes another intriguing suspense in her Alaskan Courage series.  Shattered picks up pretty much where Submerged leaves off, with the focus shifting to Piper and Landon and introducing Piper's brother Gage and the reporter Darcy St. James (the main characters of the next book, Stranded). 

I do like that Pettrey introduces the secondary viewpoints in her novels - first Piper and Landon in Submerged and then Gage and Darcy in Shattered.  It allows one to get a feel for the characters (who seem to star in the following book, making it a smoother transition from book to book) while still moving the plot of this novel along.  The relationships seem more developed - Piper and Landon are very sibling-like in how they bicker and meddle with each other in the beginning of Submerged, but the reader gets a feel as to how their relationship starts changing enough that they actually fall in love in Shattered.   Shattered has laid a groundwork for why Gage and Darcy even know each other, let alone may possibly develop into something more.  This style of writing gives the relationships the stronger foundation of time - they are not confined to 320 pages to meet, get thrown together in some crazy experience, and fall in love and marry all in the same novel. 

One small thing still bothers me, unfortunately - Pettrey's use of two familiar names: Meredith Blake and Darcy St. James.  Meredith Blake, the prosecutor and Gage's ex-girlfriend, is the name of the evil, gold-digger girlfriend in Disney's 1998 The Parent Trap (perhaps this reference is a little obscure, but I still remembered it).  The other, Darcy St. James, is the heroine of fellow Christian suspense author Dee Henderson's True Honor.  Of all the possible semi-typical American name combinations, it seemed odd that Pettrey hit on two that I knew from other works.  Granted, the personality of Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap suited my image of the unpleasant Meredith Blake in Shattered rather well, so it was actually fitting to picture the actress in my mind when reading Meredith's parts in the novel.

I feel that Submerged has stronger Christian themes than Shattered; Submerged deals a lot in redemption, forgiveness, and living new life in Christ (the old has passed away!), whereas Shattered more lightly touches on Landon's return to Christ.  I would not have minded a little more development to that aspect of the story, but what Pettrey includes is still solid.

A highly enjoyable novel, with strong romantic tension and high adventure - I look forward to the next book in the series! 

Alaskan Courage
0.5: "Shadowed" (Sins of the Past romantic suspense novella collection)
1. Submerged
2. Shattered
3. Stranded
4. Silenced
5. Sabotaged

Julie Klassen's "The Tutor's Daughter" - suspense, history, and a healthy romance!

The Tutor's Daughter is Julie Klassen's best novel yet.  Not only is it a puzzling suspense rich in historic detail, but also a believable love story.

Klassen addresses several common practices of the regency era - education by a tutor, wreckers scavenging and profiting from shipwrecks, and sending away handicapped children to foster families.  Her note at the end of the novel adds additional detail about Cornwall's history of shipwrecks and Jane Austin's own family - one of her older brothers was sent to a foster family due to his mental or physical affliction. 

One of the things I like best is that there is no sudden, inexplicable attraction that Emma feels toward Henry, like in so many novels where the hero and heroine are at odds from the start.  While Henry appears to have been attracted to Emma from their first meeting  nearly a decade ago (and promptly showed it in typical schoolboy fashion through insults and practical jokes),  Emma's attraction is based on slowly getting to know him as a man who cares for people and his home.  Yes, she is incredibly suspicious of him at first - and who wouldn't be after years of practical jokes? - and as long as she suspects him of his old tricks, she really does not feel any attraction toward the man.  However, as he proves himself time and again to be a mature and compassionate man, her heart changes toward him.  It is a much sweeter and more realistic (and healthier!) love story than most romantic novels can boast, be they secular or Christian.

While the book is not full of scripture quotes or zealous characters, Klassen still weaves in a good message.  Throughout the book Emma grows from a very regimented girl who prefers to order her life in the safest and most predictable way possible to an open woman who refuses to let fear and order imprison her.  In opening her heart to Henry and God, she opens her heart to pursuing her own dreams.  I especially liked that Henry cares enough about Emma's spiritual state to make sure Emma turns to God with her whole heart, and that it is not just in the heat of the moment because she is about to die.  

Five out of five stars!