Joanne Bischof's "Daughters of Northern Shores"--Blackbird Mountain, book 2

Haaken Norgaard, after four years on the high seas running from his past, finally takes the first step toward making things right with his family--by going home. Thor, his brother, and Aven, his brother's wife and the woman he wronged, are understandably wary at his return, but have bigger things to worry about, namely a painful disease that seems intent on taking Thor's life, and potentially spreading to the remainder of the household. In addition, the Sorrel men, who were run off the mountain with Haaken's initial departure, are back and looking for revenge against the Norgaards. Will Haaken find his redemption and make things right with his family before it is too late?

I will admit, the story wasn't what I was expecting based on the cover and title; the two comprise something more of a dream being kept alive in Haaken's heart than any practical impact on the main story, the vast majority of which takes place back on Blackbird Mountain. And on the whole, the sons of Blackbird Mountain have a much larger role in the story (and more viewpoints) than any daughters of northern shores. It just seems like an odd choice by the publisher to base a title and cover on an epilogue. It's beautiful, and care was clearly taken to depict a very specific image, but don't (like me) expect to get to know the woman on the cover.

That's not to say it isn't good. It's just different than I anticipated--very much a continuation of the Norgaard family's story, with viewpoints of Thor, Aven, and Haaken, as they fight to protect what is theirs. To be honest, I didn't feel that the threat from the Sorrel men until late in the book--as scare tactics go, graffiti is obnoxious, but not very terrifying. Now, when a certain devious tactic was finally revealed, their worry proved much more legitimate (and I impressed). And between the final confrontation and Haaken's redemption, that ending was spectacular--Hollywood only dreams of an ending as perfect as this. Read this book for the ending if nothing else (though it is what comes earlier that makes it so impactful, especially the beautiful wisdom regarding forgiveness and trust).

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

Blackbird Mountain
1. Sons of Blackbird Mountain
2. Daughters of Northern Shores

"A Desperate Hope" by Elizabeth Camden---Empire State, book 3

Eloise Drake, a brilliant accountant, is tasked with overseeing the appraisal of the buildings and land of a town that is about to be demolished for the construction of a reservoir that will be able to keep New York City in clean water. Unfortunately, it means spending two months with mayor Alex Duval--the man who broke her heart. Alex is stunned to finally see Eloise again, but even more shocked to discover that she's part of the hated team preparing to destroy his home. When Alex comes up with a wild idea that could mean saving his town, he need Eloise's help to succeed. But will their combined ingenuity be enough to overcome the hurdles stacked against them?

I think I say this for every Elizabeth Camden novel, but I love that her heroines have such unique, impressive jobs. And while they may suffer some sexism for being in positions that typically belong to men, the stories are never about that--they're about strong women making a difference (and that makes such a difference in my enjoyment as a reader, seeing them being their best and excelling at their jobs rather than constantly fighting against men). Eloise is no exception, being one of very few female CPAs in New York. While I have no great love for budgeting, I really connected with her practical outlook on life--her love of concrete plans, order, and security.

I also liked Alex and his wild dreams and grandiose ideas--he makes a great balance to Eloise's love of security and order. He's one of those men that is larger than life, and even though he has been beaten down again and again while trying to save his town, he jumps back up swinging. But frankly, there were times he could be an insensitive clod. When it comes to certain sins, men just aren't held to the same standards as women, and it's the women who are more likely to be hurt. I wish he would have been better about acknowledging that.

The history behind this story is also fascinating. Living in an place with a massive abundance of clean freshwater, I've never thought about reservoirs--why one would build them, what would happen to the land beneath them, what was there before the water. But to read about the towns that were moved or lost to build the reservoir to keep New York City in clean, healthy water, I can better appreciate my home!

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.

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

Rachel Dylan's "Breach of Trust"--Atlanta Justice book 3

Corporate litigator Mia Shaw is devastated to discover the mutilated body of her friend and coworker, Chase. She will do everything in her power to get him justice, but the accused turns out to be a friend of her acquaintance security tech Noah Ramirez, who refuses to believe the man did it. When Mia's boss hands her the case that Chase had been working, Mia finds some strange emails that point to corporate espionage. Even though they disagree on Chase's murderer, Mia can't deny Noah's security skills, so she brings him into a case that proves a lot more dangerous than either ever dreamed . . .

I really enjoyed that this book has the opposite perspective of the first book of the series (rather like bookends to the series)--instead of taking on a company in the wrong, Mia is working on the side of the company being accused of wrongdoing (though it isn't clear-cut right or wrong--I'd call it something more like murky corporate politics). I enjoyed the complexity of the story, with different threads in different cases that may or may not be related.

It was also fun to have Mia and Noah on opposite sides (at least for a good while), yet still be able to work not just professionally but kindly with each other. In truth, I wasn't sure at first that I liked Mia--she was so adamant about who Chase's killer was and unwilling to consider an alternative that it turned me off for a bit. But when she was willing to work with Noah--and agreed to be willing to change her opinion should the evidence point that way--then I instantly softened toward her, and she proved an excellent heroine for the remainder of the 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.

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

"Between Two Shores" by Jocelyn Green

Daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father near the French bastion of Montreal, Catherine Stands-Apart Duval finds it easier to remain neutral in a world that is tearing itself apart. A trader with both the French and the British, Catherine survives by her neutrality. When her British ex-fiance, Samuel Crane, is taken prisoner by her father, Samuel asks her to help him escape, claiming he has information that could help end the war. Torn between standing apart and ending the suffering of New France, Catherine has to weigh the consequences of maintaining her neutrality against the consequences of turning traitor against her own country.

I will admit, when I had read somewhere that this was a purely historical novel and not a romance, I hadn't realized just how Not A Romance it would be. Many stories that aren't romances still manage to convey a satisfactory love story, so that's more what I was expecting. Nope! You are now warned.

That said, I think it was the best book I've read by Jocelyn Green, and that is high praise indeed.

Catherine Stands Apart lives up to her name, standing apart from conflict and at the edge multiple worlds without fully belonging in any--purely neutral, at least until the consequences of neutrality prove too great and finally force her to choose a side. I was so glad that it was told entirely from her perspective--any other viewpoints, and it would have lost impact.

It's full of fascinating history of the French and Indian War, as well as the culture of New France and those involved in the fur trade (people who assume women historically lived in complete subjugation to men clearly don't know about the Mohawk or women traders of the era). And wow, is the story emotional. Catherine's relationships with her family are complicated to say the least, but it was so satisfying to finally see some restoration there. I wish--for Catherine's aching heart--that there could have been a love story in there for her, but it was a moving tale nonetheless, with beautiful symbolism.

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 Sky Above Us" by Sarah Sundin---Sunrise at Normandy, book 2

When she arrived overseas, American Red Cross volunteer Violet Lindstrom expected to be helping the British evacuee children, not serving coffee to uncouth airmen. But as she gets to know Lt Adler Paxton, one of the pilots, she learns not all airmen are so bad. Adler knows just how bad airmen are, and that he's the worst of the lot, carrying weighty secrets of guilt and grief. But he finds himself drawn to Violet, even as she keeps pushing him to reconnect with his family. As D-Day draws near, they become close, but Adler will be forced to face his past--and the most fearsome battle of his life.

5 stars! I have enjoyed all of Sarah Sundin's books, and I've felt for a while that her books get better and better with each new series, but this series is something special; the way that the brothers were separated and how they are coming back together on the battlefield is spectacular. And as much as I enjoyed the previous book, I think I like this one even more. Granted, I ran out of extra stars long ago, so you can't tell by the rating . . .

I almost felt differently. The moment Adler decided to buck the rules and prove himself a flying ace, I snapped the book shut (not that I intended to quit the book before finishing; I just had a strong suspicion nothing good could come of his choice, and I had to brace myself). But instead of the beginning of a downward spiral, it proved to be the moment of change for Adler's character. Instead of his pride being a constant source of frustration the rest of the book, he humbles himself and seeks to be the best in the position he's in, not the position he wants. Yes, he still battles pride, but it doesn't control him. From that point on, I absolutely loved him as a hero. In my opinion, that change had more strength happening as early as it did--for once, we get to see the hero live out his resolution, even when it's really difficult and he'd like to give up.

I personally really liked Violet--she's a good girl, trying to do the right thing, and trying to make the most of a situation that she would not have knowingly chosen. She isn't perfect. But she tries hard, and even when she makes mistakes, she can own up to them. Maybe she's less detrimentally flawed than a lot of heroines these days, but to me she seemed normal--a person you could actually know, living right down the street, without a severely traumatic past. And hooray for tall heroines!

I loved the supporting characters in this book (they're fun AND supportive--the best sorts of friends for the main characters). The book packs a wallop of spiritual truths, particularly on the theme of forgiveness--a theme I expect to be continued through the next book.

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

Sunrise at Normandy
1. The Sea Before Us
2. The Sky Above Us
3. The Land Beneath Us

Michelle Griep's novella collection "Ladies of Intrigue"

Three page-turning novellas of 19th-century: can truth and love prevail when no one is as they appear?

The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady: I don't know what it is about rogues--the Robin Hood-type highwaymen, smugglers, pirates, and the like, but when one of these non-law-abiding men just so happens to be a gentleman (with an honorable moral code), they can be terribly difficult to resist. Isaac Seaton is a perfect example of it. I'm not convinced that proposals and funerals go hand-in-hand, but the story was entertaining and by far the most deserving of the "intrigue" of the title.

The Doctor's Woman: Having studied a fair amount of Minnesota history, I was excited to see a story about the Dakota War of 1862, or rather, the aftermath. It was a war that never should have happened--it easily could have been prevented, had the US fulfilled its ends of the treaties--and there were atrocities committed on both sides, but the worst of which being the revenge the US took against the Dakota, innocents and all.

I don't think the novella does justice to the tragedy of 1,600 people--mostly women, children, and elderly--pushed together into a river-bottom concentration camp over the course of a Minnesota winter, where several hundred died of disease in those few months alone. But it is a nice story of a doctor and a woman with the heart of a doctor working together to help ALL those in their care, not just the ones popular opinion would have them help. No actual mystery to this story.

House of Secrets: Joseph Blake wins above even the rogue for my favorite hero of the collection. He's charming, honorable, and passionate, and he doesn't take life too seriously, except where it matters. There is intrigue to this story as well, as Joseph is trying to take down a brothel while hiding his involvement in getting prostitutes out of the business.

I prefer Griep's full-length fiction to the novellas, where there is more room to flesh out the story and world, but these do convey her masterful use of language. The title isn't the most fitting I've seen regarding novella collections, but the stories are all entertaining.

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

Kristy Cambron's "Castle on the Rise" - Lost Castle, book 2

Three timelines centered around one castle weave together to capture Ireland's history and hope for the future. Approaching the turn of the 19th century, Maeve tries to hold her estate together as  catholic fights protestant and Ireland rebels against England. During the Easter Uprising of 1916, Issy steps outside the bounds of her aristocratic upbringing to capture on film Ireland's bloody push for freedom. Today, Laine Forrester, barely holding herself together after the crumbling of her own marriage, travels to Ireland to stand by her best friend as she begins her marriage with cancer treatments.

Between the title and the subject matter, I had the song The Rising of the Moon running through my head for pretty much the entirety of the novel. I loved the history included in this book--it wasn't until college that I learned anything about Ireland's bloody history of failed rebellion after failed rebellion under British rule, and it was exciting to find a story set during some of those pivotal moments.

It figures that Eoin was my favorite hero--he and Maeve are the couple I cried over by far the most (oh, that ending . . . ). I love that Maeve's desire is to bring unity in a divided nation, while Issy's goal is to visually capture the truth of the uprising. And Laine has some powerful moments herself while standing up with her best friend as she begins cancer treatments. The hair-cutting scene was wrenching and uplifting at the same time.

The one thing that consistently bothers me about multi-timeline novels is that two--or in this case, three--stories are fit into the same space as a normal full-length novel. Thus I'm caught up in three different stories, wishing that each could be a full novel rather than a mere third of one. But to be fair they were balanced well, and I never grew bored with any of them. The two historical timelines fit really well together,  while the modern one a little less well (it had emotional stakes, like the other two, but lacked the physical stakes). Cambron went somewhere I didn't expect with one of the timelines, and it was all the more powerful for it; I loved it and thoroughly disliked it at the same time (which is to say it was really good, even if it left me an emotional wreck).

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

Lost Castle

1. The Lost Castle

2. Castle on the Rise

3. The Painted Castle