Pistols and Poinsettias: A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery (Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series)

 

Do you enjoy a good mystery?  If so, you will love this GREAT mystery.  This was book 5 of 5 in this series.  And it was very fun to read and I was a little off as I tried to decide who the bad guys or the good guys were.  So it keeps you guessing till the very end.  It was a very good book and I enjoyed the "setting" of a large writer's conference in a hotel where all the action occurred. It reminded me of all the conferences that I traveled to during my working career and all the interesting events that took place making it a realistic read for me.  

I enjoyed the interactions of Smiley and McBlythe detectives as they search for the culprits and Steve Smiley's 6th sense as he used his non-seeing senses to solve the case.  A really good read!  

I received a complimentary copy from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

The Amish Christmas Gift by Laura V. Hilton

Riddled with guilt and sorrow, Levi leaves his fiancée, Elsie,  and becomes determined that he can never marry. Elsie is heartbroken after he leaves her.  

She has a very hard time keeping jobs and perhaps that is because God had other plans for her.  When Levi's sister asks her to be the Christmas elf for Levi, a disorganized toy maker, she finally agrees, knowing full well that they would be seeing each other on a regular basis because of this job.

This was a sweet, heartwarming Christmas book with clear lessons to be learned but all involved.  Levi continues to blame himself for his situation.  It's a nice story of forgiveness of one self,  which is probably the hardest act of forgiveness.

I enjoyed the story and it continued to get more interesting as the book continued.

I received a copy from Forever and NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

  

Pre-order Amish Christmas Miracles Collection

 

Piecing It All Together by Leslie Gould

I opened this book and it was off to a fast start.  No dull moments at all!  So good.  I enjoyed this book so very much.  This was one interesting book having a captivating story from the past and a similar situation to  those that came later.  I loved that!  The time-slip was very well done.  It was interesting to read of the Amish migrations which is still fascinating in this day. The character, Jane Berger, writes a local history column and knows stories of the past that are perfect for those in the modern days.  As she gets her quilters together and tells the stories, they touch the lives of those that need to hear them.

As is mentioned in the book blurb, Samantha's fiancee dumps her just before the wedding, yet later is he wanting to win her back???  And is she going to be tempted to do that???  Then there is a missing persons situation and who is blamed for the disappearance?  Lots going on in this book and you won't be skipping pages to get to the good parts because the whole book is that good!

This is book 1 of a new series and I am hooked and will not miss the opportunity to read all the rest to come.  Wow!  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing.  All thoughts are my own.

Grow! How We Get Food From Our Garden by Karl Beckstrand

Every now and then I get the opportunity to read and review a children's book.  I loved this book.  If I were a child  I know that I would absolutely love to read and re-read this fun, beautifully illustrated book.  The text is in rhyme and and tells a tale from seed to harvest.  

The pictures are all so appealing to young minds. They are colorful and bright which easily will draw their attention.  It touches on all the phases of plants, sunshine, rain, all in a delightful way.  This will certainly give children an increased interest in  what grows in the garden and that those wonderful garden plants are edible or beautiful to look at.  I am sure this will give children new and fun insights into the back yard garden.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

The Stone Wall by Beverly Lewis

 I hadn't read a Beverly Lewis book in quite a while.  So was happy to be able to read one again.  This is a sweet and different sort of story.  We have some "going back" in time events to make for a bit of an interesting storyline.  It has several different things going on, the new tour guide job for Anna taking her away from home and family and her Beachy Amish community.  Anna working in horse therapy for special needs children and the topic of Alzheimer's.  So there is a lot of topics to read about and learn about as well.  So lots of changes and new adventures for Anna.

It was an interesting book but probably not my favorite from this author.  I did enjoy it and the more I read, the more I got into the book.  The beginning was probably not as quickly engaging as the author's other books.

It was enjoyable, and heartwarming.  I liked the mystery parts best and the similarities between past and present people in two generations of a family.  Which is a nice theme as one learns and grows from the past.  And you will read about the many differences in the different Amish groups. And of course the secrets held by the stone wall.

Another good Amish read!

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley.  All thoughts are my own.

Montana Dreams The Blackwell Sisters Series by Anna J. Stewart

This was a great addition to The Blackwell Sisters Series.  Each book is written by different and talented authors.  This book continues with the story of Peyton Harrison AKA Blackwell.  In this book a lot of the past is revealed and explained so that even if picking up book 3, you will be able to read knowing how the story lines developed in previous books to this point.  But I would recommend reading them all because they are all so interesting and fun.  

This book has some intrigue and a little mystery that keeps the reader's interest throughout. Family dynamics play an important part in this book in several different ways. Its a clean romance and you will love the characters!

I enjoyed this book very much and felt it was a very fun and entertaining book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All thoughts are my own.

An Amish Singing by Amy Clipston

This book contains four sweet novellas.  A group of young people in an Amish community find a way to bring happiness to others in their community who have been sick or grieving and to sing and share their Gospel with non-Amish guests at dinners served in an Amish home.  The stories share a sweet story of romance among those in the singing group.  There is continuity in the stories, even though each features a different couple finding the way together.

I loved the stories and each one was enjoyable to read. The stories are uplifting and has its own Amish charm.  The stories are of faith, love and kindness.

If you enjoy Amish books, you will definitely enjoy this book.  Very fun read and inspirational stories.

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

Dogwood Plantation by Carrie Fancett Pagels Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Welcome Carrie Fancett Pagels 

Special Author Post and Giveaway!

Dogwood Plantation: Why I Chose the Tough Topics

By Carrie Fancett Pagels

My tagline, “Overcoming Through Time”, was inspired both by my background as a psychologist and as a believer. Most of my twenty published Christian fiction stories could be considered “sweet romances” but this full-length novel tackles tough topics.

When I first began writing this story, about a decade ago, I had just stepped back from work as a psychologist. When developing the characters for the novel, I asked “what would make (character) act that way?” I teach on backstory, and why it matters, and in this novel, those answers are critical to explain the behaviors on the page.

A few of my secondary characters have experienced sexual abuse, and one was the victim of incest. These aren’t necessarily topics covered in Christian fiction. I wasn’t heavy-handed in my writing of what had happened. (Spoiler alert!) One of the female characters, Mariah, suffered at the hands of her father, with devastating results that impacted many other people (mostly male characters) in my story. One person’s evil behavior impacted so many and down to the next generation. One of the unsympathetic male characters in my story, Daniel, really experienced “sexual misuse” at the hands of Mariah, which ended up being visited upon others. During the course of my career as a psychologist, I saw this kind of thing over and over.

So if you’re expecting a nice light read, maybe try one of my other stories. In Dogwood Plantation, I exposed some behaviors often kept under wraps. But I pray that readers will see Christ’s redemption though what happens to them eventually!

Carrie Fancett Pagels, Author

Dogwood Plantation (Hearts Overcoming Press, 2020)

"In Desperate Straits" in Lessons on Love collection, (Barbour, October 2019)

Mercy in a Red Cloak (Hearts Overcoming Press, 2019)

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring  (Barbour, 2017) -- Large Print (Thorndike 2018) A RT Book Reviews Top Pick, MAGGIE AWARD WINNER 2018 

"Love's Anchor" in The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection (Barbour, 2018)

"The Sugarplum Ladies" in The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection (Barbour, 2018)

"Shenandoah Hearts" in The Backcountry Brides Collection (Barbour, 2018)

"His Anchor" in First Love Forever Romance Collection (Barbour, 2018)

Giveaway: A copy of Dogwood Plantation in ebook or paperback.

Click here for the Rafflecopter

Link to purchase:
Amazon https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FNPMD6K/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

This was a cute novella length Christmas story that I enjoyed as a pleasant light read.  As Emma heads out for a Christmas in Colorado with her friend's family, she meets West Prescott, who didn't quite make his flight as their families swap homes for Christmas.

Not all things go as West plans but it's those twists and turns that make the story fun and keeps you reading.  Coming from a family that skis, I enjoyed the skiing theme.  It presented interesting personalities, that were not maybe as trustworthy and caring as they should be. I enjoyed the book and how things worked out in the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing.  All thoughts are my own.

Bride by Blackmail by Debbie Lynne Costello Moonlight & Magnolias Series Book 1

Loved this book!  It was very engaging and kept my interest throughout.  I loved the characters and Duncan's Scottish brogue!  I enjoyed the conflict, the romance, and also the cunning and creative ways Duncan came up with to try to win his bride.

Charlotte had a captivating personality who definitely wants nothing to do with Duncan.  It's a fun book to read and hard to put down.  Loved it!

There is also intrigue to add a bit of mystery to the book.  It's a clean romance with Christian values which expresses a beautiful trust in the Lord to guide us in our daily lives.

I highly recommend this very well written book!

I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts are my own.