Monday, February 28, 2022

Murder at the Courthouse by Ann H. Gabhart (Book 1 A Hidden Springs Mystery Series) Audio Version


This is a really nice cozy mystery by Ann Gabhart.  A dead body is found.  Who is it?  Who did this?  It is all a mystery to the quiet town of Hidden Springs.

The characters were all cozy people that all know one another and have their own opinions on what happened and how. Deputy Sheriff Keane is responsible to find out who did it.  I enjoyed following in his steps as he delves in to solve the case.  I really loved the small town setting.  My early years took place in a small town.  We knew everyone and everyone knew us as well.  It's a comfortable setting that lets you settle right into the story and how things would be in a quiet unassuming little place when the  unexpected occurs.

I enjoyed the book and think you will as well! It's always fun to listen to an audio book as you drive in your car, do some work or just relax.  So I found this book entertaining and enjoyed the fact that the author, herself, was the voice of the narrator.  Loved the Kentucky accent!  And she did a great job in the narration.  

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

Friday, February 25, 2022

Love's Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik (Doors to the Past #7)


 This was a time-slip book between current day and the 1870's.  Dani Sango inherits her father's home after his death.  Here starts her adventure in her father's past of art forgery and the book becomes quite intriguing.  It takes place at St. Augustine, Florida and takes you back in time with lots of drama you won't want to miss. 

This book is a page turner that grasps you and you will definitely not be able to put this book down.  The author does a good job of incorporating the two time frames.  A line that touched me was "Oh sweet heavenly Father, thank You! You do have a plan!" Which exemplified to me the Christian themes throughout the book.  That God is in control.  And that faith is an important part of life.

I recommend this book and I am sure others will enjoy it as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was not required to give a positive review.

Monday, February 21, 2022

The Sugarcreek Surprise (Creektown Discoveries v. 2) By Wanda E. Brunstetter


This is book 2 of the Creektown Discoveries series.  I had previously read the first in the series.  They are both nice and clean Amish stories.  This was an enjoyable story with two people that need to heal from their past trials and disappointments.  I really liked Paul's character. I liked how he didn't give up on Lisa and his patience was very endearing to me. I loved seeing the Troyers return in this book and mentor the struggling couple.  They were very patient, caring and trusting in God's hand in the paths of the people they help. I loved Maggie, the stray dog, who also had her trials as well and helped to show Lisa how to be able to love again.

There were a few slower sections in the book, but I still enjoyed it very much.  If you enjoy Amish romance, you will enjoy reading this book.

I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review.  All thoughts are my own.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Threads of Hope (Plain Patterns book 3) by Leslie Gould


This was such a nice story, full of emotions and real-life issues.  I loved how the women got together to quilt and visit and as they did they "went back in time" to hear a story that that happened to an Amish man as he leaves his home to serve in the military during WWI and leaves behind his conscientious objector status and becomes a soldier despite what is expected of him as a Plain man.  As Jane reads Amos's letters to her friends, Danielle, Tally, her mother and little Maggie, the letters come to be something they looked forward to and couldn't wait to continue to see how the story turned out. 

Tally is a caregiver to her mother and she and Danielle, a Plain woman who also joined the military, find some ties that bind them into one another's lives.  The story is very moving and touching with lots of feels that you won't want to miss.  I really enjoyed this book so much.  I understood Tally's stage of life as a caregiver and know personally the struggles this brings.  

I highly recommend this story.  

I received a copy of this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review.  All thoughts are my own.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Brooklyn Raised Livin' Upstate a memoir by Kathleen Smith Audible Version


I listened to the Audible version which the author herself narrated.  The book had little vignettes of the life and lifestyle of the author.  It was a nice story of her growing up in Brooklyn and then her life as wife and mother in Upstate New York.   It tells of stories in her life such as her first funeral and other events and ties them into her beliefs and faith in God.

I received a complimentary copy from the author.

Saturday, February 12, 2022

The Prince And The Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith


I have read quite a few Biblical fiction books lately and find that I really enjoy them.  I keep thinking how difficult it would be to write a book of this type.  Lots of research to be sure of details would definitely be necessary.  I love how the people come to life in this book and how easy it makes it to visualize what is happening as the book progresses.  This is an amazing book.  I enjoyed it very much and the author truly brings the characters to life, sharing their feelings, both good or not so good ones.  I found that as I read this book the characters seemed easier to understand in a very human way.

Joseph being the favored son, suffered at the hands of his brothers and it is so good to know that all of this had a  purpose with God.  It was good to see that he was faithful throughout and we see how God may be silent for a while but his purposes are always seen as in this story of Joseph.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was not required to give a positive review.  All thoughts are my own.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Hues Of You by Dr. Lucretia Berry


This book really hit a chord with me.  We have a very interracial family, both immediate and extended.  We have family members of many different "Hues" and cultures.  And I have to say, I absolutely love it.  I am a professional genealogist and studying the family backgrounds has been a fascinating experience that I never tire of.  

I love the concept of this book as children learn to accept and embrace different people and learn that we may seem different on the outside but on the inside we have the same feelings, needs and abilities.

The book shares that as different people we might celebrate different holidays and speak different languages and have other differences.  It teaches of words and meanings in relation to the different peoples and ethnicities.  This book was written in the style of a workbook to fill in the difference we might see in friends and others that we come to meet in our lives and teaches that we all have an important significance in this World.

The book teaches that regardless of the hue of our skin and our ethnicity, we are all members of humanity and should be treated as such.  I love the premise of this book and the elements that it teaches to young people that are reading this.  In our diverse World, it is an excellent example of what we all need to strive for.  Excellent children's book.  I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook & Multnomah.  All thoughts are my own.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Amish Amnesia by Ashley Emma Standalone Novel (Covert Police Detectives Unit Series Book 3)


This book was a clean Amish read.  The book was more about the "English" side rather than the Amish as it featured a young woman who had been badly injured and aside from the obvious physical injuries also suffered from a serious case of amnesia.  Staying with Jeff, whose occupation was in law enforcement and his sister while she struggles to regain her memories, there are more attempts at her life and safety.

The story is engaging and enjoyable and you come to really like the characters that are in this story.  

I was somewhat able to relate to the amnesia as I had a slight case of it, wherein I was unable to recall the accident I was in and the frustration that brings with it.



Sunday, February 6, 2022

Peace in the Mountain Haven by Misty M. Beller (Call of the Rockies Series Book 7)

 

Misty Beller knows how to write about adventure.  As Hugh is asked to ensure that Watkuese and her 6 year old daughter make it safely to their destination, he finds the young girl much more of a challenge than he expected.  At the same time he sees something very special in Watkuese despite not having expected it at all.

Both Hugh and his brother, who is traveling with him, are wonderful characters and as they experience many hardships to overcome, you can see their personalities shining through. The entire series has been exceptional and this book is a wonderful addition to the previous books.  There was drama, action and romance as the book progresses.

The author did an excellent job on this book.  And I am lucky to have an opportunity to read it!

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

Saturday, February 5, 2022

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel


I really enjoyed this historical fiction taking place in 1920.  As Lady Annabeth appears in the jewelry shop of the Jennings family to become an apprentice, Stephen is not happy about it.  He is a bit offish towards Lady Annabeth and doesn't appreciate her being there.  But as time has it, there is a slow attraction forthcoming which after a certain event builds the romance during a time of strife between the Irish and the English.

It was an engaging story which kept my attention throughout.  I have previously read the book A Dance in Donegal by this same author and I enjoyed the attention to detail of the locations and the events taking place there in history at that time in her books.  I loved the Irish brogue that appears throughout and the character Seamus was really one I enjoyed getting to know.  He was a stable and kind character.  And of course there were characters that caused difficulties for Annabeth and Stephen.  It was a good book that I would happily recommend to others.

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

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Love's Escape by Carrie Fancett Pagels James River Romance Series


 This was a really touching book.  It takes us back to slavery days and the Underground Railroad.  You really become attached to the wonderful characters.  The story is so engaging it is hard to put it down.  This book has all the emotions of this time period and the situations of the slaves and their difficult lives.  It totally moved me as I read it.  I loved the romance and the struggles that ensued.  

This book was excellent.  If you love historical fiction, you will not want to miss this one.  I highly recommend it.

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