A Most Noble Heir Book Review

                                                            A Most Noble Heir by Susan Anne Mason is a historical novel set in England in the 1880s. It centers around the main character Nolan Price, who is a lowly stable hand for a well to do estate. But his life drastically changes when his mother tells him who his father is on her deathbed. Shocked by news and feeling as if everything he has worked toward is being diminished within minutes of this news. Nolan has no clue as to what to do next and what the next step for him in life will be. He use to have it all planned out, he would marry Hannah and they would live on a farm of their own. But now things were looking immensely different.

So I’ll be honest and say that the beginning is slow. Even though Nolan finds out who his father is in the first couple chapters, I feel as if it was very boring as to how it was conveyed. I felt I was being dragged through this story. I didn’t feel connected to the main characters, Nolan and Hannah. And I wasn’t too keen on their romance.

Maybe if we were first introduced to the characters and got to know them more, I would have sympathized with them and their situation. But with that being said I thought the book was okay. I didn’t care for it much but I know that some people would enjoy this book, I was just not one of them.

I received this book from Bethany House for my honest opinion.

A Light on the Hill Book Review

                                                                                         A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette takes place right after the third book in the Out of Egypt series, Wings of the Wind. I loved the Out of Egypt series and was looking forward to the next series. I love that she continued the characters in the companion series.

Cossette’s writing immediately encaptures you into the stories and time period. You feel for the character and what she's going through. Right for chapter one you are thrown into the head first and it doesn’t stop. I read this book within two day, it was that good!

I also love that Cossette’s books are historically and Biblically accurate. As I was reading I could see how much research she put into this. Being the history nerd I am, I love to know that the historical fiction novels I read are historically accurate. I loved getting to know the culture and the cities of refuge more.

The complexity in this story is amazing! As more events start to unfold and layers of the story surface it's hard to put down. You just want to keep reading and reading, until before you know it, you’re finished.

I hated to see this book end. I loved Moriyah and Darek’s story and how there seemed no solution in the end. And at times I was questioning whether or not her story would end well. I loved this book to the very end and am greatly looking forward to reading the next one in the series.   I received this book from Bethany House for my honest opinion.

Out of the Ashes Book Review

                Out of the Ashes by Tracie Peterson & Kimberly Woodhouse is the second book in the Heart of Alaska series. Although I have not read the first book in this series, In the shadow of Denali, this is a series where you don’t necessarily have to read them all. That being said, I usually prefer reading series from start to finish, but in this case I didn’t.

                I sort of have mixed feelings about this book. And most of those feelings are not good ones. I have read several Tracie Peterson books in the past and have enjoyed them.  They tend to be light, quick reads, which is great. But Out of the Ashes just wasn’t doing anything for me. It defiantly had potential in the beginning. But once I got further in to the story I became disinterested.

                When I read the synopsis of this book I was assuming that they story would focus around the main characters, Jean-Michel and Katherine. But instead most of the book is centered on the characters from book one, Cassidy, Allan, and others. When I just wanted to read about Katherine and Jean-Michel, it would shift to other characters that frankly, I didn’t care about. I get that it is a second book in the series and that the characters carried over to this one, but I would have liked the influence to have heavily been on Katherine and Jean-Michel, with the other characters sprinkled in. I also felt like there were a lot of unnecessary characters that the story didn’t really need to keep it flowing.  

                So I had a lot of problems with this book unfortunately. I liked the “main” characters Katherine and Jean-Michel, but the others not so much. I was more interested and Katherine and Jean-Michel’s past and felt like that could have been delved into deeper and made for more of a substantial read.

I received this book from Bethany House for my honest opinion.

The House on Foster Hill Book Review

                                                                       The House on Foster Hill by Jamie Jo Wright is a fast-paced compelling mystery that kept me turning the pages. Right from the start you’re engrossed into two different story-lines, each one equally mysterious.

                I love a good mystery novel and one definitely didn’t disappoint. From the very first chapter I was invested into the story and characters. I love how Wright wove these two stories together, even though they were separated by a century, it was beautiful and seamless.

                The amount of creepiness this book had was outstanding and definitely added to the overall feel of the book.  I other words, it’s not a book you want to read alone in a dark, abandoned home.  But even if you’re reading this in the middle of bright beautiful day, it still can make the hairs on the back of your neck go up on edge. Who doesn’t like a nice a creepy read every once and while.

                I love Sherlock Holmes and something about this reminded me about the BBC mini-series.  So if you’re a fan of the man that lives at 221B Baker Street, then I have feeling you’ll really like this. I, for one, loved it.

I received this book from Bethany House for my honest opinion. 

The Sound of Rain By Sarah Loudin Thomas

                                                            One of my favorite genres of books to read is historical fiction. I was excited for The Sound of Rain because it was historical fiction, but it was set in a time period that haven’t read much from; the 1950s.

                The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas is a novel set in 1950s South Carolina. Larkin Heyward lives a relaxed life in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. But she dreams of one day leaving and helping the people in Appalachia. When she tells this to newcomer Judd Markley, he laughs in her face. He knows how life in the Appalachia can be. He’s lived there all his life and he finds it difficult to believe the privileged daughter of his boss. The whole point of coming to South Carolina was to escape his life in Kentucky. But he feels drawn to Larkin, despite his annoyance of her dream to help the poor people of Appalachia.

                I will say this book started out kind of slow for me. I wasn’t too invested into the characters and the storyline was dragging a little. I was waiting for it to pick up, but it didn’t for me. I felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere. It was quite frankly, and I hate to say this, boring. I really didn’t like any of the characters. I thought Larkin was childish and unlikable. Judd was stupid for liking Larkin. I really couldn’t stand anything about this book. It was just a big bore. There was no solid plot.

                I hate to give my opinion so harshly about a book that I know the author worked hard on, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I know some people will like this book; I just wasn’t one of them.

                I received this book from Bethany House for my honest review. 

A Dangerous Legacy Book review

                                                                                                                                                                                                        A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden is set in the early 1900s and centers around Lucy Drake, a telegraph operator. For years now her family has been tangled up in a lawsuit against her uncle. After her father’s death it is up to her and her brother to win this lawsuit and see justice being made. She doesn’t want her father’s death to be in vain. It’s the least she can do for her father.

                This lawsuit slowly begins to enrapture her life without even her knowing. It’s all she thinks about and lives for. Her life consists of the lawsuit and only the lawsuit. She will do anything to see her father’s name be put to rights; even if that means being a twenty-something women with no husband and children.

                This is the second book of Elizabeth Camden’s I have read. The first one, To the Farthest Shore, was amazing. I loved it. And this one did not disappoint either. Just like the first book I’ve read of hers, the plot is interesting and like nothing I’ve ever read. There’s something about the plot of her stories that are just so fresh and excited and complex all at the same time. I also love that she intertwines real history within the fictitious story. Being a lover of history myself, I greatly appreciate that.

                I’d highly recommend reading this book if you never read Elizabeth Camden books. They’ll keep you guessing to the end.   

                  

I received this book from Bethany House for review. 

The Two of Us Book Review

                I’ve never been a big of the contemporary genre. But here recently I’ve slowly been reading more and more contemporary and I find myself enjoying it. The Two of Us by Victoria Bylin has made me a fan. This was my first read from Victoria Bylin and definitely not my last. The way she writes her characters is amazing. They’re believable and relatable. You instantly fall in love with the characters and feel empathy for them and their situation.

                The Two of Us centers around two main characters, Jake and Mia. Jake is an ex-cop that sustains an injury in the line of duty. Mia is a nurse looking to put her skills to the test by applying for a nursing job overseas. She also has the issue of her pregnant younger sister getting married in Vegas. Both Mia and Jake’s lives intersect when Mia attends her sister’s wedding and Jake is the friend of the groom.

                I was hooked the very first chapter. I got right into the story and kept my attention the whole way through. You get to know the characters so well and find out everything about them. Once you think you everything there’s more. I enjoyed how she wove Jake’s mom into the story. I can see how people would love her characters because their just so relatable with the struggles they go through and face.

                I loved this book and would highly recommend it, even if you’re not a big fan of contemporary. You’ll be one after reading this.

                 I received this book from Bethany House for my honest opinion.

A Name Unknown Book Review

                                                                                                                              A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White is set in 1914 in England right before World War I begins. The two main characters are Rosemary and Peter. Rosemary has had a hard life ever since her parents died when she was a child. She did what she could to survive, even if that meant breaking the law. Now, even as an adult she is willing to do just about anything to see her ‘family’ thrive in a life of crime. When she is approached by a man to investigate into Peter Holstein’s life and to see if he’s loyal to the crown, she jumps at the offer. This assignment could set her for life if she can prove Peter’s name disloyal. So she poses as a librarian for the Holstein estate. But as she tries to dig up dirt on Peter’s name she is soon unsuccessful. As Peter and Rosemary grow closer she sees Peter is loyal to the British crown, despite him from being of German decent. But is he still hiding something?

                I was surprised how much I loved this book. It was wonderful! From the very beginning it kept my attention and it didn’t stop until it ended. I couldn’t stop reading it! It definitely gave off a Downton Abbey vibe that I immensely appreciated. I loved both of the characters and the chemistry they had for one another. I will say that the romance portion of this book was a long time coming, but totally worth it when it did come. The ending I definitely did not see coming. It surprised me, but in a good way.

                I can’t wait to read on in this series and I hope that there is plenty of Rosemary and Peter in the next book. I would love to see a continuation of Peter and Rosemary’s story since the war is about to begin. I'm excited to read the next book in the series when it comes out.

                I received this book from Bethany House Blogger Review Program for my honest opinion.  

Wings of the Wind Book Review

                                                  I love this series! I was hooked the moment I read the first book (Counted with the Stars). Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette is the third book in the Out of Egypt Series. I was excited to begin reading this book because I loved the first two so much. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I loved this book. It could very likely be my favorite of the series. It seems like with every book Connilyn Cossette writes it just keeps getting better and better.

                In this third book you are introduced to all new characters, but with some cameos made by characters (Shira and Kiya) from the previous two books. Book three takes place many years after book two ended, so those characters have aged in book three.

                The two main new characters are Tobiah and Alanah (love those names by the way). Alanah is a Canaanite women looking to avenge her brother’s deaths from the Hebrews. Tobiah is a Hebrew Soldier. When the two are thrown together under impossible circumstances, will Alanah ever be able to trust a Hebrew and their God?

                What I love about Cossette’s books is her synopses are very vague and only tell a fraction of what happens in her books. There’s always so much more that takes place. There are twists and turns everywhere. It was just an all-around great book. If you haven’t read any of the Out of Egypt series I highly recommend you start. There great books and I sincerely hope this series isn’t over. I want more! I would love to see a book on Moriyah.         

I received this book from Bethany House for my honest opinion. 

Known: Finding Deep Friendships in a Shallow World Book Review

                                                                                            I’ve been wanting to read more non-fiction books and I thought this would be a good book to start with. It sounded interesting and I thought the topic was relevant for this time. Known: Finding Deep Friendships in a Shallow World by Dick and Ruth Foth is about just what the title suggests. After reading the back description I was intrigued and interested. The topic is one that can benefit everyone and isn’t exclusive. I also like the idea of a book like this out there. I feel as if there are a lot of books of there about relationships, but friendships is one of those that are past by frequently.

                Although I liked the initial topic and beginning of this book, the further I got into it the more I was confused. I was left asking, “Now what does this have to do with finding deep friendships?”. I felt as if he veered off of the main topic and went down a rabbit trail. This is not true for all the chapters, but a good portion of them. The subjects of some of the chapters did not add anything to the overall picture that I thought he was painting. He went of course too many times. I also did not get the whole “Telling people your story”, but that could have been just me. Even so I felt as if it had nothing to do with friendships.

                Even though I had a lot of issues with this book I still found some the chapters beneficial and informative, but there were too many things wrong with this book to outweigh that. And with that i would say skip on this book, don’t waste your time, there’s better books out there.

                I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

•    More Info
• Author Bio

The Chapel Car Bride Review

                                                 The Chapel Car bride is a historical fiction book set in 1913. It centers on our two main characters Hope and Luke.  Hope Irvine is the daughter of a preacher who travels around the country in a train car converted into a chapel. Hope decides to join her father after her aunt passes away. Despite her father’s hesitation Hope feels as if God is calling her to ministry work with her father. When they finally stop in Finch, West Virginia for an extended period of time Hope becomes fast friends with local miner Luke Hughes. But when a mine manger arrives in town with less than noble intentions, Luke and Hope’s relationship is put to the test.

                I enjoyed the whole concept of the car chapel; I thought it was different and interesting to read about.  The overall plot was not the strongest, but still good. Honestly not a whole lot happened in the span of this book. It had a steady pace, but for some could be a little slow. The action/climax of this book happened towards the very end and once it happened it was resolved quickly, almost too quickly. I also felt Kirby to be a character that could have been left out. He really didn’t add anything to the story, except at the very end when everything is being resolved.

                So overall I just felt OK about this book. It wasn’t one of my favorites from Judith Miller. There were a lot other books from her i enjoyed a lot more. This just wasn’t one of them.

                I received this book from Bethany House bloggers Program for my honest review. 

To the Farthest Shores Book Review

                                                 I was really excited to read this book because I knew it was historical fiction and it was set during a war, which are one of my favorite genres to read. I read the description but wasn’t sure about the time period, I was guessing some time during World War I. But I soon found out that it was set during and after the Spanish-American War in 1898. I loved reading about this time period because it was something I wasn’t as familiar with. Elizabeth Camden did a good job of infusing a lot of historical elements which I greatly enjoyed because I love history. So not only did i enjoy a great story but i learned some things on the way.

                To the Farthest Shores centers around two main characters, Jenny Bennett, who is an army nurse, and Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher. They both meet at the beginning of the war and quickly fall in love and begin planning their future after the war. But a year later Jenny receives a letter from Ryan stating he is never returning to America. Jenny is confused and heart broken. Fast forward six years, the war has ended but a rebellion causes soldiers to stay in the Philippines. Jenny is still a nurse at the army base and all is going well until Ryan Gallagher shows up and he is not alone. She is shocked and confused that he is in San Francisco. She has so many questions and she is still hurt by what he did to her.

                I loved this book! I was intrigued from the first chapter and could not put it down. Highly recommend. Read it!

                I received this book from Bethany House Blogger review program for my honest opinion.   

Shine like the Dawn Book Review

                                                            Shine like the Dawn by Carrie Turansky is set in the early 1900s in England. It follows main character Maggie who was left raising her six year old sister because of her parent’s and older sister’s untimely death.  Four years later she and her sister live with her grandmother and work at their own millinery shop. As events unfold she has doubts that her parent’s and sister’s death was not just an accident. And if things couldn’t get any worse, the one who she suspects has something to do with their deaths is her old friend’s stepmother.

                When I read the back of this book I thought it was just going to be a romance. But I didn’t expect it to be both a romance and a mystery. Turansky wove an intriguing mystery and a sweet romance. I love how it also touched on other subjects like working conditions and strikes. It really gave you a sense of the time period, which i always enjoy.

                From the first chapter I was hooked. Once you get further along you slowly begin to see a mystery unfolding, which I didn’t expect at all. The back of the book was pretty vague in its description, which i liked in this case because the book surprised me.

                I loved both the main characters, Maggie and Nate. I felt the connection between them and loved their chemistry. Maggie and Nate found a way to reconnect even though they were going through bad times.

                Overall I really enjoyed this novel. It was a sweet romance and a great mystery. Loved it!

                I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

• More Info
• Author Bio

An Uncommon Courtship Book Review

                                                                           Set in England during the early 1800s, An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter follows our two main characters, Lord Trent Hawthorne and Lady Adelaide Bell. Trent and Adelaide are forced to marry because of an incident. And of course the only right and proper thing to do is to marry. Adelaide and Trent have to learn to love each other through the ups and downs of marriage.

                As soon as I began reading chapter one I was instantly hooked. It delved right into the action and you were submerged into their world. I loved the main characters and wanted to see their relationship flourish. I was routing for them the whole way through. I became so invested with these characters and wanted to see them happy. I loved it!

                Kristi Ann Hunter’s writing style was beautiful and made an exquisite romance that leaves your heart warm. You need to read it!

                I received this book for my honest opinion from Bethany House Blogger Review Program.   

The Women of Easter Book Review

                                                            Liz Curtis Higgs is one of my favorite non-fiction authors. I have read several of her other books and thoroughly enjoyed them. The Women of Easter was no exception. Liz Curtis Higgs does it again by writing a book about all the women Jesus encountered on the way to the cross. She breaks down each verse in an understandable way that anyone can follow.  

                Reading about Jesus’s crucifixion was an emotional ride. It was gripping and heart wrenching to read. It was a good reminder. I feel as if I don’t completely grasp the heartache and torture that Jesus went through. Even though Easter is months away, it was still a great reminder to read this. I feel as if I focus on Jesus’s death and resurrection when Easter rolls around, but I always know I think to be thinking about it more throughout the year. This book helped show the importance of remembering His death and resurrection all the time and thanking God for it.

                Whether you have previously read some of Liz Curtis Higgs books or haven’t, I think this is great read for anyone. It is clear and understandable for anyone to read. I highly recommend any of Liz Curtis Higgs books, especially this one. She does an outstanding job of walking you through the events that led up to his death and then His glorious resurrection. After reading this I was left with a newfound perspective of Jesus’s death and resurrection.  

                 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

• More Info
• Author Bio

For the Record Book Review

                                                     For the Record by Regina Jennings is a historical fiction book set in Missouri during the late 1800s. I’m a big fan of historical fiction. It is the majority of what I read, so I was excited to start reading this one. One of the main characters is Betsy, who wishes to write for a newspaper, other than her uncle’s. She soon gets her chance when a new deputy arrives that sparks new ideas for Betsy. Not soon after does Betsy get her stories publish to a newspaper. Joel, the other main character, tries to adjust to his new life as a deputy in Missouri.

                As I began this book I really did enjoy it. I liked both of the main characters and their relationship with each other. As I got further to the end I started losing interest and didn’t pick it up until a few days later. I don’t know what it was because technically that is when the story was reaching its climax. But that could have been just me. This was not my only problem with this book. Once the mystery was solved I thought it happened way too quickly and easily and was not that rewarding in the end. As I was reading I was expecting a little more out of the mystery being solved, but I was let down in the end.

                I'm not sure if this is a spoiler or not, but I'm going to mention it anyway. The very end I though it was unnecessary for Joel to return to Texas to clear his name.  It was already said and done and he was already moving on with his life. In my opinion, why dig up old dirt? Since this happened literally the last few pages it felt like it was almost an afterthought and I didn’t care for it too much.

                So in the end I thought I was going to enjoy this book, but it just didn’t happen for me. I was just too disappointing.

                I received a free copy of this book through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. 

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart Book Review

                                                                                                                                                                   Every time I read a Liz Curtis Higgs book I thoroughly enjoy it and this one is no exception. 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a great book for anyone that is looking to memorize more verses. These verses will encourage you and lift your spirit. Each chapter breaks down one verse. So you can clearly and purposely understand what God’s Word is trying to tell you.  At the end of each chapter there is space for you to write your favorite version of the verse studied.  There are tips and tricks to help you better memorize the verse. This is a great help for those of you that find memorizing tough.

                Since this book focuses on 31 verses you could read one verse a day for a month and memorize one verse a day. Or you can you a verse a week. I read this book through once and plan on going back and memorizing one verse a week. I plan of writing the verse on an index card and putting it around the house. This will help me memorize it and I will always see it around the house so I will be constantly reminded about it. But whatever why you decide to memorize these verses it will have a lasting impact on your live and how you live your life. I know for me these verses were a great reminder of God’s love for me. Some of the verses were familiar to me whereas some were not. But nevertheless, they were all great and beneficial to my life. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to memorize more verses and get closer to God.

                I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

• More Info
• Author Bio

"Shadow of the Storm" book review

                                                                                                                                                        Shadow of the Storm by Connilyn Cossette is the second book in the Out from Egypt series. I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Counted with the Stars. So I was having high hopes for this one and it did not disappoint. I loved this book! Everything about it was fabulous.

                In this second book it focuses mainly on Shira, sister to Eben from the first book. Shira was in the first book, but not one of the main characters. But in this one she is. I loved getting to know Shira better and reading her back story.

                So this pretty much takes off right where Counted with the Stars left us. The Exodus to the Promised Land is well under way. And the Tabernacle is being built. Shira is a young woman anxious to become a midwife, even if her mother disapproves. She quickly becomes entangled with a man that deceived her and a woman that despises.

                Always before I read a book I usually read that back, so I know what I’m reading. I loved that the description didn’t really give a whole lot away and spoil it for me. And being spoiled is just no fun. This book definitely has a major plot twist in it; I didn’t see it coming at all. It completely shocked me and changed the rest of the story. One minute I’m completely in love with Shira’s love interest and then the next minute I want to choke him. But then later he comes back into my good graces.

                Cossette has such a way with words. I loved all the dialogue between all the characters, especially Shira and Ayal. At some points it just made me melt inside because it was so cute and heartfelt.

                This is definitely my favorite out of the series so far. I am really looking forward to the third book in this series. I highly recommended you reading Shadow of the Storm.

                I received an ARC from the author. No review, positive or otherwise, was required, all opinions are my own. 

Book Review - The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall

                                                                                                                                                                 The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall is a sweet Amish romance during the Christmas season.  When I got this book i didn’t expect it to be as thin as it was. It is quite a short book and i read it within two days. I probably could have read it in a day if I hadn’t started so late in the day.

                I have read many Amish novels and really enjoy them. I have read a few of Cindy Woodsmall’s novels, so I expected this one to be good. I was a little worried that this one might not be as good because of its length. I was curious to know how she was able to write a well-developed story in the length of this novel.

                Reading chapter one you’re immediately thrown within the action of this story. Then beginning chapter three you jump ahead three years. So you miss a lot of the ‘in between’ action and events that took place during that time. You may or may not like this. For me I was kinds of the fence about it. She could be skipping ahead because there was no ‘real story’ to tell within that time. It could have been dead space if she added it in and it just might bore us. So maybe she left it out for good reason. Or she was just going for a short story here. Whatever the reason, it didn’t bother me too bad.

                I did really enjoy the main plot of this story. I thought it was sweet and to the point. It didn’t fuss around with small details that didn’t matter. That being said, I still enjoy books that are very detailed oriented.

                Although I did enjoy the overall plot and characters, I didn’t enjoy the ending. I felt like it ended very abruptly. If she extended it by a chapter or two I think I would have been satisfied with the ending. Or even a chapter that jumped ahead a year or two. I would have loved to see what happened to the characters and their growing relationship.

                So overall I did like this book and the characters. But I didn’t like how short it was. That may be because I just like longer books. But if you like a short fast paced book I think you’ll like it.   

• More Info
• Author Bio

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

A Lady Unrivaled Book Review

                                                                                                                                                                                    I was excited to start reading this book because I had read on the back that if you were a fan of Downton Abbey then you would enjoy this book. That caught my attention since I’m a serious fan of Downton Abbey. This is the third book in the Ladies of the Manor series by Roseanna M. White. I had not read the first two books in this series before reading this one. I have to admit, during the first few chapters I was a little confused, but once I past those few chapters I had caught on to everything. This particular series it is not crucial for you to have read the others before you pick the third. But that being said, if I decide to read the first two books they will probably be spoiled for me.

                Since this was the first book in this series I had read I was unfamiliar with the characters. I’m super thankful she put a list of characters and their relations to each other at the beginning of the book. If I came across a character I didn’t know I could flip back to that list and know exactly who they were.

                Before I began reading I read the back just to get an idea of what it was about. At first I was thinking the whole diamond thing was a little cheesy and I wasn’t too sure about it. But once I got further into the story, it made sense and I did enjoy it. I loved the main characters in this book. I specifically loved Lady Ella and Lord Cayton together. They had great chemistry between each other and I loved their flirtatious conversations. It had me smiling the whole way through.

                I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend it for Downton Abbey fans.

I received this book from Bethany House Blogger Review Program for my honest opinion.