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A Reckless Love

A Reckless Love (Daughtry House, #3)Aurora Daughtry loves to manage projects and people—and clearly takes after her Southern grandmother with a penchant for matchmaking. Between orchestrating successful matches for her two sisters and working on transforming the run-down family mansion, Aurora has had her hands full. But now that the Daughtry House is up and running as a luxurious and lucrative hotel resort, Aurora finds herself in need of a new project—and his name is deputy marshal Zane Sager. Arriving at Daughtry House to collect two key witnesses to a federal judge’s murder, the lawman’s conviction that the world—and God in particular—is out to get him is clear. As determined as Zane is to put the criminal behind bars, Aurora is just as set on freeing Zane of his cynicism. But the threat of danger increases as they get closer to the criminal—and to each other.

My Review:

A Reckless Love was an enjoyable first impression to Beth White’s books. Even though I read the third book first, I am really looking forward to reading the first two books very soon. ( :

Filled with suspense, action, and romance, this was an easy read and one I enjoyed very much. This story follows the youngest Daughtry daughter, Aurora and deputy marshal, Zane Sager. Both characters story’s were well developed and strongly written.

I enjoyed that the author added little bits of historical pieces in her story.

Overall, I recommend this book!

 

This review is written in my own words and is my honest opinion.
I received this book from the Revell Division of the Baker Publishing Group for this review.

A Gilded Lady (Hope and Glory #2)

A Gilded Lady (Hope and Glory, #2)Happy Book Release Day!

Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she’s hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason. 
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president’s Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.

My Review: 

I loved this brand new historical novel by Elizabeth Camden. The entire story was beautifully crafted and well written. With history and a little bit of romance, I was intrigued the entire way through the book.

Set during in the early 1900s, Caroline Delacroix enters the story as the first lady’s secretary. I absolutely loved how Camden mixed her fictitious characters into history as if they really are in the history books. Though this is book two in Camden’s Hope and Glory series, it can be read as a stand alone novel. Caroline’s goal is to find a way to rescue her younger brother from being tried as a traitor of the United States. Her only way of doing that is to get the president to pardon her brother. With her brother in jail for treason this makes her a prime suspect for Nathaniel Trask, the newly appointed secret service agent hired to make the president and his family safe. Camden always does a great job with her main couples and these two were no exception. Let the sparks fly!

The descriptions and the details in this story were incredible. With only a couple of words into the story I could imagine the setting and characters. Oh, and all the costumes too! ( :

So overall, very enjoyable historical fiction. Highly recommend! Definitely looking forward to book three!

 

I received this book from the Bethany House Publishing of the Baker Publishing Group through Netgalley for this review. All words are my own. 

Colors of Truth (Carnton #2)

In 1866 Catriona O’Toole arrives in the town of Franklin, Tennessee, searching for her Colors of Truth (Carnton, #2)younger brother, Ryan, who, according to his last letter, was headed for Franklin only days before the catastrophic Battle of Franklin. Ryan’s last note contained a stack of cash–enough money to bring his entire family across the ocean from Ireland. But after disease and illness tear through County Antrim and the O’Toole family, only Catriona and her seven-year old sister Nora are left to make the journey. Wade Cunningham, one of ten operatives in the newly formed United States Secret Service Agency, is on the hunt for counterfeiters. A tip leads him to Franklin and to Carnton, the home of wealthy Tennessean John McGavock. The recent murder of a fellow agent mandates that Wade keep his true identity hidden, as well as his past service in the Federal Army. But when he receives a note bearing only the name of the deceased agent, he realizes someone in town already knows who he really is. As evidence in the case mounts, it eventually points to Catriona, but Wade is slow to want to believe it. Because his heart is swiftly becoming hers. 

My Review: 

I absolutely loved this captivating historical novel. The story, the characters, and the settings were brilliantly captured. Bravo, Tamera Alexander!

This is the second book in Alexander’s Carnton series. The story could be read as a stand alone novel though I highly recommend With this Pledge, the first book in the series as well. While reading this book I was drawn into the story as if I was really there. Alexander did an excellent job of making her story come to life.

Catriona and her younger sister captured the life of Irish immigrants that traveled to the United States right after the Civil War to track down their brother who fought on the side of the south. The two sisters make it to the last place their brother talks about in his letters and that is where they meet Wade. With secrets of his own Wade soon enlists the help the girls to track down their brother. I enjoyed the main characters very much and by the end of the book it was like saying good bye to dear friends.

The historical aspect was exceptional. Alexander did an amazing job of taking a historical battle and town and entwining it with her story. While reading this, I could tell that a lot of work was put into this story. Well, honestly, I spent quite a bit of time looking up Civil War facts and pictures of the Carnton plantation. But I barely need the visuals since Alexander describe it to a tee.

I am very pleased with this story and highly recommend it! I am very much looking forward to the next book!

 

This book will be released on October 6, 2020, so there is time to preorder your copy!

Intrigued?

Well the author created a Youtube video about the first book in this series that was super cool. Click the link to learn more – Welcome to Carnton with bestselling author Tamera Alexander

 

I received this book from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley for this review. All words are my own. 

Carolina Breeze – A Bluebell Inn Romance #2

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and celebrity scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down. Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the precarious financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters. When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead. 

My Thoughts: 

This is the second book in the Bluebell Inn series by Denise Hunter and it takes off right where Lake Season (the first book) ended. However, you are not required to read the first book before this one. They are stand alone novels, since it switches main characters.

Overall it was a cute story despite that the whole story pretty much takes place within two weeks. I felt like there was way too much going on in such a short period. It was not a favorite of mine but I do believe Denise Hunter’s readers will enjoy it.

Her main characters both had their issues that needed to be taken care of but they deserved each other. I could not connect with the main girl character since she lives the Hollywood life style and I would want nothing to do with that life style. Levi could seem really annoying but you have to get to the end of the story to know why he is a little protective of his siblings – so don’t judge until you get to the end.

Overall enjoyable read! I just wish there really was a Bluebell Inn.

Last comment: This book would make a great beach read!

 

I received this book from the Bethany House Publishing of the Baker Publishing Group through Netgalley for this review. All words are my own. 

Stay With Me: A Misty River Romance #1

Stay with Me (A Misty River Romance, #1)When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents’ past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge Mountains to chase down her family’s secret. However, it’s Genevieve’s own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of a historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she’s worked so hard to hide.
Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He’s spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most.

My Thoughts: 

Well, unfortunately I don’t know where to even start with this one. I am a little disappointed and I hate feeling this way. So being completely truthful, I was not a fan of this book.

Truth being told, the main character (Genevieve) got on my nerves a little too much. She was a selfish brat who would not take no for an answer and don’t even get me started on personal space. For example: here was a girl who literally broke into a random strangers cottage and then expected that random stranger to be all nice and let her rent the cottage. Not happening!

Sam did not leave that big of an impression on me. One thing he definitely could do better is find a better girl but I am not the author. (:  I liked the sister though. She was a hilarious side character who I would have wanted to know more about. At the beginning of each chapter the was a blurb about the miraculous five. I found myself more interested in that little story then the rest of the book. I was hoping for a little more about that but alas, I might have to wait for the next books.

This book did bring up the important topic of the prescription drug issue. It is important that people understand that it truly is an important issue in this world and one that needs to be resolved quickly. If not taken properly, prescription drugs can be extremely dangerous. Becky Wade did an excellent job in weaving the crisis into her story. So, well done for that aspect.

Overall not a fan of this one, though I am curious who the next book will be about.

 

How about you: What is your reaction to a book you thought you would like but then it ended in disappointment?

 

I received this book from the Bethany House Publishing of the Baker Publishing Group through Netgalley for this review. All words are my own. 

Unyielding Hope – Start of a Brand New Series by Janette Oke

Fellow Janette Oke fans, I have exciting news! On May 5, 2020, Janette Oke’s brand new book is to be released. I only just heard about this book a couple of days when I was scrolling through Goodreads and got lucky to get an review copy early! This book/series is based off the Hallmark TV show When Hope Calls. Quick clarification, it is very different. The TV show was released first so only a couple of the characters are the same. So don’t expect the TV show when reading the book or vice versa. I will have more on the TV show in an upcoming post. So stay tuned!

Here are my thoughts about this book: 

First and foremost I really enjoyed the book. Here is the summary of the book.

“As a young girl, Lillian Walsh lost both her parents and a younger sister. Now in her Unyielding Hope (When Hope Calls, #1)twenties, after enduring the death of her adoptive mother, Lillian must find her place in the world. Just as her adoptive father is leaving for an extended trip to his native Wales, a lawyer appears at the door to inform Lillian that she has inherited a small estate from her birth parents–and that the sister she had long believed dead is likely alive. When she discovers that her sister, Grace, is living in a city not far away, Lillian rushes to a reunion, fearful that the years of separation will make it hard to reconnect. When the two sisters meet, Grace is not at all what Lillian expected to find. Though her circumstances have been difficult, Grace has big dreams. Can Lillian set aside her own plans to join her sister in an adventure that will surely change them both?”

I am always excited to see a new book come out with Janette Oke’s name on the front and I was not disappointed with this one! I was drawn into this book quickly! Both of the sisters were adorable and I enjoyed reading their stories. This book mainly follows Lillian and her perspective. But it does change perspective to a young orphan boy a few times. At first I did not like that but then it grew on me and I did not mind reading the story per his point of view.

While reading this story I could almost imagine being there and living out the book. It was extremely  interesting and sad to read about the Canadian version of the orphan trains. I could never imagine the horror of being separated from a sibling. I guess that is what drew me in. I have sisters so I could understand how the sisters felt. Even though they lived different lives the sisterly bond was stronger.

I do have to mention this. If you are a true fan of Janette’s books this one was written with her daughter so the writing style was different. It was not bad but there is a difference in this book’s writing style compared to her original books.

Overall this book was excellent and I really enjoyed this vivid story. When I finished this book, I was a little sad that I finished it and would have to wait for the next book. But I most definitely will be reading the next book in this series.

So final comment…

I highly recommend this story and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

 

I received this book from the Bethany House Publishing of the Baker Publishing Group through Netgalley for this review. All words are my own. 

 

 

The Land Beneath Us

In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the U.S. Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, The Land Beneath Us (Sunrise at Normandy, #3)Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers’ betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for—fulfilling the recurring dream of his death. Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family—the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago. After Clay saves Leah’s life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-Day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay’s recurring dream comes true?

My Review:

A great conclusion to the Sunrise in Normandy series by historical author Sarah Sundin.

Overall I was pleased with this book. Sundin does an excellent job with her research into her stories. For those who have followed the series, this book follows the youngest Paxton brother. Clay Paxton is a lieutenant in the Army Rangers and while completing training he meets Leah Jones. Leah is an orphaned girl in search of her younger siblings. She works at the base’s library and there she meets Clay. This is not a story of love at first sight but instead Sundin takes a different turn with a marriage of convenience. This was a little different than the other books I read by Sundin.

Sundin did an excellent job with combing historical facts with her fictitious characters and tale.

The story highlights duty, honor, forgiveness and last but not least true love.

I would recommend this book and series.

 

This review is written in my own words and is my honest opinion.
I received this book from the Revell Division of the Baker Publishing Group for this review.

 

 

You are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For

Wow! This book was incredible, extraordinary, and simply amazing .

You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For

Read the summary of the book here.

When I first picked it up I was expecting a biography about one soldier’s journey of surviving but not one that pulled at the heartstrings of my own personal journey. Kyle Carpenter takes you on a journey of why “You are Worth It.”

Beautifully crafted, Kyle turns his story into a book that every one should read.  Yes, everyone! After finishing this book, I literally could not stop talking about it! I was so impressed with this book, that every one of my family members received a message telling them that they have to read this one (Dear family members, sorry I blew up your phones with those Goodreads recommendation messages).

The one thing I loved about this books was that Kyle did not make his story about just himself but gave credit to each and everyone. Here is a soldier who just sacrificed himself for his teammates, survived which should not have been possible, had been given the Medal of Honor, and he wanted to make sure that he thanked all who helped him and his family.

If you are feeling depressed and need a boost in the right direction, definitely pick up this book. Believe me, you will not want to put it down. I was reading this while at work ( yes, I was at work. But what can I say, working at a library is so cool! What other job allows you to read for a living! LOL) and was literally was turning the pages as fast as I could. Don’t worry, I was polite to all the patrons who interrupted my reading but all I wanted to do was go back to the book. I have read many war biographies but none have stood out like this one. This was not only a story of survival, but it was  also one of taking the chances you have and going for it. It is a story of being brave even in the darkest situations. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

As a proud American citizen I am thankful for all our brave men and women of the armed forces but this book just reminded me how grateful I really should be. The men and women of the armed forces deserve our utmost gratitude.

To Kyle Carpenter and all the brave men and women of the armed forces, thank you for your service. I know you might get tired of hearing that over and over but it is the only way I can make sure that you understand that I am truly am honored to live in this great, free country because of each and everyone of you!

And to the families of those who lost someone in the armed forces, my heart is with you all. WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

Truly Grateful,

Holly S.

 

P.S. If you stuck with me this entire review/chat you can only guess what my next sentence will be. (;

I highly recommend You are Worth It!

Cozy Christmas Reads!

Looking for some good Christmas reads? Check out these Christmas titles I have read this year and recommend!

Seasons Readings

Christmas at the Circus by Joanne Biscoff

Christmas at the Circus - A Short Story

A short story about The Greatest Season on Earth
In 1800’s New Orleans, newlyweds Charlie and Ella Lionheart are spending their first holiday season together within the circus. It’s Ella’s first Christmas away from her mountain home and with thoughts of family and new beginnings, see what surprises the kindhearted lion tamer has in store for her on Christmas Eve.
A touch of holiday magic beneath the Big Top!

Gideon’s Gift by Karen Kingsbury

Gideon's Gift (The Red Gloves, #1)

One long-ago Christmas, Earl Gibson lost the two things most precious to him: his wife and daughter. Angry and heartbroken, he ended up living on the streets and abandoned any belief he’d once had in God. Ten years later Big Earl meets Gideon, a seven-year-old leukemia patient who believes with all her heart that “Christmas means never having to ask God how much he loves us.” Gideon is determined to reach this lonely and hurting man who hates Christmas–and he is just as determined to rebuff her. It will take a miracle for Earl to come to understand the true meaning of Christmas. But if he can accept what Gideon wants to give him, he might find that he can return the favor with a precious gift of his own.

Christmas at Whitefriars by Elizabeth Camden

Christmas at WhitefriarsMary Beckwith lives in a magnificent English castle during the twilight years of the gilded age. With the help of an American millionaire, she has succeeded in renovating her beloved Whitefriars castle into a splendid estate just in time for Christmas.
From across the ocean, millionaire Everett Wooten has spent a fortune propping up Whitefriars to add modern conveniences and rebuild crumbling old walls. Even though he’s never met Mary, they have enjoyed a lively business correspondence over the nine years they have been working toward a renovation. Now he has finally come to see Mary and the castle in person, but nothing is as he was led to believe.
Mary and Everett try to find a way forward, but red-blooded American entrepreneurship doesn’t always mingle with blue-blooded English tradition. Can a Manhattan business tycoon and an English lady come to an accord, or will their joint venture in Whitefriars result in heartbreak for them both?

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson

Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster Christmas in Winter Hillhomes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages. As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn’t always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, “Where’s the snow?” Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista’s Christmas spirit before the big day?

 

Do you have any Christmas favorites?

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The Enchanted Sonata

Image result for The Enchanted Sonata

Clara Stahlbaum has her future perfectly planned: to marry the handsome pianist, Johann Kahler (ah!) and settle down to a life full of music.

But all that changes on Christmas Eve, when Clara receives a mysterious and magical nutcracker.
Whisked away to his world—an enchanted empire of beautiful palaces, fickle fairies, enormous rats, and a prince—Clara must face a magician who uses music as spells…and the future she thought she wanted.

The Enchanted Sonata, a retelling of The Nutcracker Ballet with a dash of The Pied Piper, will captivate readers of all ages.

An enchanting tale for Christmas time!

So I have a bunch of books I am currently reading but when I got my message that I had this book ready for pickup at my library, all those books got set aside.  It only took me a couple of days to read but that was because I could not put it down.

This book is written by Heather Dixon Wallwork. This is the same Heather Dixon who wrote Entwined. Which I am definitely going to track down and reread.

Back to The Enchanted Sonata, this is a spin off of the story of the Nutcracker and Clara. I could also see a little of Phantom of the Opera in the tale as well. I absolutely loved this tale. I was drawn into the story very quickly. Heather does an incredibly job of writing a story that the readers can almost visualize. I loved how Heather made music magical, since it really is. (:

This was truly an enchanting story! Perfect for Christmas time but can be read anytime of the year.

On Heather’s website, she writes that this book is a part of a series. Currently there isn’t any news that I could find but I am looking forward to reading more!

I recommend this book to all fans of Heather Dixon Wallwork.

 

*Unfortunately I do have to mention this, I am not a English major but there were quite a few typos in the story. For anyone who is picky about this, I am giving you fair warning.