Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon

Driftwood Bay delivers delightful characters who live in the warm and welcoming Oregon coast town of Hope Harbor.  Irene Hannon gives her fans a masterpiece of Christian romance in this installment of her series of the Hope Harbor books.  Immediately the reader is drawn into the heart ache surrounding little Molly and the complexities of life as a single parent that Logan faces.  Add the the mix a naughty but adorable beagle and an enchanting neighbor who only wants to tend her lavender fields and right away you know this will be not only a fun read but worthwhile.  Hannon creates beautiful scenes that bring to mind the rugged awe of the Oregon coast.  She also has a way of making the dialogue and interactions between her characters natural and also enticing.  I read this book straight through and couldn't wait to find out what happened next.  Hannon touches on some very deep topics such as grief, fear of abandonment, fear of loss and even the plight of refugees who seek asylum in our country.  She deals with each with grace and respect.  This book was truly heart warming.

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

The Edge of Over There by Shawn Smucker

I had a difficult time getting into this book.  For one there were too many things that were not Bible based.  Another thing is that I felt it fell short of convincing me this was a story to draw one close to God.  It felt a bit creepy and more sensational than spiritually uplifting.  I have read other Christian fantasy books but this one just didn't draw me in.  It was not what I had hoped it would be and I found it disappointing. 

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

Justice Delivered by Patricia Bradley

This story is fast paced and action filled.  It might prove a bit too violent for some readers of Christian fiction.  The book deals with human trafficking and the long lasting affects the victims lives with for the rest of their lives.  However the main body of the story is about redemption, forgiveness and the power of rebuilt trust.  Carly is a heroine in this story not just because she escaped from her pimp and was rehabilitated from that lifestyle and drugs but more so for what she gave others.  She was willing to face her own post traumatic stress in order to counsel girls coming out of human trafficking.  The one thing that bothered me about this book was that I felt the characters did not react realistically to traumatic loss and trauma throughout the story.  

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Set in the mid 40s this story starts out with folks down on their luck and coming together at Dolly's old farm house for shelter and a place to start over.  The bonds they make with each other and Dolly make this a heart warming read.  More than that the reader gets to experience the transforming power of community, belonging and grace as seen through the benevolent gestures of Dolly's boarders.  Dolly, herself, is very much a mother hen, but as the story progresses her own wounds are revealed. Intertwined with the complicated lives of Dolly and her friends is the diary of one of the town's legendary woman.  The mystery surrounding Catherine keeps Dolly and her friends in suspense as they verge on compulsion to find out what really happened.  Dolly receives much more than she even imagined as the boarders she brought in for financial necessity become her dearest friends.

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot

This book concludes the Cimarron Creek Series by Amanda Cabot and is by far the best of the triology!  This books contains some tender Western romance full of cowboys and outlaws and ladies in distress.  The characters will reel the reader into the story quickly and keep the reader's attention.  From midwife to orphan to sheriff's wife the heroines in this tale are anything but demure.  They each have their own brand of spice and sparkle.  A Tender Hope gives the reader a good look at what a simple Western town looked like and the expectations and social morals of the time period.  Unexpected twists in the life of Aimee, Lydia and Thea will keep the reader guessing all the way to the very last page.  Cabot weaves a believable and exciting tale of the pursuit of love and capture of criminals as well as of tender hearts.

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.