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.

Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson

This book is an example of exactly why I LOVE Melody Carlson's writing!  Don't let the first few pages fool you.  It may start out reading like a romantic comedy but it is far from it.  It quickly delves into some serious issues such as abandonment, teen pregnancy, unresolved grief, denial, OCD, and even being an atheist.  All this in one book!  The characters have their tough spots and don't always make the best choices.  Their relationships are complicated to say the least and take hard work.  This book is not wrapped up in a neat bow but rather takes a winding path through some troublesome and sometimes painful patches.  The beautiful thing about this book is that though the characters are each "flawed" and flounder God is quietly but persistently speaking to them in very personal, detailed ways to get their attention.  If you're a fan of Melody Carlson you will want to get this book pronto.  If you've never read Melody Carlson I can guarantee after reading this book it won't be the last of her books you'll pick up.

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

Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard

Packed with mystery, "what ifs" and spine tingling suspense this book will have you on the edge of your seats.  The great thing about this book is that it is written by a Christian author.  You have all the high paced thrills and intrigue but a clean romance.  Willow has been raised by her grandfather since her parents were killed in a car accident when she was a child.  Trained by one of the best (her own grandfather) she has worked in the agency with him in finding lost persons.  When her grandfather dies suddenly in the middle of a case Willow feels compelled to continue the case.  A cold case of a missing baby from over twenty years ago. Little does she know the the snowball effect this will have on her life.  When a series of unexplained life threatening events occur Willow realizes this is much bigger and deeper of a mystery than she originally imagined.  The FBI becomes involved and with that protection enters Willow's former love interest Austin.  Together they must solve the mysterious crime of the baby abduction before time runs out for the biological mother and for them.

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

Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Mending Fences is a look at repentance and forgiveness.  Not always a straight forward action on either party.  Luke Schrock has not only disappointed but negatively affected his family and close knit Amish community by immature and self centered actions.  Upon returning from an extended time in a rehab center Luke is ready to make amends.  At the beginning he assumes wrongly that this will be an easy task.  The Bishop has not only required that Luke express his apologizes to each person he has wronged but that Luke listen to how the wrong has affected the person.  This proves much more heart breaking than Luke could have ever imagined.  He learns the true meaning of long lasting and far reaching effects of another person's action upon another.  As Luke struggles with these revelations he meets a lovely young woman Izzy.  When he discovers that she does not know who her biological mother is he decides to find the woman.  This has consequences that neither of them could have imagined. 

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

Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron

A beautiful book full of conviction, faith, loyalty and love.  The story alternates between Ireland in the present day, 1916 and 1798.  Interweaving history, romance and mystery Kristy Cambron has produced a masterpiece.  In the lives of three women:  Laine, Issy and Maeve we get a glimpse of the struggle Ireland had for independence and at the same time the struggle of each woman had to be true to her personal convictions.  Set in amazing detail each time period holds intrigue with the unique landscape and culture of Ireland.  The author's decision to go back and forth between three time periods is a stroke of genius in helping the reader understand that the Irish quest for freedom held degrees of angst at each turn.  The love story of Laine, Issy and Maeve demonstrate the true love takes a brave heart that does not falter under hardship and that God has His hand over every detail of our lives.

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

The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Fans of Dickerson will recognize the "fairytale" immersed in her book The Warrior Maiden.  A retelling of the Chinese legend of Mulan with a twist.  I was disappointed that she didn't base the story in China or Asian culture.  Instead Mulan is the child of a Lithuanian soldier and an Asian woman who dies.  Mulan is brought back to Lithuania to be raised as the adopted daughter of the soldier and his wife.  In the original Mulan she goes to war in place of her aged father to spare him and to give honor to her family while providing for her mother and father.  In this tale all that is gone. In this book Mulan, not wanting to marry her suitor decides instead to go to war disguised as a man to earn her mother's right to remain in the family home.  But throughout the story she laments that if she is killed her mother will be cast out of the home with no one to care for her.  This seems like a very big risk for a female to take who has not been trained for battle.  To me it lessened her honor because she was fleeing an unwanted marriage but with no guarantee she could provide for her mother.  In the original legend Mulan was a hero because if she didn't go to war her aged father would have had to go.  Aside from this the romance in the story is sweet and there is a lot of history about Germans vs Lithuanian and the different ways they had of worshipping God.  It is still a good story and worth reading but if you're looking for the Chinese version this is not it.

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