“Dreams Rekindled” by Amanda Cabot ~ Book Review

“Dreams Rekindled” by Amanda Cabot

Book Two in the Mesquite Springs series

Review copy from the publishers

My rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

When a dashing newspaper man comes to Mesquite Springs, aspiring writer Dorothy Clark sees her dreams coming true–until a man arrives with altogether different plans for the town and its newspaper.

My Thoughts:

I didn’t realize this book was the second in a series when I requested it for review – but I was glad to find that it was still enjoyable and understandable to read on its own. :) I’m sure reading the first one would certainly have its benefits and I would get more of a backstory on some of the characters, but since I missed that, I didn’t feel like it hindered my enjoyment of this one.”Dreams Rekindled” is a sweet, easy story. The first pages pulled me in right away, and kept my interest, but when I reached the halfway mark, it seemed to drag for me a bit. I’m sure it won’t be that way for everyone who reads it – I just found it that way. The characters were good, but I felt like the plot had some fillers. Through 3/4 of the book, the plot was taken up with a specific thread, but then another thread came into play and that was the one that was resolved in the ending. By reading the author’s note, we learn that the particular thread I mentioned will be continued in the third book. However, I felt like the other thread should’ve taken up more of the book than the first, since we won’t get to see the result of that one until later. If that makes sense. For me personally, the story felt like it was captivating to begin with, slowed down in the middle, and then finished in a whirlwind of a plot point that only came into play in the last third of the book.  I did enjoy aspects of the book, and the writing was good. The characters were memorable, especially the dog – I am not a dog-person, but I really liked Nutmeg; the dog felt very much like a central character which was pretty cute. ^.^

I’m also looking forward to seeing more of Laura’s story in the next one – the third book won’t be specifically about her, but the author also mentioned in the author’s note that she’ll be returning and will have her story told in it so that will be nice. :)

Thank you to Revell for the review copy! 

“All That We Carried” by Erin Bartels ~ Book Review

“All That We Carried” by Erin Bartels

Review copy from the publishers

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

About the Book:

Estranged sisters embark on a hiking trip on the tenth anniversary of their parents’ deaths in an attempt to reconnect. In the wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula they’ll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.

My Thoughts:

I had a hard time putting this novel down. The writing style is utterly engaging, and even when I did have to set it down, the story continued to play through my mind.Olivia and Melanie, the sister heroines in All That We Carried, could not be any more different. And yet, their bond is still clear, even when they have a difficult time seeing it. 
I really enjoyed following along their journey through the woods, and all the…mishaps that entailed. One thing after the other happened for them, and they had their fair share of arguments for sure!A lot of their conversations were extremely interesting though – and definitely thought-provoking. Each held very different beliefs about religion, life, cause and effect, etc. and it was interesting to see how their views progressed as their hiking journey went on. The ending doesn’t really sum it all up, nor point exactly where their journey of belief took them, but I’d like to imagine they found the truth in God at some point. This book is certainly more one about being in the midst of the journey – it is open-ended. I will say that I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more concrete picture of them each finding God, or maybe just the couple side characters pointing towards Him with more clarity, but it was a well written story with a lot of complexities.And there’s no denying it, these characters went through A LOT. They were each likeable for their own reasons, and dislikeable for other reasons, but they were such well-built up characters that they seemed more like real people than fictional. All That We Carried is largely about searching. And I hope that any reader who doesn’t know Jesus will continue the search for themselves.

*I received a copy of the book from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review.

“Nothing Short of Wonderous” by Regina Scott ~ Book Review

“Nothing Short of Wonderous” by Regina Scott

Book Two in the American Wonders Series

Review copy through Revell Reads

My Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

It is 1886, and the government has given the US Cavalry control of Yellowstone. For widowed hotelier Kate Tremaine, the change is a welcome one. She knows every inch of her wilderness home like the back of her hand and wants to see it protected from poachers and vandals.

Refused a guide by Congress, Lieutenant William Prescott must enlist Kate’s aid to help him navigate the sprawling park and track down the troublemakers. But a secret from his past makes him wary of the tender feelings the capable and comely widow raises in him. When her 6-year-old son is kidnapped by a poacher who wants the boy to guide him to the place where the last of the Yellowstone bison congregate, Will and Kate must work together to rescue him, save the bison, and protect the park. In doing so, they may just find that two wounded hearts can share one powerful love when God is in control.

My Thoughts:

This was my first novel to read by this author, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to step into this series. The descriptions of the Yellowstone Park were well-written, and while I’ve never been there myself, it was easy to picture and beautiful to imagine.

The characters were steady, though I had a hard time feeling really connected to them. There was the case of an instant attraction between the two main characters, and while I know that can be realistic, I didn’t personally feel drawn in by it. It was an interesting book, and I liked the setting, and appreciated the Christian message towards the end.

I think fans of Tracie Peterson and Lauraine Snelling will love it.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers. All thoughts expressed are my own.

“The Conqueror” by Bryan Liftin ~ Book Review

“The Conqueror” by Bryan Liftin

Review copy from Revell Publishers

My rating: 1 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

It is AD 312. Rome teeters on the brink of war. Constantine’s army is on the move. On the Rhine frontier, Brandulf Rex, a pagan Germanic barbarian, joins the Roman army as a spy and special forces operative. Down in Rome, Junia Flavia, the lovely and pious daughter of a nominally Christian senator, finds herself embroiled in anti-Christian politics as she works on behalf of the church.

As armies converge and forces beyond Rex’s and Flavia’s controls threaten to destroy everything they have worked for, these two people from different worlds will have to work together to bring down the evil Emperor Maxentius. But his villainous plans and devious henchmen are not easily overcome. Will the barbarian warrior and the senator’s daughter live to see the Empire bow the knee to Christ? Or will their part in the story of Constantine’s rise meet an untimely and brutal end?

My Thoughts:

I was looking forward to this book, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect to the characters, and there was a lot of content that felt extremely unnecessary and inappropriate. I felt that the faith content was also more focused on religion vs a real relationship with Christ. The book wasn’t poorly written, I just didn’t care for its content and graphicness. The ending felt strange too.The story was quite crass. I know Rome was a very awful place, but it was all described with extreme crudeness, and the amount of sex that was discussed was unpleasant. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this book for anyone under the age of 20, and even then, as I said, there was a great deal of unnecessary content.For being a historical book, there were a lot of really modern phrases such as ‘girlfriend’ and ‘boyfriend’, ‘pimps’ and others. I found the story unsettling. Unfortunately not a book I can recommend.

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers. All thoughts expressed are my own.

“Until I Met You” by Tari Faris ~ Book Review

“Until I Met You” by Tari faris

Book Two in Restoring Heritage Series

Review copy from the publishers

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?

My Thoughts:

I love discovering new authors! This was my first book to read by Tari Faris, though it is the second in the series. I seem to have a habit for doing that…but I do plan on catching up on the first book soon as I can. :) “Until I Met You” tells the story of Libby and Austin, as well as Austin’s brother Nathan, and Libby’s roommate Olivia. I really enjoyed how the novel played out, displaying each character’s story with care and attention. It all read very smoothly, and I enjoyed my visit to their little town of Heritage. ^.^ 

While primarily a light hearted read, Until I Met You also contains a great message of the importance of God’s grace. That was lovely. I think this book stood well on its own, but I think reading them in order would be the best way to enjoy it, as there are return-characters. I like when books interconnect, even if I haven’t had the pleasure of catching up on the first book(s) XD

I liked all the characters, though I’ll admit Austin could frustrate me. I understood his struggle with forgiveness, and appreciated his journey to arrive at that point, but I just had a bit of a hard time with his anger sometimes. But again, we get to see him grow so that was nice.

All in all, a fun, sweet story. :)

“An Appalachian Summer” by Ann H Gabehart ~ Book Review

“An Appalachian Summer” by Ann H Gabehart

Review copy from the Revell Reads

My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

In 1933, most people are focused on the Great Depression but all Piper Danson can think about is how to get out of being a debutante and marrying Braxton Crandall. In an act of defiance, Piper volunteers as a frontier nursing courier in the Appalachian Mountains where adventure awaits.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this story, set during the 1930’s in the Appalachian mountains. Piper was a likeable character right away, as was Jamie. I loved their relationship throughout, even in the ups and downs that it took to get them to the end. Very sweet.

Piper undertakes quite an adventure as she forgoes her debutante season for a summer spent in the Appalachian Mountains, volunteering with the Frontier Nurse Service as a courier.

I loved being able to follow along this adventure, and experience this world alongside her. The story kept an even pace, and gave wonderful glimpses into the mountain life.

I also really like how Piper’s aunt Truda had a bit of her own story – that was really sweet, and added a great touch to this novel.

An Appalachian Summer was a truly sweet and delightful novel that I would definitely recommend!

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to give a positive review.

“What Momma Left Behind” by Cindy K Sproles ~ Book Review

“What Momma Left Behind” by Cindy K Sproles

Historical Fiction

Review copy from the publishers through Revell Reads Program

My rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and dysentery ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1898, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie’s mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.
Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers–one greedy and the other a drunkard–Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma’s children.

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

 

My Thoughts:

 

This is a unique story! It takes place in the late 1800’s, in the Appalachian Mountains, and it is written in what felt like a very authentic way. I was very impressed. The whole story moved along smoothly, and I really liked the main character, Worie. Right away we are taken with her plight.

There was a lot of sorrow in her story, but the lessons she learned were heartfelt and true. And all the children…how precious. I also really like Justice – Worie’s brother. He had his own trials and struggles, but I love how they pulled together towards the end.

This whole story is very well written, engaging, and sweet. As I said, it has its sorrows and trials, but it is a uniquely beautiful story that reaches the heart.

Looking forward to reading more by this author!

 

 

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

“The Traitor’s Pawn” by Lisa Harris ~ Book Review

 

About the Book:

When FBI agent Jack Shannon arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, he is focused on one thing: find the man who has been selling encrypted government secrets to the Chinese through online birding chat rooms. But when a senator is shot during a hunting trip and the woman he was with is abducted, Jack agrees to join the search–especially when he discovers that the kidnapping victim is Aubrey Grayson, a woman he was once in love with.
As the search continues, it becomes clear the senator may not have been the intended victim–and Aubrey may be connected to the other case Jack is supposed to be working on. Can Jack untangle the knots before it’s too late? And when he learns the truth, will it be too painful to get past?
Join the hunt for the truth–and a traitor–in this tension-laden story of secrets, betrayal, and second chances. 

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

Once again, author Lisa Harris captures her audience with a riveting and meaningful suspense novel! It starts out with a bang and keeps on moving till the very end, without being too overwhelming which I appreciated. It was exciting, and the plot draws you in just waiting to see how it will all turn out. And the faith message was very well done. I loved the importance put upon forgiveness at the end, and how it impacted the characters.The characters were all very well developed, and I had no problem relating to them. The plot all wrapped up nicely at the end, though I am curious as to what happened to Rachel…that wasn’t entirely laid out but I’m guessing I can make my own conclusions based on what did happen. All in all, an enjoyable novel!

 
This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group (Revell), through Interviews & Reviews.  

“Unscripted” by Davis Bunn ~ Review

 

“Unscripted” by Davis Bunn

Contemporary Fiction

Review copy through Revell Reads

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

About the Book:

Young line producer Danny Byrd is well-known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner–and former best friend–makes off with their investors’ money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.
LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to her impossible bosses only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it–even though she’s not entirely clear what “it” is.
Danny and Megan are each other’s best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other’s best hope for love.
Bestselling and award-winning author Davis Bunn takes you into the beating heart of Hollywood with two characters determined to thrive in a cutthroat business.

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

This was the first book I’ve had the plasure of reading by this author and I was quite impressed by the writing talent. The story moved along smoothly, and you could tell the filming aspect was well-researched to add an authenticity that really enriched the story. I found the ploit line intriguing, and enjoyed watching how it unfolded. The characters were interesting, and I thought that Danny Byrd made a good lead character.The romance aspect was tame which I appreciated, though it felt like it was missing the chemestry. I knew the two characters liked each other because the novel told me so, but I didn’t really connect to their story together.The faith strand was extremely light, only mentioned a couple of times with no clear “redemption” or completion arc. I was expecting Danny to find what he was searching for in Christ, but it seemed more that he found it through Megan, which rather disappointed me because there was great potential for things to be turned back to Christ.

The ending was sweet, and it was good to see how the whole project portrayed throughout the novel was brought to completion.

 

 

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. 

“Light from Distant Stars” by Shawn Smucker ~ Revell Reads Review

 

“Light from Distant Stars” by Shawn Smucker

Review copy from publishers

My rating: 3.5/4 out of 5 Stars

 

 

About the Book:

 

When Cohen Marah steps over his father’s body in the basement embalming room of the family’s funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory. As the last one to see his father, Cohen is the primary suspect.

Over the next week, Cohen’s childhood memories come back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his father being asked to leave his pastoral position. The game of baseball that somehow kept them together. And the two children in the forest who became his friends–and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he’s been avoiding: Did he kill his father?

In Light from Distant Stars, master story weaver Shawn Smucker relays a tale both eerie and enchanting, one that will have you questioning reality and reaching out for what is true, good, and genuine.

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

Well that sure was interesting! This is one of those books where once you’ve finished it you kind of just sit back and think, “What exactly just happened?”!

The writing style is captivating, and everything about it pulls you into its pages. The story was interesting, and the back says it well with “one that will have you questioning reality”. To be honest, I’m still not exactly sure what all happened in this story – I “get” it, but there was a lot left unexplained – left to the imagination, I suppose.

I enjoyed it.  But I guess I was left a little bewildered! So much that was real and not real, and it all morphed together, in twisted threads wound so tightly that you’re not sure which end is which.

A captivating ride to be certain. ^.^ This was my first book to read by this author, but I would definietly like to catch up on his past works. Very interesting!

That cover – gorgeous! I love the starry artwork!

*I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.