Anne of Green Gables - Some Musings

             

       This is another of the "and more" portion of the title of this blog. I have just finished the first three books in the Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea series. The first two I loved, the third seemed to drag on a bit, but the ending was so worth waiting for, and it renewed my interest in continuing in this series. However, I do think I am going to take a little break and look for another classic to read just to give me a little breather. While I read mostly Christian fiction, I do read and listen to other books on the Kindle Paperwhite my mother used to use before her passing, usually when gardening or while waiting for my Kindle Fire to recharge. If you are looking for a sweet read or a read-a-loud to share with your daughter, this may be just the thing.

Secrets of Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble - A Book Review

Secrets of Cedar Cabin continues the story of Shauna Bannister's search for her missing siblings. She successfully located her brother, Grayson Bradshaw, in the previous book in the Lavender Tides series. Now they are working to locate their baby sister, Bailey Fleming. In fleeing from her mother's murderer, Bailey surprisingly ended up in Shauna's hometown. The events leading to her discovery, and the terrifying events that followed will keep the reader tied to this story, not to mention Bailey's budding romance with FBI agent Lance Phoenix whose search for his missing sister intersected with Bailey's flight. Don't be surprised when the words, “Well, I didn't see that coming!” rush from your lips. This book is Coble at her best.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

 

This is the story of two women's journey to discover their identity, their family connections as well as what defined them. The story's theme of finding one's self through discovering one's Creator is logically and artistically developed in the dramatic and intricately intertwined stories of Thea Reed in 1908 and Heidi Lane in present times. The Curse of Misty Wayfair is the stuff of legends and ghost stories,but something or someone very real is behind the threatening events of Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin.

If you have never read any of Jaime Jo Wright's work, reading this book will have you immediately looking for her previous releases. Each is haunting in its own way, and each reveals well-thought-out and important themes. If you are already familiar with her writing, the latest release will not disappoint. I am grateful for having received this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

In the Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson - A Book Review

Set in England in the early 1800s, In the Shadow of Croft Towers has an overriding feel of darkness just waiting for a light to bore its way through. The light was brought by Sybil Delafield. An orphan who had been sponsored at a distinguished girls school, Sybil had come to Croft Towers not only to fill the role of companion to Mrs. Chalcroft, but also to find the answers to questions about her parentage and her connection to the people who resided there. She held those questions secret, but she was not alone in that, each resident of croft Towers was keeping secrets of their own, secrets covering sins of the past and secrets covering sins of the here and now. One among them was likely a traitor to England, and possibly a murderer, and one was most definitely a desperate highwayman, or was he?

If you are in the mood for intrigue with a side of romance, this book is just the one for you. It reminded me of reading Phyllis Whitney novels in my younger days. I give it five stars. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Beauty in Flight by Robin Patchen - A Book Review

        

Harper Cloud had been innocent of the crime for which she was convicted, the crime that cost her two years in prison, but not innocent of other sins. Finding love and forgiveness seemed too good to be true, but she would use what she had learned from her past life to do better in the future, to protect herself from being taken advantage of ever again. Trust would be something hard earned from Harper.

Robin Patchen has created a character one longs to mentor and protect. Readers will likely find themselves wishing to offer her guidance as she navigates her relationship with her employer's grandson, and as she makes life altering decisions. This first book in the series ends in a cliffhanger and leaves one anxious for the next book in the series. As a fan of Patchen's books, I can assure you it will be worth the wait.

I recommend this book to lovers of suspense as well as to those who have made mistakes and long for forgiveness and to those who have found that forgiveness through our Savior, Jesus the Christ. I thank Robin Patchen for providing me with a copy of Beauty in Flight in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels - A Book Review

  

We Hope for Better Things is set in Detroit and Lapeer County, Michigan in the 1860s, 1960s and current day. It seems as if Detroit has most always been hoping for better things, even during its more prosperous years there was an undercurrent of unrest and dissatisfaction. Erin Bartels spent years crafting this story of race in America over generations of the Balsam family. It is a tender story that will both touch and prick your heart.

Mary Balsam and her husband Nathaniel were abolitionists during the Civil War era. Nathaniel fought on the side of the Union, and Mary took in former slaves who helped her run the family farm, their lives becoming tightly intertwined. Nora Balsam became Nora Rich when she chose to step away from her privileged upbringing in the outskirts of Detroit to marry William Rich, a young black photographer. William had great plans for making a difference, but in an effort to protect his wife from those in his own community that resented her, moved to her family farm, once run by Mary. Elizabeth Balsam, once a well-known journalist in the Detroit area, lost her position at the paper, and also moved to the family farm to temporarily live with and check on an elderly aunt who had been living there. While at the farm she began to unlock the history of the Balsam family, a history that might be considered a microcosm of the history of the area and possibly of our nation.

I recommend this timely story, and am grateful to have received a copy from Revell Publishing through LibraryThing. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano - A Book Review

   

Like the other Jen Turano books that I have read, Flights of Fancy is a lighthearted, fun-filled story with a dash of intrigue. While there were a few details that seemed a bit unrealistic, it may be because it was difficult to imagine the extent of the fortune that a young man could amass in the late 1800s. The story was enjoyable and the theme of satisfaction found through purpose rather than self indulgence was well-illustrated. Turano's quirky characters are easy to love, and her villains easy to want brought down. Flights of Fancy is a great book to sandwich between meatier reads.

I appreciate receiving this copy from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse - A Book Review

      

This is a story of love and its role in setting life's priorities. It is a story of how the love of God and the love of money impact lives in extremely different ways. It is a story of family, both biological family and family built through an even deeper bond, a shared love of Christ. In my devotional reading time recently I read that in today's society many live as if their prayer would be, “Give me this day my daily thrill.” This story reminds us that the greatest thrills come through times of worship, time spent in God's creation, and time spent with the ones we love.

While readers who started at the beginning of The Heart of Alaska series likely see this as the continuing story of Thomas Smith, for me joining this series in the third installment, I see it as the story of Tayler Hale, in which Thomas plays a major role. Thomas, raised in an orphanage and then put out to make his own way at age thirteen, knew no family before coming to work at the Curry Hotel in his native Alaska. Tayler Hale, raised in a close knit family, until it fell apart following her father's death, felt abandoned until she ran away to her new job at the Curry in an effort to escape being pulled down by her collapsing family. Both Thomas and Tayler found strength and courage within the family of believers who took them in and loved them. Both demonstrated the remarkable ability to forgive that comes from truly appreciating Christ's work on the cross.

I recommend Under the Midnight Sun to those who long to see Christianity in action. May we be inspired to seek ways to become more like Christ. I appreciate receiving this copy from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream by Pepper Basham - A Book Review

    

I so love to discover new-to-me authors whose books immediately captivate me. Pepper Basham's tale of Laurel McAdams, her family, and the new teacher who has come to the Blue Ridge from far away England is endearing, and leaves the reader anxious for more, which Basham promises in her acknowledgments.

Basham honors the people of Appalachia by describing the truth of their circumstances in the early 1900s, by celebrating the beauty of their language and spirit, and by upholding the worth of their culture. Yes, change is inevitable, but salvaging and holding on to what is best is equally important. Basham, through her well-developed characters, offers great insight into the heart of God and the wisdom of trusting Him with each day.

This is a book that will linger long after the final page. I most highly recommend it to those who love books of all kinds because Laurel and Teacher Jonathan Taylor do as well, and they will remind others of the true gift reading is. I appreciate receiving this copy from Barbour Books through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation. 

Code of Valor by Lynette Eason a Book Review

   

It is always great to reconnect with the St. John family. Code of Valor focuses on Brady, who while vacationing while recuperating from a really bad relationship, jumped in to save Emily Chastain from being murdered, not knowing that this would be the first of many times that he would have to save her life. Emily, a financial crimes investigator for a bank, had stumbled across some suspicious activity that pointed forward human trafficking. Along with her friend, reporter Heather Gilstrap, Emily was seeking enough information to take to the authorities, unfortunately, their investigation did not go without notice.

This suspense novel holds the readers' interest with carefully paced clues as well as carefully withheld information, dolled out at just the right place in the story. The dialogue is well written, and the characters' faith comes across as believable and authentic. Fans of Lynn H. Blackburn's Dive Team Investigations will be happy to see some of her characters included in Eason's story.

I am a big fan of Lynette Eason's writing, and Code of Valor did not disappoint. I appreciate receiving this copy from Revell Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz - A Book Review

   

Initially I had difficulty finding the rhythm to the language of this story, but somewhere in the third chapter all fell into place. A Bound Heart is a delightful story of two people with so much in common yet in very different stations in life. Through a series of very vexing circumstances it appeared that love would find a way, but new complications continue to arise, and priorities have to be examined and reconsidered. It is a story of learning to wait upon the Lord, and of holding on to trust in Him.

Both the characters and the setting of A Bound Heart are engaging, whether they are the ones you adore or the ones you abhor. The reader will experience a history-steeped Scottish isle, a disease-provoking West Indies island, and a both welcoming and threatening Virginia Colony. (I especially enjoyed mentally revisiting Colonial Williamsburg.) The reader will also experience a broad range of emotions that Frantz is so skilled at evoking. One cannot help but care about the characters she creates.

I highly recommend A Bound Heart along with any book by this author. I thank NetGalley and Revell Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.