The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review

  

I absolutely loved this story. Set in the early 1900s, partially in Louisville, Kentucky, and largely in the Appalachian community of Sourwood, Kentucky, the story is filled with memorable, believable characters that readers will, for the most part, come to love and respect. Of course, there are a few more cantankerous ones to keep the story lively. Readers will share in the characters' joys and sorrows, and may come to see how the two can coincide in their own lives. They may also come to see that they, like some of the people of Sourwood, have more love to give and more backbone to support themselves than they ever realized. As with her other books set in Appalachia, Gabhart shows and understanding of, and a high regard for, the people there, honoring their ways and avoiding caricatures. The colloquial language she incorporates enhances the tale.

I give The Song of Sourwood Mountain five stars and am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle - A Book Review

  

I am so happy that Secondary Target is the first book of a new series, and I have other books to look forward to. Angela Carlisle has done an incredible job of plotting this romantic suspense with a second chance romance trope. The suspense definitely takes precedence over the romance, so if you are not a fan of romance, don't let that deter you from reading this book. I'm not often surprised by an ending to the degree I was by this book's ending. That in itself is good enough for me to recommend it so highly, but the characters and believable dialogue are additional reasons. This will be a great summer night or beach read if you are picking it up soon after release, but will be an equally good chilly night read snuggled up under a blanket with a hot beverage if you are coming across it later.

I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Secondary Target from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Finding You by Robin Patchen - A Book Review

 

Finding You is the third book in Robin Patchen's The Wright Heroes of Maine series. This is a wonderful series, The second book, Rescuing You, and this one are two of my most favorite Patchen books. As one of my favorite authors, that is saying a lot. In this story Professor Bryan White travels to Germany to get a look at some Middle Eastern antiquities before they were put on display in a museum in Munich. Little did he know what the ramifications of this visit would be professionally and personally as he is not the only one seeking to examine this group of artifacts, and not everyone's motives are academic. Sophia Chapman is in Maine visiting her friend, Leila, Bryan's future sister-in-law. She just so happens to design exhibits at the very museum housing the Middle Eastern antiquities Bryan longs to examine. Sophia's childhood had left her confused about many things, but most importantly about what gives her life worth. The theme of personal worth is a major component of this story. The theme is developed through a story of adventure and courage, as is that of the proper place of works in the life of a Christian. I highly recommend Finding You and the other books in The Wright Heroes of Main series. Readers will find themselves holding their breath, experiencing moments of angst, feeling sentimental, and cheering on those finding themselves in unexpected circumstances. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Book Funnel without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

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When Hope Sank by Denise Weimer - A Book Review

  

I am truly enjoying Barbour Publishing's A Day to Remember series, and hope that it will include many titles. When Hope Sank is the third book in the series and is built around the true historical event of the sinking of the steamboat Sultana in 1865. The steamboat was carrying 2,130 souls of which 1,169 did not survive, many Union prisoners of war just paroled from Andersonville and Cahaba, heading home to relish their freedom. Weimer writes an intriguing tale of saboteurs, spies, and betrayal along with stories of hope, love, and restoration. As was the case with many families during the Civil War, Lily's family is one of divided allegiances, forcing her to make compromises in order to keep a roof over her and her younger brother's heads. Cade Palmer, one of the Sultana's survivors, is a conflicted man, made more so because his injuries make it impossible for him to provide the medical care so needed by his fellow survivors recuperating at Lily's uncle's inn. Forced together by circumstances far beyond their control, the two discover a growing bond in their collective efforts to discover the truth behind the sinking of the Sultana. Readers will enjoy collecting clues and making inferences along with Lily and Cade.

I enjoyed this book very much and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini - A Book Review

  

Jennifer Chiaverini has written more than forty books, but she is a new-to-me author! I will definitely be on the look out for more of her titles. The Museum of Lost Quilts is a part of the large Em Creek Quilts series, but I was unaware of that until I read the author's note at the end. It worked very well as a stand-alone read. I found it enthralling. Summer Sullivan is struggling to complete her masters thesis, having lost the heart for it has brought on a bad case of writer's block. Looking for a place of peace and refuge, Summer returns to her home among the Elm Creek Quilters. Once there, she quickly gets side-tracked with a project for the local historical society, collecting quilts of historical significance and curating an exhibit of these quilts. That in itself is a great undertaking, but a local businessman is determined to make it even more difficult.

Not only did I immensely enjoy the well-written story, I was very interested in the object labels for he exhibited quilts. Their descriptions and history were intriguing. I highly recommend The Museum of Lost Quilts to readers of women's fiction, to those who have an interest in historical artifacts or quilting, and to those who enjoy stories of finding one's true self. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this novel from William Morrow/Harper Collins Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.