Gathering the Threads: A Novel (The Amish of Summer Grove) by Cindy Woodsmall

This is book 3 in the series and Cindy gives a brief synopsis of the other 2 books so you will be familiar with the characters…Such a good book and well written with the characters coming to life from the written page. Ariana is such a sweet and unassuming person, always putting others first despite all the sorrows and accusations that she faced. She is a peacemaker…Quill Schlabach is the one-person Ariana can discuss her true feelings with, but the Amish leaders do not approve of Quill. This is hard for Ariana to accept, but she tries to comply with the elders and her parents, to her hurt….. I was beginning to think there was no hope for Skylar, but through it all she became a much better person who actually learned to think of others instead of herself….Cindy did not sugar coat the Amish but showed their flaws as well as their goodness. This interesting book takes you back in time “the old ways” in the midst of modern times……A wonderful book to end a very good series…….I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own……..

The Promise of Breeze Hill (A Natchez Trace Novel) by Pam Hillman

When I first read of this book, my interest was piqued because I have lived on or very near the Natchez Trace for over 40 years. I knew that it was a “MUST READ” for me……..The story takes place in 1791 when the trace was rough wagon trail where highwaymen, robbers and murderers roamed to prey on the travelers. Breeze Hill is a cotton plantation that sets along the trace, a ways up from Natchez. The plantation has suffered a great loss as a fire burned the cotton field and also a whole wing of the house. The owner Bartholomew was also severely burned and almost died. The then young newly married heir was killed by robbers one night on the Trace. There are very few workers left on the plantation and very little money until the cotton crop comes in. This leaves the daughter Isabella pretty much in charge now. While in Natchez she notices a servant up for bids, so she buys his papers in exchange for the promise to bring his brothers over from Ireland. Connor O’Shea as an indentured servant knows his place and is determined to remain in the place of a servant. He never counted on his attraction to the beautiful Isabella. He becomes an invaluable worker to Breeze Hill. The other servants look to him for orders and even the Master confers with him. As they fight against their attraction to one another, so many thing are taking place to deceive and destroy the Bartholomews and Breeze Hill….. This is a great American Historical novel that is filled with suspense and danger with christian principles. Hillman writes well and brings her characters and scenes to life before your eyes. You feel that you are right there experiencing the danger, holding your breath. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of her books…….I received a copy from Tyndale Publishing and I am happy to leave a review.

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring byCarrie Fancett Pagels

This the the 3rd book I have read in the My Heart Belongs series….. This takes place in the year 1895 and has much to do with the hotels on Mackinac Island.
Maude Welling has always knew that she would inherit the Winds Of Mackinac Inn for it has been in her grandmother’s family and handed down to the daughters. Maude’s father believed he inherited it when his wife died and his intention is to sell it. Maude has suffered a broken engagement and feels her father does not trust her to be able to manage the Inn, so she sets out to prove him wrong. Her father believes that her mother died from overwork and he does not want the same thing to happen to his daughter. A young news reporter, Ben Steffan comes to the island searching out a story on wealthy heiress’ being deceived and taken advantage of by impoverished men. Maude being one of these. God convicts him of his desire to bring harm to others by his articles and he becomes a changed man. Will this change be enough for Maude and Ben to repair the hurt she has suffered? There are many twists and turns and God helps them to find the answer.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England Book #1) by Roseann M. White

This is the first in White’s new historical series. It has a different twist in that the main male character Peter Holstien stammers. He is a wealthy ggentleman who is quiet and rather nerdy and out of touch with society. This ccauses the town people to suspect and distrust him, thinking he may be a spy.
Rosemary Gresham grew up on the streets of London and has done what it ttakes to survive. Orphaned and living on the streets,she learned to steal as a wway to survive. Now an accomplished thief, Rosemary delights in the challenge oof each new and difficult job she’s hired to do. When the mysterious and well-ppaying Mr. V secures her services as a librarian to put order to Peter’s llibrary.She is thankful for the income that is so needed for her family of sstreet urchins. She is to find documents to prove Peter Holstein is devoted to GGermany instead of being loyal to England. She is thrilled to accept this job aalthough she has no idea what it will entail…..this is such an interesting rread, enjoyed the history of 1914…..the characters are well developed and the wwriting is superb. There is suspense, danger, romance and godly principles and tthe ending makes it a winner for the beginning of a great series. I received a ccomplimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required tto write a review, but am glad to do so. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Matter of Trust (Montana Rescue Book #3) by Susan May Warren

Book number 3 is the continuation story of Gage Watson and Ella Blair. They have not seen one another since she led the lawsuit against Gage, that destroyed his fame and career and ruined his life. Now he works for PEAK RESCUE rescuing snowbound snowboarders. Gage is shocked to see Ella again. She has followed her brother to Montana to keep an eye on him so he won’t do anything foolish. She begs Gage to go after her brother when he places himself on the same daredevil run that Gage did on Video. Warren has such a way with words that she keeps you spellbound. You are placed right among the characters,feeling the wind and biting cold, flying off a cliff through the air on a snowboard barely missing trees to land in a heap….or trying to breathe when the wolves howl around your tent in the snow covered darkness. Digging out from under an avalanche of snow and ice, wondering will you be lost or rescued? Holding your breath at the danger…….. Can Gage and Ella put the past behind them and work together to find her brother alive? This is a powerful story of love and forgiveness………I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Beloved Hope (Heart of the Frontier Book #2) byTracie Peterson

If you love to read about the frontier days, you will love this one. Book two in the Heart of the Frontier series centers on Hope Flanagan sister to Grace in “Treasured Grace” book one.  Hope and her sisters and brother-in-law have now settled in Oregon close to their uncle Edward.  Hope tends her sheep and keeps away from all except for her family. Having been kidnapped and raped by a Cayuse who left her pregnant. She is full of hatred and fear and wants no friends, let alone a suitor. When the instigators of the massacre and the kidnapping at an Oregon mission are brought to trial two and a half years after the event, Hope is forced to relive her horrible experiences. All she wants is the death of the man who attacked and killed her only love before her eyes and raped her daily.  She is stopped from shooting her attacker by Lance Kenner, a soldier who guards the Cayuse prisoners….. This is a lovely story of forgiveness.  Hope learned to trust Lance enough to let him be her friend and through God’s grace and love to let go of her fear and hatred.  Such a wonderful ending, can’t wait for the youngest sister, Mercy, to read her story………    this was gifted to me from Bethany to read and I was not required to leave a review, but am honored to do so.                                                                                                                                                                          

My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho: Rebecca’s Plight by Susanne Dietze

This is a sweet endearing christian romance with real believable characters. Rebecca Rice answers a mail order ad because she is tired of going hungry and being abused by her employer. She is all alone and has nowhere else to turn…….She arrives dusty, tired and hungry in Ruby City, not knowing what her future will hold. All she wants is a home and family and someone to care for her. The man she has been corresponding with owns the town mercantile and seems to be just what she longs for. She just didn’t count on her stagecoach being robbed and her losing most of the little that she owned and she sure didn’t dream that she would marry the wrong Fordham by mistake.  She had married the cousin whose name was Tad Fordham and her intended was Ted Fordham. What a tangle her life has become. While waiting a month for the judge to return to Ruby City to annul their marriage, Rebecca learns a lot about herself, her intended and her  husband who is not her husband. Outlaw gang, cousins, deputy, rioters and good honest town folks all make for an interesting read………I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.                                                                                                                                

Freedom’s Price (Keys of Promise Book #3) byChristine Johnson

This books begins in 1846, in England, where Catherine, is a young woman who has lost her father and also her childhood home. Her cousin is trying to force  her into  marriage to an older man she hardly knows. Her mother died when she was a child, but she remembers her telling her about the family estate in Louisiana.  She books passage on a ship going to New Orleans.  When Catherine arrives at the plantation, she is met by a slave woman who tells her to leave. Her uncle and cousin are not living there but have left the estate in the hands of a manager, who let it fall into disrepair. She feels something is very wrong here. Where are the workers on the plantation and where is the household staff? She cannot bear to leave but feels like God would have her stay and bring back the house and lands to the state that her mother used to tell her about. The manager is a Cuban who seems charming and sinister a the same time. He acts like he owns the plantation although he is just the overseer.                                                                                There is mystery, deceit, danger and dark secrets, the author has made her characters take on life.  A very interesting book……….. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell, I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fraying at the Edge: A Novel (The Amish of Summer Grove) by Cindy Woodsmall

The second book of the series. These are among the best Amish books I have ever read, thoroughly enjoyable. …We find the two girls who were switched at birth…..one is sweet and gentle and loves her Amish family and their way of life……The other is worldly, rebellious and addicted to drugs…..Can you imagine each being dropped into the other’s life from which they were totally unaccustomed?  What a cultural shock…one thrown in the upheaval of  parents that were never wed to each other with other spouses and children……a modern world she has never knew of and being demanded to partake.   The other thrown back a century in time and cannot conceive that people live like the dark ages. Such an adjustment and both hating where they are.  What could ever be the outcome for these families?…..I must warned you, the ending is not what you think……        I was gifted this book to leave an honest review and I am happy to do so.                                                                                               

The Road to Paradise: A Vintage National Parks Novel by Karen Barnett

What a delightful read in this first book in Barnett’s Vintage National Park series. The Road to Paradise is full of history,  adventure and romance in a beautiful setting of Mt. Rainier National Park. The writing is exceptional and the characters are believable. You could visualize yourself climbing the snow covered mountain and feeling the raw cold that the characters were feeling. Experiencing the raw beauty of  Nature’s undeveloped  woodlands. Karen Barnett has a sure winner in this first book  about National Parks. I was gifted this book to read and review and was honored to do so.                                                                                                                                                  

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