The Promise Bride (A Montana Brides Romance) by Gina Welborn and Becca Whitham

The Promise Bride by Gina Welborn and Becca Whithan is the first novel in the Montana Bride series. It’s about Emilia Stanek who wants a better life for herself, her brother, sister and her father. Living in a run down tenement in Chicago in the late 1800’s, she struggles with their filthy living conditions. She answers an ad for a mail order bride in Montana, and actually falls in love as they correspond. She can hardly wait to become a rancher’s wife and have clean air to breathe. and a home to call her own for her family. Her Dad is in poor health and suggest she marry by proxy and leave for Montana early and he will follow later on.
She arrives in Helena and instead of her new husband welcoming her, she is met by the sheriff, Mac McCall, who tells her that her husband has been murdered and the best thing for her is to turn around and head back to Chicago. He doesn’t understand she cannot go back for there is no home to return to. She is as determined to stay and make a successful life for her and her siblings as the sheriff is to see her gone…..If you like western Christian romance with murder, prostitution and good down to earth folks all mixed together, then you will love The Promise Bride. The only down is I felt like the ending was too hurried. Like they needed to end the book and did just that. Although it was a happy ending……..I was gifted this book to read and review and the words are my own.

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Justice Buried by Patricia Bradley

Patricia Bradley is a great writer and Justice Buried did not disappoint. Well written and very intense at times, a plot to keep you turning the pages. Rock climbing, hanging from the roof 15 stories up, A box full of dead man’s bones shipped to the Pink Palace Museum where Kelsey Allen is working undercover to find out who has been stealing artifacts. Unbeknownst to Kelsey she witnessed a murder{hanging from the roof}and then the next day the man who hired her is also murdered. Brad, an old acquaintance from her school days is part of the investigation. Sparks fly, mistrust and then someone is trying to kill Kelsey. Why? I liked the way the story would take you behind the scenes in the police investigation. Usually I can figure out who the murderer is, but this one was hard to do so. Strong characters and a interesting plot makes a great read. You will love this one if you like mystery and suspense with romance added in. I received a complimentary copy from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to leave a review but am happy to do so.

Chief of Sinners (Texas Romance Book 10) by Caryl McAdoo

This is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. There are many ups and downs and in and outs but shows the mercy of God to forgive and restore. Romans 11:29 says that the gifts and calling of God is without repentance……..The book opens with Nathaniel Nightingale and his son Buddy holding tent revivals once again, even though Nathaniel, still grieving the loss of Evelyn has returned to drinking. He always told her he could not live without her. He just cannot function and stays drunk to deal with his grief for a year. He knew life would have to go on so, he went back to doing the only thing he knew how to do and that is to preach. He did this on the witness and testimonies of times past, no miracles were done through him. He just existed. Buddy is now grown and very handsome and attracts all the girls as he is attracted to them. God has gifted him with a beautiful singing voice and also to write songs. But his flesh stands in his way of complete obedience to God. Buddy likens himself to king David in the bible when he sinned with Bathsheba to excuse his fornication. Although Nathaniel did reprimand him for his sinful ways, to his credit…. McAdoo has a special gift in her writing to bring her characters to real life, with all their flaws. She also shows how our sins and wrong decisions not only hurt us but all who love us. One wrong decision can cause a lifetime of hurt to many. There is much interweaving of characters and those whose lives they touch, but God is faithful and Nathaniel and Buddy truly repent and once again is used of God…….1John 1:9. If we confess{repent} our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to … This is definitely a book you will not want to put down……Thanks once again Caryl for a beautiful story.

Dying for Love (Hidden Justice)….by Cara Putman

This is a short read{novella} that has romance, mystery and suspense all written in a very interesting book…..
Ciara Turner is a lawyer and she is passionate about her work. Her clients are mostly women fighting for custody of their children. Daniel Evans is a lawyer on the opposite side of the battle, wanting the fathers to have custody. Ciara and Daniel served a clerkship together under Judge Banter. This particular Monday morning they both had an appointment with judge Banter and arriving more or less at the same time they discovered him dead on the floor of his private restroom. Daniel vowed he would see his killer brought to justice. Judge Banter had given Daniel a chance when no one else would. He felt like he owed that to the judge. Ciara and Daniel were once very close, but now they are constantly fighting one another as their ideas and goals are so diverse. They still feel a strong attraction toward each other but can not reconcile their differences. As they join together in an effort to find the killer, is it possible to lay aside past differences and find love? Will faith in God help them to overcome the past?………
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a review, but am honored to do so. All comments and opinions are my own.

The Two Of Us…..by Victoria Bylin

This is my first book to read by Victoria Bylin and I feel sure it will not be the last. Her writing style is reminiscent of Karen Kingsbury…….Mia has sworn off of love and men forever, after being burned and rejected twice. She is a nurse practitioner and has applied to Mission Medical where she will be stationed overseas. She vowed to God if He would open the door for her, she would go and devote her life to helping unfortunate children…..but her younger sister {whom she has raised since the age of ten when their mother died} is now pregnant and is to be wedded to the young man. She flies out for the wedding intending to persuade Lucy to rethink marriage,or at least wait. Then she meets Sam’s best man,Jake and there is an instant attraction. Mia fights the attraction yet falls in love, not only with Jake, but his mother Claire. Claire has Alzheimer and Frank her husband is so devoted to her. This touches Mia deeply. Then she has to rethink her decision. This is a sweet, faith filled romance with some very intense moments…….Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to read and review. This my honest review.

Mighty to Save (Texas Romance Family Saga Book 9) by Caryl McAdoo

This is a beautiful story with a strong Christian message. The story continues of Nathaniel and Evelyn Nightingale and their son, Broderick known as Buddy. He is four years of age and their only child. Evelyn has been in love with Nathaniel nearly all of her life, since she was four years old. They have a good marriage and Nathaniel has chosen to serve the Lord and gave up his drinking and sinful ways. He used his calling from God during WW1 to encourage the soldiers and help lead them to salvation.
Evelyn is a gentle soul and loving mother, who is also a writer. In the book she is also writing a true story about a slave who falls in love with the master’s grandson. The master sells her to a slaver for spite and revenge. Jules, the grandson vows to find Pearl and buy her back to marry her. He searches for her many years. This is such a poignant love story in itself,with a beautiful ending. McAdoo does a fantastic job of weaving two stories/eras into one most interesting book, that you will find hard to put down.
This book takes you into the time of the early 1920’s of tent revivals where there are signs and wonders and miracles as Nightingale lets God work through him. Also presented in a believable way that captures the interest of the reader. You surely will look forward to book 10 in this series.

My Blue Havyn (Heart’s of Hollywood series Book 1) by Lynnette Bonner

Havyn Jessup along with her closest friend Chelsea agreed to join her pastor and church on a mission trip to Africa to build a school for the African children. All is well as she hurries to the airport lest she be late. Meets up with Chelsea and who does she see? The famous actor, Levi Carter,with a beautiful actress on his arm. Surely he is not going along. This is her childhood friend, whom she thought she would marry. The call of Hollywood was greater than his love for her. She learns that pastor Chad had invited him to join the group. Havyn is ready to turn around and go home, but her friend won’t let her.
Levi is thrilled to learn that Havyn is part of the building team. It’s been four years since they last saw one another. Levi knows he made a huge mistake and would love to right the wrong. As thy arrive in Africa there is excitement, hard work and even danger. This is a well written and heart warming novella that will touch you……Thanks to Bonner for the copy. I was under no pressure to leave a review but am happy to do so.

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.