Book Review: She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell/5 Stars

About the book:

For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage in the late 1890s, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city's most eligible bachelor. Debuting means plenty of work -- there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity's spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling.

Yet Clara wonders if this is the life she really wants, especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries. When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is, and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it's not just her heart at stake -- the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

My thoughts:

I have always fancifully wished myself in some other era other than my own - preferably one with gorgeous fashion, busy social events, and an enviable last name - but after reading Siri Mitchell's tale of Guilded Era New York with it's tight corsets and marrow shovels, I think my wishing days are over.  Siri's portrayal of a young 17-year-old debutante hoping to catch the hand of uber-rich Franklin de Vries was both entertaining as well as heartbreaking.  Truly, this novel overflowed with opulence and finery, but the cost such beauty exacted was far too high.  Sadly, our culture has not changed over the years in spite of the fact that women no longer wear lacing corsets, but we are still surrounded by the noise and imagery of whether we are "pretty enough."  I applaud Siri for tackling such a difficult subject matter amidst the backdrop of the Guilded Era, but I shouldn't be surprised.  She has become one of the best authors in Christian historical fiction, and I always appreciate that I gain a bit of history paired with an exciting tale in every one of her novels.

5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy for review.

**For more information about Siri and her novels, please visit http://www.sirimitchell.com/

**To read my review of A Heart Most Worthy (also by Siri Mitchell), click here.

Book Review: McKenzie by Penny Zeller/4 Stars

About the book:

"Desperate times call for desperate measures" is the reasoning that prompts McKenzie Worthington, a young lady of Boston's high society, to respond to an ad for a mail-order bride for a man in the Montana Territory. McKenzie is desperate, after all, to save her beloved younger sister, Kaydie, from her evil, abusive husband, who robs banks for a living. And so, it is with reckless determination that McKenzie runs away from the comforts of home and hearth to head West and meet her new husband-whom she'll divorce, of course, after she rescues her sister.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures" is the reasoning that also prompts Zachary Sawyer, a rugged rancher after God's own heart, to post an ad for a mail-order bride in various newspapers across the country. Managing a ranch and caring for his adoptive son, Davey, has become more than one man can handle alone, and Zach prays for God to send him a wife with whom to build a life and share his dreams.

When McKenzie arrives at Zach's ranch, she immediately puts her plan in motion, searching for her sister and doing all she can to keep her new husband from forming an attachment. But his persistent kindness and significant self-sacrifices begin to change her heart-and ruin her plans. God has a way of working things out to the good of those who love Him, though, as McKenzie and Kaydie will soon see.

My thoughts:

Most fans of romance will enjoy this first novel in the Montana Skies series about a Bostonian woman that travels out West as a mail-order bride, yet has an ulterior motive.

The title character of this book, McKenzie, answers an ad for a mail-order bride willing to travel to Montana Territory. The only thing is, she's really not all that interested in becoming a wife, much less to a complete stranger, but she is, however, in search of her sister who is trapped in an abusive marriage and also lives in Montana Territory. Her husband-to-be, Zach Sawyer, believes that God has sent McKenzie to him, and devotes himself fully to this new relationship even though McKenzie keeps him at arm's length. He eventually discovers her reasons for uprooting herself from a cultured lifestyle in Boston, and his initial joy of having her as his wife dissolves into feelings of disbelief.

Truly, the plot alone was worth the read since it's been a long while since I read a mail-order bride story, and this one came with an intriguing twist. McKenzie's snobbish nature early on turned me off, and her family wasn't particularly likeable, either. (In hindsight, I suppose that could be considered a good thing because by book's end, McKenzie had found a place in my heart.) Zach, on the other hand, was a complete and utter dream all the way through, and his young son, Davey, was as sweet as cherry pie. :)

On the flip side, I grew tired of the overdone Christian message throughout the novel. Most of the time, authors subtly include references to Scripture, but in my experience, it's atypical to see Scriptures used in their full context in the middle of a novel. If it had appeared once or twice, I would've thought nothing of it, but after multiple occurrences, I started to skim. Don't get me wrong...I have no problem with the inclusion of Scripture in Christian fiction, but in this case, it felt a little excessive and hindered the flow of the character's conversations in which it was used.

In spite of the preachiness of this novel, I was fully invested in the story, and sincerely wanted Zach and McKenzie's marriage to succeed. Also, there were a handful of great life lessons and nuggets of advice shared between Asa and Zach that were great additions to the story. The ending of this book set the stage nicely for the next book where I'll have the opportunity to get to know Kaydie as well as a certain confirmed bachelor who has already piqued my interest. :)

4 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

**For more information about Penny Zeller, please visit http://www.pennyzeller.com/

Book Review: A Case for Love by Kaye Dacus/4 Stars

About the book:

TV society reporter Alaine Delacroix feels like David facing Goliath when she takes on the biggest corporation in town to keep them from putting her parents’ garden center out of business. Lawyer Forbes Guidry wants nothing more than to stand up for the endangered local-business owners—but it will mean risking his job and crossing his powerful parents. Can Alaine and Forbes make A Case for Love?

My thoughts: 

The final installment of the fabulous Brides of Bonneterre series concludes with A Case for Love.

I'll be honest...I was a little nervous heading into this last book simply because this book carried more of a male perspective than the previous two books.  But hey, it didn't take long to put those nervous flutters to bed with such a dashing male hero!  Forbes Guidry was painted quite well as the epitome of success in his law career, but has just one thing missing from his life...a woman.

Alaine took a little while to grow on me.  At first, she seemed a little uppity with her tv program that she was bored with, along with her dismissal of Forbes' company.  The latter soon became understandable, but there was absolutely nothing that would keep these two apart!  Slowly but surely, their self-built walls started to crumble, and the fight was on to save a budding relationship amidst a nasty lawsuit.

This book had everything that I love--Southern charm, at least one character with sass, and the perfect dose of romance.  I absolutely cannot wait to dive into some of Kaye's historical fiction next, even though I'm confident of one thing...she's a master at contemporary romance!

4 Stars

Southern?  Yes!
Sass?  Double yes!

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

Watch Out for those Knives! ~ Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy/4 Stars

"Don'tcha just love a good western?"  That question just kept running through my head over and over again as I flew through another fun tale by the talented Mary Connealy.  There is something about her style that always keeps me coming back for more.  Mostly it's her knack of telling a hilarious story, but I usually end up loving the romantic elements and the action pretty equally, too.

But, I must confess...I'm not usually a fan of Indians in fiction.  I don't know why that is.  I don't have anything against them, but I think it's just a matter of relating with them.  Being a city girl and accustomed to living indoors, I can't imagine what it must've been like to live in a tepee 24/7, not to mention moving from place to place to live off the land.  I'd die in no less than a week! 

But in spite of all that, this tale with it's inclusion of an Indian heroine just had me glued to the pages.  I empathized with Abby (initially known as Glowing Sun) after she dealt with the heartache of a massacre of her people by the white man.  I understood her reluctance to trust any white man, even one who had shown her nothing but kindness from the first day they met.  And I marveled at her ability to take care of herself in any situation.  (I lost count of how many times someone met her at knifepoint!)  Her relationship with Wade blossomed slowly, but surely, and it fit the story perfectly.  Normally, Mary's characters have an instant passion and attraction for one another that has a tendency to take over, but thankfully, that was not the case between Abby and Wade.  Each one had their own inner struggles to sort through first before they could begin to fathom a relationship, and I appreciated that Mary delayed the romantic attraction between them just enough to make the story that much more enjoyable.

Now that I've got two series by Mary under my belt, I'm anxious to dive into another one.  I've been trying to read her full-length novels in the order of their release, so next up will be the Sophie's Daughters Trilogy beginning with Doctor in Petticoats.  I have no doubt it will be another rip-roaring adventure in the west that will be enjoyed thoroughly!

4 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  Absolutely!  Any gal brave enough to whip a knife out in a flash is bound to have some sass!

Summary of Wildflower Bride:

Glowing Sun, a white woman raised by the Flathead tribe, has never met a man she didn't want to pull a knife on, including the man who's determined to marry her.
Glowing Sun has vague memories of her former life, including a name—Abby Lind. When she’s forced to sever all links with her adopted Indian family, Abby wonders if she’ll ever find a home again.

Tenderhearted Wade Sawyer, responsible for Abby’s survival during the village massacre, convinces the knife-wielding woman to return with him to the Sawyer Ranch, never realizing danger lurks behind every corner. Can they survive long enough to fall in love?

Guaranteed to Tickle Your Funny Bone! - The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy/4 Stars

When I want to read a top-notch western romance, I need not look any farther than Mary Connealy. Her books have that punch of humor that I love to get the occasional taste from, as well as a spine-curling romance that makes me sigh every time.

The Husband Tree was no exception. It had a great mixture of humor and romance, and a likeable hero and heroine in Silas and Belle. Both of 'em were stubborn as mules, and as hard-headed as they come about the opposite sex. But each one had a very tender side, and showed genuine affection for the other as their relationship progressed to the (inevitable) next level. :o)

The only, and I mean, the ONLY thing that keeps me from giving this book 5 stars was all the kissing. Normally, that is not something that bothers me one whit, but it seemed like every time Silas and Belle turned around, it was Smooch City. It just didn't seem to give their relationship a good foundation, nor was it believable. Like I said before, I don't mind it. I'm not some ol' fuddy-duddy. Kissing is a normal part of any relationship, real or fictitious. But in this case, there was just too much of it.

Will that stop me from reading more of Mary's works? Absolutely not! My funny bone gets tickled so much that I'd miss out on a lifetime of laughs if I didn't read her books! No worries there...not a single one. :o)

4 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  Belle was the epitome of sass!

Summary of The Husband Tree:

Hit the trail into the Old West, where a tough lady rancher and a seemingly aimless wrangler attempt to avoid the matrimonial noose. When Belle Tanner hires Silas Harden to help her get her cattle to market, the last thing she’s looking for is romance. So why does she turn into jelly whenever he’s near? Silas wants nothing to do with women, but he can’t seem to resist the pull of love when it comes to Belle. Can they make it through this cattle drive without getting hitched? Or will they steer straight into a commitment neither one counted on?

Book Review: Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee/5 Stars

About the book:

A single decison has the power to unravel mankind.

Created, not born.

The world's first woman, without flaw, until one fateful choice. Now all humanity must pay for the mistake.

From paradise to exile, from immortality to the death of Adam, experience the dawn of mankind through the eyes of Eve -- the woman first known as Havah.

My thoughts:

Tosca Lee has got to be one of the most talented authors in Christian fiction today. It has been such a long time since I read a novel with as much depth as this one had. Normally, I fly through books as so many of them have similar storylines and plot devices, but I found myself slowly and methodically reading this book, absorbing each and every page.

This book changed my perceptions of those early days from Genesis that I am familiar with. Tosca's ability to convey the joy of Adam and Eve's time in the garden was contrasted extremely well to their sudden flight after eating the fruit, along with their subsequent wonder of how they would survive. And while it's not the norm for Christian fiction, I appreciated Tosca going the extra mile in describing the love shared between Adam and Eve as husband and wife. It seems that lately this has been frowned upon by some Christian readers, but I found it to be completely natural and added that extra bit of realness to the story.

Not only is Havah a great addition to Christian fiction, it is a wonderful addition to the genre of Biblical fiction that is growing by leaps and bounds. I have found that these novels help me in my understanding of Biblical truths, and I always find myself going to the original source and comparing both works side by side. It is my belief that Tosca has found her niche with the Biblical fiction genre, and while I'm sure her newest novel with Ted Dekker is great, I'm eager for her next solo novel in the works called Iscariot.

5 Stars

**Many thanks to B&H Publishing through NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

Book Review: Disaster Status by Candace Calvert/4 Stars

About the book:

Charge nurse Erin Quinn escaped personal turmoil to work on the peaceful California coast. But when a hazardous material spill places Pacific Mercy Hospital on disaster status and stresses staff, she’s put to the test. And thrown into conflict with the fire department’s handsome incident commander, who thinks her strategy is out of line. 

Fire Captain Scott McKenna has felt the toxic effects of tragedy; he’s learned to go strictly by the book to advance his career, heal his family, and protect his wounded heart. When he’s forced to team with the passionately determined ER charge nurse, sparks fly. As they work to save lives, can they handle the attraction kindled between them . . . without getting burned?

My thoughts:

I will forever stand by the opinion that authors always deserve a second chance. Truly, I did not enjoy Candace's first novel, Critical Care. I thought it was a copycat version of Grey's Anatomy that was unrealistic and over the top.

However.... :o)

Disaster Status was oh-so-much better! I was a little nervous going into the first few chapters that Candace was still on the Grey's Anatomy kick, but she quickly proved me wrong. This story was much more genuine, and had realistic characters that slowly crept into my heart. I got to reconnect with Erin, and watch as she grew into a "woman of strength." And I also got to meet hunky Scott McKenna, and cheered him on while he struggled to make the right decisions for himself and his family. Last, but not least, little Cody stole my heart with his sweet disposition and brave front--all the while not knowing if he would lose his leg because of a dangerous infection.

It was very apparent that Candace knew her stuff when it came to ER procedures and patient care. Those portions of the book were expertly written. On the flip side, I didn't enjoy her sentence structure. There were far too many sentence fragments for my taste, and with a little more work (or a better editor), I believe she could get her point across more effectively with complete sentences. Also, I wish that Scott's occupation had been mentioned more. All I knew throughout the story was that he was a fire captain who had some medical training, but there were no scenes that had him actually on the job putting out fires.

Candace shows a lot of promise as a Christian fiction author, and clearly, medical dramas are her forte. I'm eager to see how she progresses with her writing, and I plan to search out the next and final book in this series, Code Triage.

4 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

Book Review: Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz/4.5 Stars

About the book:

Caught between the wilderness and civilization, Morrow Little must find her way to true love

Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors. Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her. Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love?

This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop you as it takes you from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness of the West.

My thoughts:

Okay, I may need a second for my heart to once again resume it's regular rhythm...  Whew!

Rarely do I have the pleasure of reading a love story as beautiful as this one.  Laura Frantz has a skill with words that very few authors can replicate.  Her ability to make me feel as though I'm in the midst of a cold, dark forest, or at the edge of a trickling lake is a wondrous feeling to experience as a reader.  And if that isn't enough, she can pull my emotions along for the wild roller coaster of a new relationship between a husband and wife.

I truly believe that the Christian fiction genre is blessed to have Laura as part of its wide repertoire of talented authors and superb novels.  If you're a fan of historical fiction set during the early beginnings of our country that's paired with authentic, three-dimensional characters, Laura Frantz is the author for you.  I guarantee you won't be disappointed.  :o)

Southern?  Yes
Sass?  No

Click here to read my review of Laura's first novel, The Frontiersman's Daughter.

Book Review: An Amish Love by Kelly Long, Kathleen Fuller, and Beth Wiseman/4 Stars

About the book:

Romance is in the air, old-fashioned courtship is alive and well, and love is an eternal promise.

A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long

Abigail Kauffman is looking for a way out; Joseph Lambert is seeking a way in. Since her mother's death, Abby has lived alone with her father and longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after they find themselves suddenly married to each other do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love.

What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller

When Ellie Chupp loses her sight in an accident--and then her boyfriend shortly after that--she believes love will never be in her future. But Christopher Miller has returned home, five years after fleeing from the tragedy that broke his heart. When Ellie and Chris meet again, sparks fly. Could true love be a matter of seeing with new eyes?

Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman

He left to find himself. She found her way without him. Now Levina and Naaman Lapp are together again, feeling miles apart. Although coming home was the right thing to do, Naaman must regain the trust and respect of his wife who, in his absence, has learned to trust God like never before. Could it be that their prior years together have simply been a preface to a greater love than they have ever known?

My thoughts:

Novellas aren't normally my thing.  I've found that I enjoy a longer story much more than a short one.  However, I bit the bullet in this case, and read an anthology of novellas.  And if I really want to be truthful, it was only because Beth Wiseman's name was on the cover. :o)

And guess what?  I was pleasantly surprised!  Beth's story was great, of course, like all of her other books have been.  There were a few places where the story seemed to be rather drawn out, but on the whole, I enjoyed it.  I loved that it was a little spicy on the romance which, compared with other Amish novels, was a refreshing change.  I came across a review while I was reading this book that said the romance was inappropriate.  Puh-lease.  I found nothing wrong with a married couple (who had drifted apart from one other) that was desparately trying to reconnect romantically with one another.  If that's too much for some folks, then...wow.  I found it to be very realistic because unless you have the *perfect* marriage, there's nothing wrong with a wife being courted all over again by her husband.

Moving on...

Kathleen's story was just okay. I didn't dislike it, but it just wasn't as great as the other two stories, in my opinion. However, it was different in it's own right, dealing with a young blind woman living among the Amish (which was a first for me).

The most pleasant surprise, though, was Kelly Long's novella--A Marriage of the Heart.  Until now, I've not had the pleasure of reading any of Kelly's books, but let me just say...WOW!  What a great introduction to a new author!  Her story was so much fun, yet serious, and I loved the blossoming romance that happened after an impromtu marriage.  I can't wait now to find one of Kelly's full-length novels because I'm pretty confident that I'll find another good story nestled between it's pages.  :o)

This set of stories would be perfect for those wanting to try out the Amish genre, or any of these authors, in general.  Each novella is a little more than 100 pages, and gives a reader a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle and culture.  It would also be a perfect read around Valentine's Day because it is a little heavier on the romance than most Amish stories are.  My rating is 4 Stars.

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to Thomas Nelson through NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Book Review: Two Brides Too Many by Mona Hodgson/3 Stars

About the book:

Kat and Nell Sinclair are headed west—away from the manicured lawns of Maine to the boisterous, booming mining town of Cripple Creek, Colorado to start new lives for themselves as mail-order brides.

Aboard the train, romantic dreamer Nell carries a photo of her intended close to her heart and imagines an exciting and love-filled future, while her pragmatic older sister Kat resigns herself to marriage as a duty, not a delight.

But when the ladies disembark at the train depot, neither fiancé Patrick Maloney or Judson Archer awaits them with open arms. The well-bred Sinclair sisters find themselves unexpectedly alone in the wild, frontier town—a place where fire threatens to reduce the buildings to rubble, the working women strut the streets, rogues will gamble for the shoes on one’s feet, and God’s grace is found amongst the most unlikely of folks.

Two sisters.  Two missing misters.  A shocking welcome to the wild west that leaves both Kat and Nell Sinclair questioning their dreams­ and the hope for true love.

My thoughts:

This was a sweet, western, mail-order bride romance that had me curious from the very beginning.  I loved that the plot started in the first couple of chapters and found two of the Sinclair sisters, Kat and Nell, on their way to becoming mail-order brides in Cripple Creek, Colorado.  Nell was the more excited of the two at the prospect of becoming a new bride, while Kat really seemed to just be along for the ride.  Unfortunately for both of them, they were stood up at the train station with no clues whatsoever about the whereabouts of their intendeds.

From that point on, the story declined.  I tried so hard to get interested in it, but there seemed to be very little substance and too much fluff.  There were also too many characters early on, with some of them not adding much of anything to the overall story.  I also would've liked the story to have focused on either Kat or Nell, and not both.  I found myself more interested in Nell's story, but it was second fiddle to Kat's up-and-down story with Morgan.  Very little of the story had any focus, which was very sad as this could've been a very engaging, enjoyable read.

I am curious about the next book in the series which focuses on another Sinclair sister named Ida.  The blurb from that book looks very interesting as she sounds like she's got a head for business, which will be a different take on a woman's role in the late 1800's.  Hopefully, it will only focus on just Ida, and not too many other unnecessary characters.

3 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  Some; my favorite line came when Paddy told Kat they could get hitched tomorrow.  Kat quickly replied, "Hitching is something you do with a horse and a wagon, Mr. Maloney."  (You tell 'im, girl!)

Book Review: The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall/4.5 Stars

About the book:

Love alone isn’t enough to overcome the obstacles between a man and a woman.

Lena Kauffman is a young Old Order Amish schoolteacher who has dealt all her life with attention raised by a noticeable birthmark on her cheek. Having learned to move past the stares and whispers, Lena channels her zest for living into her love of teaching. But tensions mount as she is challenged to work with a rebellious young man and deal with several crises at the schoolhouse that threaten her other students. Her lack of submission and the use of ideas that don’t line up with the Old Ways strengthen the school board’s case as they begin to believe that Lena is behind all the trouble.

One member of the school board, Grey Graber, feels trapped by his own stifling circumstances. His wife Elsie has shut him out of her life, and he doesn’t know how long he can continue to live as if nothing is wrong. As the two finally come to a place of working toward a better marriage, tragedy befalls their family.

Lena and Grey have been life-long friends but their relationship begins to crumble amidst unsettling deceptions, propelling each of them to finally face their own secrets. Can they both find a way past their losses and discover the strength to build a new bridge?

My thoughts:

There are a handful of authors that are my true favorites.  Whenever they release a new book, I'm literally beside myself until I can get my hands on it.  Such is the case with anything by Cindy Woodsmall.  I discovered her books after she had written her first series called Sisters of the Quilt.  I devoured those books in no time flat, and then, began the patient wait for her next series book, The Hope of Refuge.  Since that book, I have read every single book she's written, and now, I can hardly stand the wait between each release!

The Bridge of Peace was a little different from some of Cindy's previous books.  All of her books have a thread of emotional drama running through them, but this one seemed to be even more dramatic.  Deborah was a returning character from book one who was still lamenting the departure of Mahlon.  Frankly, I wasn't a fan of Mahlon in the first book, and I was thankful much of this story didn't dwell on him.  Deborah also had the added worry of making a success of the new bakery she set up with Ada, Mahlon's mother.  That alone took some skill, right there.  How many of us could work with the woman we thought was going to be our future mother-in-law without maligning her son and his adventurous ways?  Tough stuff, for sure.

There were a couple of new characters introduced, which of course, brought some drama of their own.  Gray was a local man married to Elsie, and their marriage was awful.  I mean, *way* awful.  Separate bedrooms, stilted conversation, but with one bright spot...their son, Ivan.  Ivan was such a sweet child, and his brief appearances always brought a smile to my face.  He was born with part of his arm missing, but he did not let that stop him from being a typical, rambunctious 5-year-old.

Another new character was Lena, the local schoolteacher, and I confess that I liked her more than I expected.  She was a very opinionated, passionate individual who cared so much for her students, but suffered a quiet pain because of a facial birthmark.  Her self-worth was so tied in with her birthmark that she almost didn't recognize when love came her way. 

Between Ivan's handicap and Lena's birthmark, the biggest lesson I learned from this book was that we should never judge someone by their outward appearance.  Our thoughts and words toward those people can, at times, be so cruel.  Instead, we should love them for who they are, and realize that they were fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of all mankind.

Cindy's books are some of the best that Amish fiction has to offer, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.  There is always something in her stories that has me coming back for more, and I've been known to burn the midnight oil to finish one.  :o)  While The Bridge of Peace was not my favorite of all her novels, it was still a very good read, and necessary to continue the series.  My rating is 4.5 Stars.

Southern?  No
Sass?  Yes...Lena  :o)

**Many thanks to Waterbrook for providing a copy for review.

**It would make my day if you would take a moment to rank my review.  Don't worry...it's okay to un-check the box so you don't receive updates, but you'll still need to type in an email addy for your ranking to count.  Thanks in advance!  :o)

Book Review: Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y'Barbo/4.5 Stars

About the book:

When an aspiring reporter and a Pinkerton detective get tangled in Doc Holliday’s story—and each other—sparks can’t help but fly.

Despite her father’s attempts to marry her off, Anna Finch dreams of becoming a reporter. A chance encounter with legendary gunslinger Doc Holliday gives her the opportunity of a lifetime, but Pinkerton agent Jeb Sanders is about to ruin everything.

Though her father hired Jeb to keep her out of mischief, Anna’s inconvenient attraction to her hired gun only multiplies her troubles. She doesn’t realize Jeb has a score to settle with Doc Holliday, or that her association with the famous outlaw will affect more than just her marriage prospects. Between her father’s desperation to see her wed and Jeb shadowing her every move, getting the story and fulfilling her journalistic ambition just got far more complicated than she ever imagined.

My thoughts:

Wow...was I impressed with this story!  A feisty heroine, a stubborn hero, and a notorious outlaw made for one of the best westerns I've read in a long time.  

This book reminded me so much of the series by Susan Page Davis about the Ladies Shooting Club.  The only difference in this story was that there was no club--only one gun-totin' woman here--and none of their members ever shot anyone accidentally like Anna Finch did.  (Okay, so 2 differences...but who's counting?)  :o) One of my favorite lines of the story was when Anna decided a certain gentleman caller was getting a little too fresh with his courtin'.  She wasted no time in saying, "A Derringer is not my pistol of choice.  It is, however, the pistol in my skirt pocket."  Needless to say, he went on his merry way.


The dashing hero of the story came in the form of Jeb Sanders, a Pinkerton agent hired by Anna's father to shadow her daily activities.  What that job really amounted to was trying to keep Anna out of trouble at all hours of the day!  Jeb was a no-nonsense kind of guy, too.  He made it his business to be in-the-know about the important things, whether that was shooing away the wrong sort of caller, or interfering with freedom of the press when it thwarted his "official" Pinkerton duties.  :o)


I won't deny it...I wasn't all that crazy about the first book in this series, The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper, but I was thoroughly pleased with this one!  Kathleen's style of writing was a little different than what I'm accustomed to, but once I was several chapters in, I never noticed it again.  By that point, I couldn't get enough!  So, if you're a fan of westerns by such authors as Susan Page Davis, Mary Connealy, and Vickie McDonough, then I encourage you to check out Kathleen's books.  Prepare yourself, though...it'll be one great adventure!


4.5 Stars


Southern?  No
Sass?  Heaping piles of it!

It would make my day if you'd take a moment to rate my review!





**Be watching in the next few weeks as I get to sit and chat with Kathleen on Southern-Style Meet & Greet!  It's gonna be fun!  :o)

Book Review: A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer/4 Stars

About the book:

Dowryless and desperate, Tressa Neill applies to the inaugural class of Wyatt Herdsman School in Barnett, Kansas, in 1888. The school's one-of-a-kind program teaches young women from the East the skills needed to become a rancher--or the wife of one. Shy and small for her twenty-two years, Tressa is convinced she'll never have what it takes to survive Hattie Wyatt's hands-on instruction in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf, riding a horse, and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands. But what other options does she have?

Abel Samms wants nothing to do with the group of potential brides his neighbor brought to town. He was smitten with an eastern girl once--and he got his heart broken. But there's something about quiet Tressa and her bumbling ways that makes him take notice. When Tressa's life is endangered, will Abel risk his own life--and his heart--to help this eastern girl?

My thoughts:

Ever since I read Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer earlier this year, I have been itching to go back and read some of her earlier novels.  I fell in love with her simple, yet emotional, style of writing, and knew that I had found a new favorite author.  A Hopeful Heart was another very good story!  Not quite as good as my first experience with Courting Miss Amsel, but still, very good nonetheless. 

I honestly had a tough time getting started with this one.  I've read one other "mail-order bride" story where there were several women (16, to be exact) that traveled together to the same town to be matched up to eligible bachelors, and frankly, it was not an enjoyable read.  So, my expectations were somewhat crushed from the beginning that I would be in for a similar story where 6 women traveled together to Kansas.  But I continued on, and was pleasantly surprised how much I started to like it. 

Tressa was the sweetest character.  Her demeanor was a little all over the place because she was trying so hard to fit in, and not let people in on the secret that she was really a refined young lady.  So, there were times when she was very timid, and other times when her fancy vocabulary would stun folks into silence (loved those parts the most, I must say).

I wasn't particularly crazy about the early development of Tressa and Abel's relationship.  It seemed to lack genuiness, as well as too much matchmaking on the part of Aunt Hattie.  BUT...everything slowly, but surely, started to come together by the end, and I was itching to see their relationship blossom.

Even though it had a slow beginning, I still really enjoyed this book.  I've read countless mail-order bride stories, and I've come to the conclusion that there needs to be something unique about it to set it apart from all the many others available.  This book had that unique quality in the form of a herdsman school (which I had never heard of before).  There was also a bit of mystery woven through the story which made it even more interesting.  I look forward to reading more of Kim's books in the future, and I happily give a rating of 4 Stars for A Hopeful Heart.

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy for review.

**Click here if you'd like to read my review of Courting Miss Amsel.

Book Review: The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson/4.5 Stars

About the book:

When destiny sleeps, it can only be awakened by true love’s kiss.

In this historical romance loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, a woodcutter's daughter becomes the town healer's apprentice. Rose's job is to care for the sick and injured in Hagenheim Castle. But she gets sick at the sight of blood and is more suited to making up stories than sewing up wounds. She is determined to overcome her weakness and prove herself a competent healer, or she faces marrying a disgusting old merchant her mother has picked out for her.

Lord Hamlin, the future ruler of the region, is injured and Rose must overcome her squeamishness to save him. He is everything that is noble and good, but loving him is forbidden. He is already betrothed to a mysterious woman in hiding.

With two noble-born brothers vying for her affections, Rose learns that the people of Hagenheim are not always who they seem.

My thoughts:

To my knowledge, this was my first time reading a YA historical novel at a point in time other than my young adult years, and what a blast it was!  The majority of the books I read are historical, and written for an adult audience.  So, to have the opportunity to read a YA historical was like a dive into unknown territory...but I can't wait to go back!

Lord Hamlin was a very dreamy noble, who had an unneeded attraction to the healer's apprentice, Rose.  His future had already been arranged--inherit the dukedom, and marry Lady Salomea whom he has never met.  But while he struggled to accept that he and Rose cannot be together, he wasn't crazy about his brother, Lord Rupert, forming an attraction to her, either.

But in the midst of all this emotional drama, there was also the problem called Moncore.  He was an evil conjurer that Lord Hamlin had been tracking for 7 years with no success.  Until Moncore is caught, Lady Salomea must continue to remain in hiding because Moncore will surely put a curse on her if he can find her.

And if all that wasn't enough to keep me turning the pages, there was also the secrecy that slowly unfolded as I got closer and closer to the end.  I tell ya, I could barely contain myself!  Even though I'm familiar with the tale of Sleeping Beauty, my heart was still beating furiously as I waited for true love's first kiss to take place....and oh, what a kiss it was! 

Ahhh....this book will most assuredly have me reading more historical YA books in the future!  It had that lovely, fairytale-like quality that I would've loved reading as a teenager, but it still put me in a dreamy state as an adult.  I can hardly wait to read Ms. Dickerson's next book, The Merchant's Daughter, that comes out later this year!

4.5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  A little...Rose could be a bit feisty at times.

**Many thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.

**And there's more!  The book trailer for The Healer's Apprentice...

Book Review: More Than Words by Judith Miller/4 Stars

About the book:

Gretchen Kohler is an Amana storekeeper's daughter with a secret passion for writing. But artistic pursuits are frowned upon in her conservative Amana village, so she confines her poems and stories to her journals, letting only close friends read them.

When a young reporter comes into her store, she believes she's found a kindred spirit. She shares a few of her stories with him--only to have her trust betrayed in the worst of ways, resulting in trouble for her entire community. The scandal is made even worse by the fact that gypsies have camped nearby and seem to be preying upon the Amanans' compassionate, pacifist nature. Will Gretchen lose her job, her reputation, and the love of her childhood beau all because of one bad decision?

My thoughts:

More Than Words took me on a delightful journey through the Amana Colonies in 1885, and Judith Miller captured my attention from the very first page.  I had no idea that I would experience such unique characters and cultures all in one book!  I gained knowledge about the Amana Colonies, as well as learned what the Gypsies were like at that point in history. 

For those that don't know, Amana members are often mistaken for Amish, when in fact, they are not connected at all.  The Amana members have no issues with using electricity, for example, and are always looking for ways to improve their quality of work as well as the speed in which it is accomplished.  They have a communal society where no one owns their own home, and each person has very few possessions.  This allows them to focus their time on God and His Word because they are not tied down to things or worldly desires.

The Gypsies, on the other hand, were very interesting, too.  I had no idea that they frequently kidnapped young children, and brought them into their society.  That tidbit was quite disturbing, but it was an important secondary part of the story.  I did know that they used Tarot cards and conjured up spells and such, but thankfully, those things were not mentioned much at all.

I found that I related very well with Gretchen, the main female character.  She had a desire for reading and learning that was enormous.  I couldn't imagine if I had to watch what I read in such a strict society, but I understood why they had their rules in place.  Thankfully, she had a very understanding father (most of the time), in addition to a very nosy brother.  She also had a very dreamy beau who was very patient and understanding....reminded me of my hubby.  :o)

More Than Words is book 2 in the Daughters of Amana series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone.  I had not read the first book prior to this one, and never felt like I had missed any back story.  For someone who is a fan of bonnet fiction, I enjoyed learning more about another society that wasn't Amish.  Their lifestyle is simple, but interesting, and I imagine most fans of Amish fiction would find the Amana society to be a nice diversion in their reading fare.  My rating is 4 Stars.

Southern?  No
Sass?  Some; Gretchen had a tendency for not following the rules, which led to some pretty interesting convos with Conrad.  :o)

**Many thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy for review.

Book Review: Secrets of Harmony Grove by Mindy Starns Clark/3.5 Stars

About the book:

From the bestselling author of Shadows of Lancaster County comes an exciting new romantic mystery set in Amish country.


Sienna Collins, owner of the Harmony Grove Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, learns that she is under investigation by the federal government for crimes she knows nothing about. A few hours later she finds her ex-boyfriend, Troy, dead, and her life and livelihood begin to spin wildly out of control. She begins to doubt everyone around her, even the handsome detective assigned to the case.

As Sienna tries to clear her name, she is forced to depend on her faith, the wisdom of the Amish, and the insight of the man she has recently begun dating. She’ll need all the help she can get, because the secret she uncovers in Harmony Grove end up threatening not just her bed-and-breakfast, but also her credibility, her beliefs, and ultimately her life.

My thoughts:

Readers familiar with Mindy Starns Clark know that she is an incredible writer that can weave an intricate story together in a phenomenal way. Her plots are always complex and her characters believable. It is also very difficult to put down one of her novels because the action is always non-stop.

That said, Secrets of Harmony Grove was a rather complicated story. The plot, while interesting from the word "go," had way too many twists and turns. It was a mystery within a mystery, with a few other mysteries served on the side.  With all of the subplots, it was not a surprising experience to find several lagging portions in the book.

Knowing that Clark has written another Amish/mystery story, it was a given that the two books were easy to compare against each other.  While neither book was overtly Amish, each book featured parts of the Amish lifestyle that are not commonly mentioned in strictly Amish novels.  For example, this novel dealt with mental illness and Amish ancestry, while her other novel explained the intricacies of DNA research and diseases among the Amish.

Readers who enjoy lighthearted stories may wish to bypass this particular novel.  Clark is a very talented mystery author, but this novel, in particular, had a few scenes that were darker than her usual fare.  It will be interesting to see how she has used this novel, as well as her previous Amish/mystery novel, as she branches out with co-writing Amish novels.

3.5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

Book Review: Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot/4 Stars

About the book:

Longing for adventure, Priscilla Morton leaves Boston in 1856 and heads for the Texas Hill Country, never dreaming that the adventure she seeks could have heartbreaking consequences. Although attracted to her, ranch foreman Zachary Webster knows Priscilla deserves a cultured East Coast gentleman, not a cowboy who's haunted by memories of his mistakes.

When necessity draws them together, Priscilla and Zach begin to forge a life filled with promise. But then the past intrudes.

Book 2 of the Texas Dreams series, Scattered Petals weaves a tale of drama, love, and second chances as beautiful as the Hill Country itself.

My thoughts:

Amanda Cabot certainly knows how to weave an incredible story.  When I read her first book, Paper Roses, last year, I completely fell in love with her writing.  The way she created the most beautiful love story between Sarah and Clay was so romantic, it gave me goose bumps.  Because of that, it was a no-brainer that I would eventually read her second novel, Scattered Petals.

While I recommend that any series of books be read in order, Scattered Petals was a book that was easily read as a stand-alone novel.  It shared the story of Priscilla, the sister-in-law of Clay, and Zach, a member of the local town and a friend to Clay and Sarah.  Priscilla and her parents were on their way to share in the joy of Clay and Sarah's upcoming wedding when their stagecoach was attacked.  In a matter of minutes, Priscilla watched as her parents were shot, and experienced the subsequent act of being raped.  From that point on, she didn't want anything to do with men, regardless of their good intentions.

Meanwhile, Zach had a host of memories that he would rather forget.  He made a stupid mistake in his teenage years, and he's never been able to forgive himself for it.  When he met Priscilla, he thought there was no way in the world she would ever give him a second look...until circumstances forced them to make some crucial decisions about one another.

Being that it's been a year or so since I read book one, I struggled a little bit with remembering some of the characters in this story.  Yes, the introduction of Priscilla and Zach was easy to follow as their story stood alone, but it was the other townsfolk that I had some trouble with.  The town was settled by both German and French immigrants, and even after a few years of living amongst each other, there were prejudices that still existed.  It wasn't until I was almost half-way through the book that I was able to better follow the story, and understand the direction it was heading.

There's one other thing that bothered me.  I believe I noticed this in Paper Roses, but it wasn't as obvious as it was in Scattered Petals.  Occasionally, there were sections of the story that appeared to be lumped together.  For example, a character would mention an activity that they wanted to do that evening, and that event would appear in the very next paragraph.  There was no break in the page.  I really didn't understand the reasoning for this as all the chapters in the book were very long; a break here or there would have been very helpful.

In my opinion, Paper Roses was a book worthy of 5 whopping stars, but I can only give 4 stars to Scattered Petals.  I feel bad that I am comparing these books against each other because I like to judge each book I read on it's own merits.  I was literally glued to the pages of Paper Roses, but I didn't have that same urgency to find out what would happen in Scattered Petals.  In spite of that, I am anxious to see how the series wraps up in book 3, Tomorrow's Garden, releasing in April 2011.

Southern?  No (Texas is not part of the South in my opinion...sorry.)
Sass?  No

**Click here to read my review of Paper Roses.

Book Review: Deliver Us From Evil by Robin Caroll/4.5 Stars

About the book:

A beautiful, yet tough, woman working in a beautiful, yet tough, setting, Brannon Callahan is a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Strong faith and a decorated history of service have kept her one step ahead of on-the-job dangers, but there’s no precedent for what’s about to happen. After a blizzard takes down a small plane carrying U.S. Marshal Roark Holland (already haunted by a recent tragedy), Brannon must save him in more ways than one and safeguard the donor heart he’s transporting to a government witness on the edge of death. Otherwise the largest child trafficking ring in history—with shocking links from Thailand to Tennessee—will slip further away into darkness along the Appalachian Trail.

My thoughts:

I always get a thrill when I feel like I've stumbled upon a real gem in the vast collection of Christian fiction.  With so many books available that I could spend my time reading, I always appreciate it when I come across one that I will recommend over and over again.  Let me tell ya....Deliver Us From Evil was such a book.  The suspense was top-notch, the action intense, and the romance.....oh, the romance (giddy smile) took my breath away. 

I have to admit, though, that the beginning of the book was a little slow.  I could sense that the heart-pounding action was within my grasp, but it took a little longer than I wanted for it to arrive.  Once it did, it was all downhill from there.  :o)  I literally had to make myself put it down at midnight so I could get some sleep!

I have no doubt that I will be reading more of Robin's books in the future, including the rest of this series.  There was a little teaser at the end that leads right into the next book in the series, Fear No Evil.  Brannon's close friend, Lincoln, was one of my favorite characters in the book, and I'm anxious to see what will happen to him next. 

So in case you're still wondering whether or not you should try Robin's books for yourself, let me end the suspense for you right now....  Yes!!!  You should!  You should go to the store right away (or Amazon, or CBD, or some other online bookstore) and get a copy for yourself right now!  :o)  You'll have it read in no time flat, I promise you!

4.5 Stars

Southern?  Yes, set in my home state of Tennessee.  :o)
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to B&H Publishing for providing a copy for review.