The Song of Sourwood Mountain by Ann H. Gabhart

 

While the century began with such promise, it is 1910 when Mira Dean's hopes of being a wife and mother are dashed to pieces. Her fiancé dead from tuberculosis, Mira resigns herself to being a spinster schoolteacher--until Gordon Covington shows up. No longer the boy she knew from school, Gordon is now a preacher who is full of surprises. First, he asks Mira to come to Sourwood in eastern Kentucky to teach at his mission school.

 Second, he asks her to marry him. Just like that. And all at once the doors that had seemed firmly shut begin to open, just a crack. With much trepidation, Mira steps out in faith into a life she never imagined, in a place filled with its own special challenges, to serve a people who will end up becoming the family she always dreamed of. From the pen of bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart comes a heartwarming story of the unexpected blessings that can come when we dare to follow the Lord's leading.

My thoughts:

When I want to read any historical novel, I look for one penned by this author. I know I will be caught up in the storyline, meet wonderful characters and most importantly, be thoroughly entertained without leaving my house.

I love the setting, the history and the sad reality faced by the people of Sourwood Mountain.  The message of faith and integrity are woven together perfectly, making this an incredible read.  Fans of both historical and Christian fiction will find this book well worth the read.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy.  Opinions are my own.

An Amish Healing (A Romance): Includes Amish Recipes and Reading Group Guide

INSPIRED BY A TRUE
From an author who has sold 3 million books.

Ada Glick enjoys her role as resident veterinarian in her small Amish community. Even though true love hasn’t found her yet, Ada occupies her time by caring for her neighbors’ fur-babies after receiving informal training from a veterinarian in town.

When an injured dog shows up unexpectedly on her front porch, Ada tends to him with the care she’s always given to animals in need. During the time she cares for the dog, Ada becomes attached to her furry new friend. Ollie—as she names him—doesn’t have a collar and isn’t well enough to travel, however she knows she must take him to be checked for an identification chip. Is there an owner who is missing him?

Jeremiah Huyard has suffered a terrible loss. His family is grieving the deaths of two loved ones, a tragedy that has Jeremiah roiling in grief. When he sets eyes on the beautiful Ada at his relatives’ funerals, he is unexpectedly distracted, but he is also sure he will never see her again.

Can a misplaced dog and a miracle lead Ada and Jeremiah onto the path that God has laid out for them?
 

My thoughts:

I absolutely adored this novel.  It has all the elements a well written novel should have, characters from past books, new ones who I loved, family dynamics and a familiar setting.

As an animal lover, I fell in love with the injured dog that shows up on the doorstep of Ada Glick, the local veterinarian in her small Amish community.  Ada is caring, kind and one of my favorites in this book.  I also grew fond of Jeremiah Huyard, a young man who is in town for a sad occasion but oddly enough the injured dog helps form a bond between the two of them.

The sweet story of Ada, Jeremiah, a miracle dog will warm your heart and put a huge smile on your face. If you like Amish or Christian fiction, you will want to read this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Chasing the Horizon (A Western Light #1) by Mary Connealy

 

Upon uncovering her tyrannical father's plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own--she will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum by her father, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother join forces with other travelers and hope they can make it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.

Wagon train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him and he learns something much more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives--and their hearts--with danger threatening their every step?

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a gripping and adventurous historical novel of survival, sacrifice, and romance on the Oregon Trail

My thoughts:

This is the start of the new series by Ms. Connealy and oh what a great start.  We are introduced to Beth Rutledge and her mother as Beth devises a plan to rescue her mother from an insane asylum. Keep in mind this was in the the1800’s when a husband had more rights than his wife and could easily have her committed if he chose to.

I loved the grit and determination Beth shows to get her mother, herself and a couple of others who tag along to safety.  Traveling with them on the Oregon Trail was equal parts exciting and dangerous. Knowing that there was the rich, powerful Mr. Rutledge looking for them, being careful to hide their identities made me worry for their safety.

The wagon train scout is one of my favorite characters and I loved the care he provided to all, but especially Beth.  I have a keen interest in all the characters and cannot wait to reconnect with them in the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions are my own.

Charlie Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy Brad Mason Review and GIVEAWAY

 

Book Details: Book Title:  Charlie Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy by Brad Mason, Ed. D. Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 32 pages Genre:  Children's Picture Book Publisher:  Yorkshire Publishing Release date:   January 2024 Formats Available for Review: print-softback (USA), e-book (PDF) Tour dates: Jan 15 to Feb 2 Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone. Book Description: The Charlie Chaloosy book series kicks off with its inaugural offering, Charlie Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy. ​The first book focuses on Charlie's experiences as he learns lessons, gains new experiences, and grows up in a world that happens to rhyme. The story is told through the use of a playful rhyme scheme and enhanced with beautifully colored illustrations of Charlie tackling new adventures in whimsical detail. The book ends with Charlie providing two pages for the reader to become an author by writing their own story. My thoughts: I don’t normally read books in this genre, but as soon as I saw this one, I knew I wanted to read and share it with a toddler in our family. The illustrations are fantastic, bright, colorful it is sure to catch the eye of children.  The story is delightful and reminded me of myself as a child.  I enjoyed the rhymes myself and am certain it will hold the attention of both the children being read to and the person reding to them. I love the fact that it is a hard back, excellent quality and will last for a long time. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy and have given my honest opinion.  Meet the Author My passion for children's literature stems from 30+ years in education and my re-entry into bedtime stories with the addition of my beautiful grandchildren. I created Charlie as a means for children to learn with Charlie by having a growth mindset when it comes to facing new experiences and learning new things. Children live in a world that is traveling ever faster and my desire is to help them slow down and enjoy childhood through the adventures of Charlie Chaloosy. I hope children have fun with Charlie while engaging their minds through stories that encourage them to read, write, illustrate, and dream a little. Buy the Book: Amazon ~ B&N add to Goodreads ENTER THE GIVEWAY HERE

 

Double Take (Lake City Heros #1) by Lynette Eason

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he's rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it's not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason will leave you breathless with this fast-paced first book in a brand-new series.

My thoughts:

Double Take by Lynette Eason is an engaging, well written, fast paced novel. Filled with suspense, intrigue, mystery and of course some romance, it is a perfect for readers who enjoy those genres.

I liked both main characters, Lainie and James, they were likable throughout the book.  I loved the premise, the twists and turns and trying to figure out who was behind the plot to kill Laine.  I admit to being surprised by the culprit which is another thing that I liked so much about Double Take.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

 

Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl From WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess Beverly Golden Cuevas

 Book Description:

Being raised in Parkersburg, WVA, Janie didn't have big aspirations for her life. Tired of her dead-end job at the phone company her best friend suggested she interview to become a Stewardess. Fearful she would be rejected because of her height; she was shocked when she was accepted. A whole new world opened up to her. Seeing places she had only read about, spending time with politicians, movie stars and professional athletes. One special athlete, a professional basketball player named Wendell Ladner stole her heart with his southern charm. An extraordinary 'connection' with Elvis Presley allowed her the unique experience to spend 'one on one' time with him and remain in touch until his passing. You'll share with her the challenges of marrying someone so different from her upbringing and coping with attempts to try and fit in. Behind Her Smile reveals a devastating event that deeply affected Beverly and made her reexamine her life and what she truly wanted out of it.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ BAM
Bookshop.org ~ Bookbub
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Beverly Golden Cuevas was born Beverly Jane Golden in Ironton, Ohio in 1945. She spent the first 10 years of her life in Parkersburg, West Virginia with her family. Her father had a job opportunity in Columbus, Ohio in 1955 so away they went. Beverly started working at the age of 14 to contribute to her family finances. She graduated Columbus North High School in 1963. She moved on to work at the Ohio Bell Telephone Company after graduation. In 1965, on the dare of her best friend she went to an interview to be a Stewardess for American Airlines. American hired her and she started her flying career in New York, then commuting from Tulsa, Oklahoma to her Dallas base. She flew both domestic and international. During her career, she never received a bad passenger letter. In 1977, she was 1 of 12 Flight Attendants selected out of 16,000 to participate in a highly coveted special assignment to work at the prestigious American Airlines Golf Classic. Her flying career ended on December 1, 2001 after 35 years. Beverly now lives in Dallas, Texas. She has been married to her wonderful husband Randy for 43 years. She has two sons, Joshua and Kaleb. She is a loving wife and mother, never missing a baseball game or school talent show, in spite of her flying schedule! Mimi is blessed to pass on her knowledge and love of life to her grandchildren Eden, Elijah, Ellie, Logan and Holly.

connect with the author: goodreads 

My thoughts:

This is the first memoir that I have read in quite some time, and I found this one rather enjoyable.  The author certainly doesn't hold anything back when it comes to her career. personal life which is the purpose of this genre.  I admit that this book started off slow, but as it went on for a few chapters, it became more interesting to me.

The author has relationships, establishes friendships with some famous people and some not so famous.  Overall, this is an enjoyable read.

An Amish Christmas Gift by Beth Wiseman

 

From a bestselling and award-winning author who has sold over 2.5 million books comes a love story that poses the question--Is it better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?

Hannah King and her two children, Mae and Lillian, are facing their first Christmas without their beloved husband and father, who passed only six months ago. Hannah is determined to display strength for her girls, stifling her emotions until she is alone at night crying herself to sleep. But as she tries to hide her grief, she is unaware that her children need her to be emotionally present.Mae is Hannah's oldest daughter. At eighteen, she is deeply in love with a young man in her Amish community. She is working through the grief she feels over the absence of her father, but something about her mother has changed, and the transformation has Mae fearful to make a commitment to John Byler. 

Her mother robotically goes through the motions of daily living, but she is a shell of the woman she used to be. Mae walks away from her relationship with John, knowing her mother's grief must be far worse than her own. She isn't going to let that happen to her.John Byler is in love with Mae, but his admission to her about his feelings causes her to stop seeing him without any explanation. He can only assume that she doesn't love him the way he loves her. Can Hannah see past her own grief and convince her daughter that it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all? And is Mae willing to take a chance on love?"

Wiseman is known for her character-driven stories . . . tender tales of love, loss, and redemption. Her fans will devour this short story." ~ Kelly Long, bestselling author for Kensington PublishersFor fans of Beverly Lewis, Amy Clipston, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall.

My thoughts:

There is so much packed into this story, as a loving wife and her children are grieving the loss of a husband and father.  It’s always difficult to learn to live your life without your loved ones, however, it must be done but in your own time. In this beautifully written novella by Ms. Wiseman, Hannah needs more time to grieve but it impacts her children bringing more sadness to them.

As the family opens to each other the author put such emotions in her writing, I could imagine their conversations. This is an emotional book where healing and honesty are both needed.  I loved the epilogue and the recipes.  This is a short but beautiful read.  I highly recommend it for the holiday season.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions are my own.