A Season of Change (Amish Inn #3) by Beth Wiseman

Finding peace means letting go of the past—and embracing the change that is to come. 

Sisters Esther and Lizzie have a new employee, Rose Petersheim, to help them tend to The Peony Inn. But their old matchmaking ways have stayed the same. The sisters focus their efforts on the lovely twenty-five-year-old Rose. Though Rose is witty and outspoken, her nervous chattering makes her the best match for someone calm and good at listening. Someone like Benjamin—the handsome handyman who recently moved to town. 

But when Esther receives an anonymous love letter and flowers, Rose’s love life is no longer the only one capturing the sisters’ attention. As they sleuth around searching for Esther’s secret admirer, they uncover that their grumpy renter, Gus, has a secret of his own that could bring about a difficult change in all their lives. And their continued meddling in Rose’s affairs reveals she, too, is hiding something—an old wound that could threaten her future happiness. 

As Rose, Lizzie, Esther, and Gus struggle to release the weight of their pasts, they discover that although people are complicated, love doesn’t need to be. 

This charming third installment of the Amish Inn series from bestselling author Beth Wiseman is a picture of loss and healing in which forgiveness will prove to be the greatest act of love.

My thoughts:

It was good to visit The Peony Inn again in the 3^rd book in this series by Ms. Wiseman.  I have loved this series from the very first book and I absolutely adore the two sisters who own and operate the Inn.  Esther and Lizzie are the sisters who hire the sweetest and somewhat funny helpers and, in this book, they sure have their hands full with the talkative but sweet Rose.  Did I mention the sisters are also matchmakers? They may have missed the mark when they thought the chatty Rose would be a good match for the shy, quiet Benjamin. 

However helpful the sisters think they are, they sometimes don’t give the best advice which made for a funny and sweet storyline.

There are also characters from the first two books that still play an important role in the storyline.  I will admit that I didn’t expect to shed any tears while reading this, but boy was I wrong. Some characters just become more endearing to you without you realizing how much you care about them, which I found to be true in this novel.

This was my favorite book in the series and I will miss them and The Peony Inn.   I highly recommend.

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

Yukon Justice (Alaska K-9 Unit #7) by Dana Mentink

Sabotage on a family ranch…

this K-9’s on the case.

When her estranged uncle attempts to sabotage her family’s reindeer ranch, K-9 team assistant Katie Kapowski heads home to help save it—and becomes his target. With their rocky past, Alaska State Trooper Brayden Ford and his furry partner are the last team Katie wants assigned to protect her. But with the ranch under siege, they must work together…or risk falling victim to a killer. 

My thoughts:

Another exciting book by Ms. Mentink that was hard to put down.  I love her writing, her characters and the situations she puts them in.  In Yukon Justice I actually learned about a reindeer ranch which was interesting, but also set the stage for the thrilling storyline.  This was another one of those books that had me on the edge of my seat and truthfully, that’s what I love about this author.

I loved the characters in this fast-paced novel although if I had to pick a favorite it would be Ella, the K-9.  I love animals in a novel and Ella was extra special. Yukon Justice is the 7^th book in the series, but it can definitely can be read as a standalone.   A quick, suspenseful novel that is worthy of the 5 stars I gave it.

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

Christmas Grace by Mindy Steele

 Second chances and the Christmas spirit abound in Mindy Steele’s heartwarming novel, one of faith, love, and the power of community.

Grace Miller believed herself in love with the charming Englischer who eventually broke her heart. Now alone except for the secret life growing inside her, she arrives in the unfamiliar small village of Walnut Ridge, Kentucky, to hide and hopefully gain forgiveness.

She is pleasantly surprised, however, to find a tight-knit, welcoming group who help her heart grow right alongside her belly. And with the holidays around the corner, there’s plenty of preparations to occupy her mind. Also occupying her mind? Her strong, protective neighbor, Cullen Graber, the town’s blacksmith, who seems intent on not allowing her to ever suffer alone.

Cullen Graber gave up on love after too many losses early in life. He planned to live out his days focusing on his smithy business, yet the beautiful and mysterious Grace refuses to leave his thoughts. But can they open their hearts to God’s grace and create a new family together before Grace must return home?

My thoughts:

I loved this book so much that I read it twice. I absolutely adored Grace Miller, my heart ached for her and the situation she found herself in after discovering she is expecting a child.  She showed bravery and determination that I couldn’t begin to fathom after she’s sent to the small village of Walnut Ridge, Kentucky.    Most everyone in the community was warm and welcoming, doing what they could to help her, but, the one person who helped her the most soon became one of my favorite characters.  It would be almost impossible not to love Cullen Graber, the blacksmith and neighbor who tried to make life as easy as possible for Grace.

There is so much to love about this book, from the memorable characters, the perfectly paced storyline to the jaw-dropping revelation that took me completely by surprise.  Kudos to the author on another must read book. I recommend this 5-star book to anyone who enjoys well-written novels and this is the perfect for this time of year.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

 

 

 

Love on the Range (Brother's in Arms #3) Mary Connealy

 

Wyatt Hunt is temporarily bedridden and completely miserable. Somehow Molly Garner's limited skills have made her the most qualified in their circle to care for Wyatt. But by the time he's healed, she's fed up with him and the whole ungrateful family. For even worse than his grumpiness were the few unguarded moments when he pulled at her heartstrings, and she has long determined to never marry.

Molly gets a job as the housekeeper at Oliver Hawkins's ranch. But really she's with the Pinkertons, spying to find out if Hawkins has abused women and if he's guilty of murder.

Wyatt refuses to let her risk it alone, convincing Hawkins that he's abandoning his own ranch, angered by his two brothers' coming to claim a big chunk of it.

But when another Pinkerton agent gets shot, they realize Hawkins isn't the only danger. The Hunt brothers will have to band together to face all the troubles of life and love that suddenly surround them.

My thoughts:

Love on the Range is the third book in this series by Ms. Connealy, and I am sorry to see it end. I started to fall in love with this merry band of misfits as they are thrown together by a father who has kept so many secrets from his family or families.

I loved catching up with the characters to see what funny and dangerous situations they would find themselves in.  I love the way this author crafts characters who you care about and what happens in their lives.  This series is filled with unforgettable characters, a storyline that keeps the reader engaged and, in this book, a satisfying ending to this series.

I received a copy from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Freedom's Song by Kim Vogel Sawyer

 

Her voice made her a riverboat's darling--and its prisoner. Now she's singing her way to freedom in this powerful novel from the bestselling author of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow.

"[An] enjoyable faith-filled adventure . . . Sawyer's episodic narrative and rich assortment of characters fighting for freedom provide the story with many twists and unexpected side-plots."--Publishers Weekly

Indentured servant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven-year contract is over. However, when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape--an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty. . . .

Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and young daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn't arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers? . . .

After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed drowned, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat's captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past--and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. . . .

Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truth, Freedom's Song is a story for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional, or spiritual delivery.

My thoughts:

Freedom’s Song is the well-crafted story of a young girl named Fanny.  Sadly, Fannie is an indentured servant as a singer on a paddleboat which was an interesting storyline and one that I enjoyed reading.  Fannie is such a strong young lady that I became completely caught up in her life.   Not only does Fannie escape in a thrilling, frightening way, but she manages to meet and help others along the way.

This entire novel was well worth the lack of sleep I experienced since I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it.  A fantastic historical novel filled with incredible crafted characters that you won’t soon forget.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley.  All opinions are my own:

Emma's Amish Faith Tested: Book 1 The Amish Women of Lawrence County Tracy Fredrychowski

 

When tragedy strikes, will this young Amish couple be able to overcome one of life's most challenging circumstances?

Loss, depression, and pain face Samuel and Emma Yoder as they maneuver through their first year of marriage.

When secrets become too much to bear, Samuel and Emma pull away from each other. Will they be able to admit their fears and heartache to find their way back to God?

Young love is tested in this first book of The Amish Women of Lawrence County Series.

Adhering to their Old Order ways means they must turn their backs on the truth they find in Jesus. Will this young couple be able to step out in faith to save both their marriage and their community?

My thoughts:

Emma’s story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.  I loved the characters and I loved every word written by Ms. Fredrychowski. The storyline pulled me in from the very beginning and held my interest throughout.

Emma’s journey is one that was difficult but totally worth it in the end.  I’m excited to read the next book in the series to find out what the author has in store for the Amish Women of Lawrence Country.

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

 

Behind Love's Wall (Doors to the Past) by Carrie Fancett Pagels

 

The Grand Hotel Slowly Reveals Her Secrets

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Two successful women, a hundred-and-twenty-years apart, build walls to protect their hearts. Modern-day Willa, a successful interior decorator, is chosen to consult for the Grand Hotel’s possible redesign. She discovers a journal detailing the struggles of a young woman, Lily—which reveals dark secrets. The renowned singer wasn’t who she pretended to be. As Willa reaches out to Lily’s descendant, a charismatic and prominent landscape artist, she lets down her guard. Should she share the journal with him, or once again erect a wall as she struggles to redesign both the Grand and her life? 

My thoughts:

I love a dual timeline story and I loved most everything about this one.  I absolutely adored the story of Lily, a singer who lived 125 years in the past from present day Willa.  I could have read Lily’s story throughout the novel and never tire of it.  The problem I had was with Willa and her story which I unfortunately didn’t care for. I didn’t care for a few of the present-day characters so I never became engaged in that storyline.

I have enjoyed other books by this author and this series and look forward to reading more from both the author and the publisher.

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

 

A View Most Glorious (American Wonders Collection 3#) by Regina Scott

 

Headstrong Coraline Baxter has worked all her life to be more than the spoiled socialite others expect. When her fellow suffragettes in Tacoma, Washington, suggest that she should climb to the top of Mount Rainier to prove that a woman can do anything, she instantly resolves to do it. And if she can climb Mount Rainier, her mother promises to stop pressuring her to get married to the wealthy Cash Kincaid. All Cora needs is a guide to get her to the top of the mountain.

Nathan Hardee may look like a mountain man, but he once ruled the halls of high society. He left all that behind after his father broke under financial pressure from Kincaid. To best Kincaid now, Nathan agrees to guide Cora up the mountain.

Climbing Rainier will require all of Cora's strength and will lead her and Nathan to rediscover their faith in God and humanity. These two loners make unlikely partners in righting a wrong and may just discover that only together is the view most glorious.

My thoughts:

I have loved this series, each of the books has held my attention throughout, but I will have to say, this is my favorite so far.  Historical fiction is one of favorite genres and in my opinion this author is one of the best writers in this genre.  She brings her characters to life along with the beautiful scenery that I have only seen in photos.

I felt like I was with the marvelous characters as they set out to climb to the top of Mount Ranier. I loved everything about this novel and hope there will be more to come in this series.

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