Inventions of the Heart (The Lumbar Barron's Daughters #2) by Mary Connealy

 Her heart seeks safety. But will trouble find her even here?

After her sister's marriage, Michelle Stiles is left hiding at Two Harts Ranch with the handsome but stubborn Zane Hart. She's managed to stay one step ahead of her stepfather and his devious plans, but if he finds her, she will no longer be safe.

Zane has problems of his own. Having discovered a gold mine on his property, he must figure out how to harvest it without kicking off a gold rush. Michelle, educated and trained to run her father's business, wants to manage all aspects of the mine, but Zane thinks for a person so smart she can have some misguided ideas. Running the mining operation will be a dangerous job, and he can't risk putting her in harm's way.

But danger finds Michelle anyway when she's suddenly attacked. If they go to the sheriff, they'll reveal her location, but if they do nothing . . . their troubles have only just begun.

My thoughts:

I had been looking forward to this 2^nd book in this series and as usual I was not disappointed to revisit the cast of characters that I’ve grown so fond of.  Michelle and her sisters are still in danger from their stepfather, luckily, they are much smarter and have been out maneuvering him with help of their loving mother. I have been enjoying the strength of these three amazing young women and can’t wait to see what happens in the next book in the series.

A little danger, a little romance and the love of family is perfectly blended in this wonderful novel.

I received a copy from the publisher and have given my honest opinion.

The Songs That Could Have Been (Sedgewick County Chronicles#2) by Amanda Wen review and Giveaway

 

Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace.
After a tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson's life is finally back on track. Her battle with bulimia is under control, her career is taking off, and she's surrounded by a loving family. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, leads to old feelings returning with new strength. And suddenly her well-balanced world is thrown off kilter.

Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But the reasons they broke up aren't lost--and those old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. He isn’t sure he's courageous enough to make a different choice this time around.

When Lauren's elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim--a name her family has never heard before--a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light. As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie's past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives--and Rosie’s--forever. Along the way they'll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption.

The Songs That Could Have Been is full of the same deftly handled, resonant writing that readers and critics alike enjoyed in Amanda Wen's first book in the series. Fans of Lisa Wingate and Rachel Hauck will add Amanda Wen to their must-read shelves.

Click here to read an excerpt

My thoughts:

After reading the debut novel by Ms. Wen, I was eagerly anticipating the release of this one.  Dual time stories have become one of my favorites and I usually enjoy both stories equally, but in this book, I preferred the story Rosie and Ephraim.  I could hardly wait to get back to their lives and found myself skipping over the modern-day challenges of Lauren and Carter.  It’s not that I was bored with them, it’s simply that found them less exciting.

They played a pivotable role in bringing the storyline to a wonderful conclusion but all throughout, I wanted more Rosie and Ephrain.   This really is a worthwhile read and will appeal to most readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist. Her debut novel was a 2021 Christy Award First Novel finalist.   Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. She is the author of Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been.   In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.   To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen).

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Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham

As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it--even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she's planned.

Norah's care does more than aid Quincy Barnes's recovery--it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.

Rachel Fordham invites you to experience the strength and beauty of love forged in the crucible of hardship in this heartwarming story. 

My thoughts:

Ms. Fordham has penned a wonderful, heartwarming story that captured me from the very first chapter. I admired Norah King for her strength, courage and her drive to save her family land no matter the personal cost to her. It was impressive and yet not unexpected when she finds the injured Quincy Barnes on her property and takes him to her home to nurse him back to health. It was very risky for her, an unmarried woman in 1880 to do that, but that’s exactly what she did, even though she was to be married soon.

The main characters are fascinating, but the secondary characters are equally so.  There is just so much to love about this novel from the unforgettable characters, the amazing storyline to the easy flow of the writing.  I think fans of historical fiction should absolutely read this book as soon as possible, you won’t be disappointed.

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