The Cowboy's Little Secret by Jill Kemerer

 

To keep his child’s nanny
He’ll have to let down his guard

The last thing struggling cattle rancher Austin Watkins needs, or wants, is for his son’s nanny to quit. But Cassie Berber longs to follow her dreams. The solution seems simple: prove to Cassie she can have the life she’s always wanted right here in their small town. There’s just one problem—Austin has a secret. And the only way to get Cassie to stay is to tell the truth…

My thoughts:

I have loved this series from the very beginning and have been waiting to for more of Austin Watkins story.  He is a man of honor, compassionate and a need to prove he can manage his ranch, it’s gotten difficult since he needs the help of someone who can care for his child while he works hard making his ranch profitable and successful. 

I loved Cassie Berber; she was the person Austin needs to care for his child and help him in more ways than he could ever imagine.  Cassie and Austin are fantastic characters, they are down to earth, have real life problems and are perfect for each other.  I have also loved the friendships that have been made in this small town, the people help each other and genuinely care for their friends and neighbors.

This is another wonderful novel by Jill Kemerer, which is why I recommend it.

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

Her Only Wish (A Season in Pinecraft #2) by Shelley Shepard Gray

 

Return to Pinecraft, Florida, for a Sweet Amish Romance

Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She's got a list--a life list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pinecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for lessons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions--beautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She's like no one he's ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, he's met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they'll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life--and love--requires a fair amount of risk.

My thoughts:

We met Betsy Detweiler in the first book in this series. After returning home to Kentucky, she has decided to return to Pinecraft to experience new things, meet new people and more importantly to live life without her parents hovering over her constantly.  I mean she does have a health problem but they treat her like a child and not the young woman she is.

I like Betsy, she is sweet, a bit awkward and seemingly clueless but in charming way. Her naiveté was a big part of her charm, she did have a spark in achieving her goals which added to her likeability.  When she decided to take golf lessons, it was the start of amusing situations, not just for me as a reader but also for August Troyer who has challenges with his parents.

This is an entertaining novel, with well crafted characters, a wonderful storyline and one that kept me engaged from beginning to end.

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

The Pursuit of Miss Parrish (Aprons & Veils #2) by Grace Hitchcock

 

Love’s gentle promise becomes nothing more than a withered dream.

With dreams of love and a hope for belonging, shy Belle Parish leaves her position as a maid in Charleston to travel to New Mexico with her best friend to become mail-order brides. Colt Lawson’s letters hold great promise and while his devilishly handsome face matches his picture, something does not add up. Discovering his lie only moments before they wed, Belle flees the church and straight into the Castañeda Hotel Harvey House. Giving up the prospect on ever marrying, she dons her nun-like uniform and focuses on her role as a Harvey Girl waitress until a strong Texas Ranger rides into her life.

Colt Lawson didn’t want to send that letter to Belle Parish in the first place, but her first response had all but captured his heart. When he is left standing at the altar alone, he is left with two choices—either release his dream of a love marriage, or attempt to win her heart. Wooing her would be a lot easier if that Texas Ranger wasn’t back in town. Who wants a dusty rancher with a past when she could have a shining knight in a Stetson?

My thoughts:

This book is quite engaging, with a little something for everyone.  It starts off with a couple of mail order brides and then turns into a story of the famous Harvey Girls which was fine with me as I love novels with both of those storylines.

Set in 1899, we meet Belle Parrish as she and her best friend travel from Charleston to New Mexico to become mail order brides, unfortunately things don’t go as planned which leaves Belle in a difficult position.  Fortunately, she lands a position as a Harvey Girl waitress where she makes new friends and has new opportunities.  As for the young man who looked forward to her becoming his mail order bride?  He now has some competition and amends to make to Miss Parrish. There are some twists, wonderful characters and the story moves at a great pace.

I loved this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy and was under no obligation to post a review.  Opinions are my own.

Hopefully Ever After (The Amish Bookstore#3) by Beth Wiseman

 To become who they’re meant to be, Eden and Samuel must find the courage to defy expectations.

Sixteen-year-old Eden Hale doesn’t want to be defined by her current circumstances. With absent parents and a troubled past, Eden refuses to become what people expect. When she is sent to live with an Amish cousin she’s never met in Montgomery, Indiana, she welcomes the chance to become the person she wants to be without the burden of anyone’s judgment. Her hopes are confirmed when she meets Samuel, a young Amish man who seems to like her for who she really is.

Samuel Byler has grown up with strict Amish parents, and they aren’t happy that their only son is choosing to spend his free time with an outsider. As Eden and Samuel grow closer, disapproval swirls around the young couple. It isn’t long before Eden starts to doubt herself and wonders if she is doomed to repeat the mistakes of her own past, whether she wants to or not. Meanwhile, Samuel finds himself slipping further and further from his faith—to Eden’s dismay.

Both Eden’s and Samuel’s futures hang in the balance as they face decisions about who they are meant to be—both as individuals and together.


Sweet contemporary Amish romance
Book 1: The Bookseller's Promise; Book 2: The Story of Love; Book 3: Hopefully Ever After

My thoughts:

I have loved this series and am sorry to see it end, but this was my absolute favorite in this trilogy. I must be honest and admit that I’m not normally a fan of teenaged stories however, the maturity of Eden and Samuel certainly changed my mind.  The fact that I was familiar with characters in the first two books added to my overall enjoyment of this novel.

As much as I believe this could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series on order to get acquainted with all the wonderful characters.  Filled with faith, love, personal growth, and forgiveness, Hopefully Ever After is a must read for fans of Christian and Amish fiction.

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

The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee

 

Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.

Life in the Philippines seems like paradise--until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as Japanese warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.

What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive.

Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.

My thoughts:

This story of the three young friends from Mobile, Alabama who enlisted in the second World War is a page turner.  From the beginning I loved Jimmy, Billy, Hank, their families, and friends. They were so young and full of life when they were stationed in the Philippines until the morning of December 8^th, 1941.   What follows are some things I was unaware of, the Bataan Death March, it was brutal as expected but I was so caught up in the lives of the characters, my heart was in my throat while reading some of the pages.

The Long March Home is one of the best novels I have read that was set in this time period, I cared deeply for the characters, I became emotional reading some of what was happening but most of all, the writing was top-notch.

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

The Swindler's Daughter by Stephenia H. McGee

 

A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

My thoughts:

The Swindler’s Daughter is such a delightful novel, full of secrets, faith, and an unexpected inheritance. 

Set in 1912 in Georgia, Lillian Doyle has lived her life believing her father died long ago and her mother is a widow providing for their high society lifestyle. Imagine her surprise when she receives news her father has just recently passed away and that she is the sole heir to his estate.  Lillian is in for an even-bigger shock when she travels to claim the house she’s inherited and her father’s business.  The house is in disrepair to put it kindly

There is so much to love about this storyline, the surprise and disappointment for Lillian seeing it for the first and the surprise and disappointment for Jonah, the young man who was promised he could purchase the home for his mother, who has already moved in and with plans of a home and a business.

I loved watching friendships grow through trust and faith. The pace was perfect and the characters were well crafted. A small-town historical fiction novel that I recommend.

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