The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House By Joanna Davidson Politano

the Curious Inheritance of Blakely House

by Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800742980

As a long time fan of JDP, I couldn't wait to read this story! They really should be in a class of their own. This book certainly doesn't fit into one specific genre and I love that! The author & publisher sent me the book for review!

Summary:

A clever young woman, a contested will, and an estate that does not easily give up its secrets.

It is 1901 when clockmaker and tinker Sydney Forrester receives a most unusual inheritance. Blakely House, the island estate of an estranged uncle she's never met, seems almost alive, revealing and hiding its secrets at will. It is filled with remarkable inventions, including an intriguing unfinished automaton Sydney is itching to get her skilled hands on.

The estate is also home to a number of peculiar people--including two men intent on removing this interloper from the island. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle's death, the late master's nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn. 

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate's butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master's brilliance as well as his property--or someone else will.

My Review:

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House was such a fascinating story. It's different than any of the other books this author has written and I'm sure I've never read anything like it before.

The beginning felt a bit disjointed. I didn't quite understand what was going on, but it turns out it was intentional, at least in my opinion. I feel like now that I've read the book once, reading it from the start wouldn't be as "confusing." I know this might sound negative, but it's not. I have lived with ADD all of my life, and could see & understand the beginning more as I got further into it. That being said, I could also see myself in Sydney with some of her different quirks. I actually thought she was on the Autism spectrum, but extremely high functioning. If you want to get a fictional idea of what it's like to live in someone's brain that's wired differently, this story will give it to you in spades!

I really liked awkward Sydney. She knows she's not like most people. She accepts her lot in life and tries to make the best of it with her Aunt Lottie. That is until a strange woman shows up at their little shop and sends Sydney on an adventure, which is completely outside of her carefully crafted world of the same things day in and day out.

She takes her cat, Micah, with her as she makes her way to Blakely House, where she encounters the oddest of men who all look at her with suspicion. She upends their already strange existence in her Uncle Emmet's home. Turns out, she's not the only one vying for the inheritance.

We also meet the butler, André. Having lived in Emmet's home, he's had a glimpse into the mind of someone who's different than most. André's past is a mystery, but Sydney is sure he's a pirate in hiding. He has his own struggles, but overcomes them as best he can. 

Sydney has a lot to contend with in this odd house with inventions Uncle Emmet has left incomplete, rooms that seem to come and go, and lights that turn off and on randomly. It's easy to see a brilliant mind lived in that house. We also learn of Emmet's great love who left his little island when she was a young girl.

There are twists and turns galore, mysterious ship wrecks, more adventure, romance, and faith. I loved how André helped turn Sydney's eyes to a Creator!

About the Author:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, A Midnight Dance, The Lost Melody, and The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her online at JDPStories.com.

Break My Fall By Lynn Blackburn

Break My Fall

by Lynn Blackburn

Publisher: Revell

Series: Gossamer Falls

ISBN: 9780800745370

I'm a huge fan of Lynn Blackburn's novels. I love her previous series and this one is up there with the best of them. Thankful to the author and publisher for sending me a review copy!

Summary:

She's determined to make an impact in her community. 
He's determined to make sure she lives long enough to do it.

Dr. Meredith Quinn always planned to return to Gossamer Falls to practice dentistry. Now that she's back home, she's made it a point to offer clinics to children and adults in nearby underserved areas. Unfortunately, those same areas are known to harbor drug traffickers, and Police Chief Grayson Ward suspects that local law enforcement is looking the other way.

After too many losses, Grayson has closed off his heart. But with Meredith in his life, he feels his walls crumbling, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. To keep her alive, he must keep her close, but that makes it impossible for him to retreat and rebuild. 

Will she be the one who finally helps him emerge from isolation? Or will this force of nature leave him shattered?

My Review:

If you look at any of my reviews for Lynn's books, you'll know I'm a huge fan. It continues with book two in this series, Break My Fall!

Meredith is a dentist who wears her heart on her sleeve for those in need. Occasionally, she crosses over to a town that's dangerous to help underserved families. The problem is, kids talk. Meredith hears things... and the bad guys know it! 

Meanwhile, her family of Quinns (and Shaw) rally the troops and try to keep her safe. Read this story and tell me you wouldn't want to be part of their family! They try to keep her as close as possible, but that doesn't always keep her safe.

Well, Police Chief Gray is also on the job of protecting Meredith, as well as his heart. He's lost too much in his life, and he's not going to add her to the list. Keeping her alive and at a distance are his goals. His heart apparently didn't get the memo! His history leads to him resolving to never get involved with a woman, but Meredith is a force to be reckoned with!

Whew, this story kept me up late! I didn't get to sleep before midnight a couple of times. Guess I should've started reading earlier in the evening! Lynn's stories always have me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails!

There wasn't as much faith in this story as the previous ones. Not that I'm saying there has to be a certain amount. Just not quite like the first book. Totally fine, just an observation. The ending went a bit quicker than I expected. I don't know why, but in suspense novels like this, I love a good confrontation. That's personal preference, of course. While I didn't get a confrontation, there's an explanation, which I always appreciate!

Now I wait incredibly impatiently for Mo and Bronwyn's story! I'm sure it's going to be a doozy!

About the Author:

Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Never Fall Again, as well as the Dive Team Investigations and Defend and Protect series. She loves writing swoon-worthy Southern suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters by putting them in terrifying situations while she sits at home in her pajamas. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Learn more at LynnHBlackburn.com.

Midnight On The Scottish Shore By Sarah Sundin

Midnight on the Scottish Shore

by Sarah Sundin

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800741860

I'm a huge HUGE fan of Sarah Sundin! I will devour every book of hers I can get my hands on. I couldn't wait to read Midnight on the Scottish Shore! Let me tell you, I was completely invested. Thanks to the author and Revell for sending me the book for review!

Summary:

In a time of war, danger lurks beneath the water--and in the depths of the human heart

As the German war machine devours the Netherlands, the only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the occupation is to do the unthinkable--train to become a spy for the Nazis. Once dispatched to Britain, she plans to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. But her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

Yet perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence employs her to radio misleading messages to Germany from the lighthouse at Dunnet Head in Scotland--messages filled with naval intelligence Lachlan must provide. If the war is to be won, Lachlan and Cilla must work together. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy--a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

My Review:

Midnight on the Scottish Shore is about Cilla van der Zee, cousin to Aleida from Embers in the London Sky. Cilla escapes the Netherlands, hoping to aid the Allies, but she's captured and believed to be a spy for Germany. The Allies decide to use her in their secret Double Cross unit of M15! Cilla is willing, but the man who captures her is also the one who has to aid her as part of the scheme.

I loved Cilla! LOVED her! She takes lemons and makes lemonade. While the lighthouse becomes her prison, she also learns to find freedom in it. It doesn't come quickly or easily. And let's just say Lachlan Mackenzie doesn't make it very enjoyable. I mean, while Cilla is lovely, she's also a spy for Germany (repeated over and over in Lachlan's mind)!

Lachlan, for his part, wants to do his duty to his country, but his past is always looming over him thanks to his younger, wayward brother, Neil. Lachlan toes the line and is very black & white. He's also honorable, loyal, and trustworthy. What woman would fall for the fuddy-duddy?

I knew this was going to be a book I didn't want to put down! There's so much to talk about in regards to it. Cilla used humor in hard circumstances, and she was sharp as a tack! Extending forgiveness to someone who has hurt you makes you vulnerable. Earning trust can seem impossible, but it is worthwhile. All of the ways military and gov't people have to come up with plausible ways to misdirect the enemy and the way it's done with Yardley, Cilla, and Lachlan is masterful. 

I'll admit that I can't get enough of Sarah Sundin's stories! They're so well written and keep me riveted on every page! I'm already ready for her next book... no pressure, Sarah!

About the Author:

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, The Sound of Light, Embers in the London Sky, and the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Sarah lives in Southern California. Visit SarahSundin.com for more information.

The Indigo Heiress By Laura Frantz

The Indigo Heiress

by Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800740696

As one who ADORES Laura Frantz and her stories, I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on her newest release, The Indigo Heiress! If you haven't grabbed your own copy, let me tell you that you're missing out! Revell sent me my copy of the book!

Summary:

Virginia plantation life is all she has ever known. 
But could the life she was meant to live be waiting on a distant shore? 

In 1774, Juliet Catesby lives with her father and sister at Royal Vale, the James River plantation founded by her Virginia family over a century before. Indigo cultivation is her foremost concern, though its export tethers her family to the powerful Buchanan clan of Glasgow, Scotland. 

When the heir of the Buchanan firm arrives on their shores, Juliet discovers that her father has arranged for one of his daughters to marry the Scot as a means of canceling the family's crippling debt. Confident it will be her younger, lovelier sister, Juliet is appalled when Leith Buchanan selects her instead.

Despite her initial refusal, Juliet realizes that fleeing Virginia is her only choice after finding herself in the midst of a scandal. The ship just leaving the harbor for Glasgow is her only hope. But she will soon realize that being part of the complex and calculating Buchanan clan is not the sanctuary she imagined--and the man who saved her from ruin is the very one she must now save in return.

My Review:

I haven't met a Laura Frantz book that I haven't adored! Her stories always draw me in and are rich with relationships and strong characters. The Indigo Heiress captured me. It's different than her other books in some ways, while still the same in others. Her other stories always seem to have one really awful character who is easy to dislike. This one had a side character who isn't likable in the least, but doesn't have a presence throughout the whole story.

I always love the male main characters in her stories because they're so confident in who they are and are intensely protective of their loved ones. Leith is one such man, but throughout much of the story has a hard time showing affection. He's very business minded and oftentimes seems cold and distant. He just needs the right motivation to thaw his heart.

Juliet is a delight! She's forward thinking for such a time and has a head for business. She carries on her mother's work as an abolitionist. Her sister, Loveday, helps as well and also plays a large role in this story, which I loved. The two of them are a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, their "work" gets them into trouble, and their only means of saving themselves is joining Leith on his departing ship and marrying him!

Their start isn't an easy one and it continues to be difficult once they reach Scotland. What ensues there will keep everyone on their toes. Loveday needs to procure a husband. Leith's business is in jeopardy. Leith's scandal that began when he left is still waiting for him when he returns.

Juliet's compassion and care for those around her is palpable. Both sisters stay rooted in their faith and try to show Christ to any who will listen. While Leith has no real concern about faith, Juliet is determined to show God's love to him. There are sweet and tender moments that will have your heart aflutter.

I felt like there were a couple of loose ends that could've been tied up a bit better. One was Leith's brother's faith and where he stood in that. The other was the awful Virginian and where he ended up. Those are minor things that didn't affect the plot or story overall. Just stuck out to me.

It was incredibly fun to hear names and places mentioned in this story that we know from previous books. It gave a wonderful sense of familiarity and nostalgia for characters I've previously loved! I felt like with the author's writing, each location came to life in their unique ways and made me want to travel back in time!

About the Author:

Laura Frantz is a two-time Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of 15 novels, including The Seamstress of Acadie, The Rose and the Thistle, The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little, The Lacemaker, and A Heart Adrift. She is the proud mom of an American soldier and a career firefighter. Though she will always call Kentucky home, Laura lives with her husband in Washington State. Learn more at LauraFrantz.net.

Between The Sound And Sea By Amanda Cox

Between the Sound and Sea

by Amanda Cox

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800742744

Amanda Cox's stories always draw me into a new time and place. Her stories are so rich with the characters and the setting, I can't say no to any of her books! Thanks to Revell for sending me her newest release for review!

Summary:

Every family has its secrets. Josephina "Joey" Harris wouldn't mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she takes the opportunity to escape the scrutiny of her small town to oversee its restoration.  
 
Soon Joey discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the lighthouse's old stone walls--pages torn from a keeper's log recounting harrowing rescues at sea. When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. 

As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, a love story emerges--one that's clearly not over yet.

My Review:

What an incredible story! While I've always enjoyed the author's stories, this one had a bit of a deeper mystery to me than her other ones. Initially I thought it might be heading in a more Jaime Jo Wright kind of way. If you've read any of her books you know what I mean. Thankfully, that wasn't it at all, but there was still quite the mystery!

I really enjoyed getting to know spunky Joey. She had a lot of tenacity, especially after all her family had been through. When her opportunity came to try something a bit new (but not really), while she didn't quite grab the bull by they horns (thank goodness for bffs) she didn't let anything get in the way! It was clear that those who had an interest in Bleakpoint came to care for Joey!

Then we meet Finn and his sweet grandpa Walt. Walt was around during the WWII time and through the telling of the story, we come to find out why this lighthouse and the people who took care of it meant so much to him as a young boy. Trust me when I say your heart will go out to him!

Oh, we can't forget Finn. Gruff and grumble Finn. Does he care more about his grandpa or how he's spending his money? Thankfully throughout the story we get to know him better and what makes him tick. Like Joey, she wanted to say on his good side while also keeping him informed of how his grandpa was doing.

During the restoration of the lighthouse and the keeper's shanty, we meet a variety of characters along the way. Some who stir up crazy ideas, others who help, and a couple who might have some unexpected answers! I was really heartwarming on a number of levels how the story wrapped up. Can't give anything away on that front. The connections made are quite the interesting twist!

About the Author:

Amanda Cox is the Christy Award-winning author of The Edge of Belonging, The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, and He Should Have Told the Bees. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.

The Song Of Sourwood Mountain By Ann H. Gabhart

the Song of Sourwood Mountain

by Ann H. Gabhart

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800741730

I'm such a huge fan of Ann H. Gabhart's writing. She gives the reader such a vivid sense of the hills of Kentucky in her stories. I couldn't wait to read her newest release, The Song of Sourwood Mountain. Revell sent me a copy for review.

Summary:

The doors she thought were closed forever are starting to open up . . . just a crack

Though 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.
 
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 just might end up becoming the family she always yearned for.

My Review:

One of the many things I love about this author's stories is that they're about so much more than just the main characters. Usually it's just about as much of whole town or group of people included in the story. That definitely goes for The Song of Sourwood Mountain. On top of that, her stories always make me feel like I've just sat at the feet of a southern grandmama telling a tale.

The story started out so funny with Gordon asking Mira to marry him. Reading the exchange between the two was funny and sad. Poor Gordon, so awkward with his request and Mira dumbfounded by it just as much. But God...

As we know, we make our plans, but God knows our beginning through our end. Things won't always go as expected, which Mira (and in turn Gordon) found out. Talk about doors being closed when you think you're supposed to walk through them.

I was surprised at how little time the story covered because how well it was written, I felt like I'd really gotten to know Mira and Gordon. I absolutely adored getting to know Ada June, a girl without a mama or a family to call her own, but she has family in the way of Bo, her faithful companion. Do you ever get emotional with stories? I can tell you, I unexpectedly cried twice while I was reading!

The author is SO gifted in writing stories about the people in the hills (and hollers) of Kentucky. She sets a stage that gives me the sense of being there. And she seems to do it so effortlessly. The "ways" of the people come across exactly as I would've imagined them in this time period. It was incredibly believable. Life is hard, but their way of life is so well known to them. They have to rely on each other and that's evidenced throughout the story whether it's taking care of the preacher and his new wife, Ada June, or Elsinore.

I wish I could start the book all over again with new eyes because I loved the story so much I want to experience it a second time like it was the first. I have a feeling Mira and Ada June will stay on my mind and in my heart for a long while.

About the Author:

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Ann enjoys discovering the everyday wonders of nature while hiking in her farm's fields and woods with her grandchildren and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. Learn more at AnnHGabhart.com.

The Elusive Truth Of Lily Temple By Joanna Davidson Politano

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple

by Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800742973

For the record, if Joanna Davidson Politano writes a book, I'm reading it! No questions asked. I don't even need to know what the book is about. All I need to know is that she wrote it! I'm on her launch team and she sent me her book for review.

Summary:

In the search for the truth, the line between fact and fiction is beginning to fall out of focus

It is 1903, and Lily Temple is a beautiful silent-film actress who spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera. But beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit, a murky past, and a tantalizing secret. 

Underground investigator to the wealthy, Peter Driscoll has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire that has been missing for years--and which Lily happens to be wearing beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and unravel the mystery, Peter employs the enchanting actress's help on a case. 

But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it becomes that he needs her even more than she needs him.

My Review:

As soon as I finished the first chapter I was enraptured by the story. WHAT was Lily going to say or do next?

We meet Lily Temple, an... actress. Yes, an actress. She has secrets, which are peeled back layer by layer thanks for Peter Driscoll. Plain Peter Driscoll or so Lily initially thinks. Lily is fascinating. She's also a mystery. Where did she come from? How is she connected to the missing gem? Peter intends to find out.

What he doesn't expect is for Lily to be so all-encompassing. He has no choice but to figure out who she is - who she REALLY is. What he doesn't realize is how dangerous that will become. To keep her close, he invites her to join him on some investigations where she can employ her acting skills. Meanwhile, he spends his time listening to her, chipping away at her resolve to stay distant to everyone.

I felt a bit like I was reading a story that should be a classic along the lines of Dickens. Yes, I said that! I became a cheerleader in heart for Lily and Peter, Roddy and his opinions be hanged! You get to know gruff Roddy through the story, and it's hard not to appreciate his protection of Peter. Peter is kind and thoughtful. His biggest skill is listening and he uses it to his advantage in so many ways. Lily, she's like a kaleidoscope. 

There are a number of daring cases Peter takes Lily on, and Roddy is always present in one way or another with each one. With each case, Peter demonstrates to Lily how well he's getting to know her, which she likes and dislikes at the same time! Don't we all long to be truly known?

This story reads like a parable directing the reader to the One who truly knows and seeks after each of us. Peter can see the Savior availing Himself to Lily, pursuing her. It comes to light brighter and brighter as the story continues. I found it absolutely beautiful!

About the Author:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, A Midnight Dance, and The Lost Melody. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her online at JDPStories.com.

Never Fall Again By Lynn H. Blackburn

Never Fall Again

by Lynn H. Blackburn

Publisher: Revell

Series: Gossamer Falls

ISBN: 978-0800745363

I haven't met a Lynn H. Blackburn story I didn't love so when I saw it was available for review through Revell, I jumped at the chance! Thankfully, they sent me her book for review.

Summary:

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. After serving as the artist-in-residence, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home in which to grow up. 

Former Marine Callum Shaw always knew he would someday join his family's construction business in Gossamer Falls. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. The beautiful artist who has hired him to build her new house is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. He's loved--and lost--someone like her before.

When Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire, it becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but from whom? Cal will have to risk his heart again if he has any hope of protecting them.

My Review:

There are SO many things I want to talk about in Never Fall Again, it's hard to even know where to start. I feel like this story has all of the hard topics rolled up in suspense wrapped in a bit of romance! You like meddling family members? Nodding, there are 3 different families (think Hatfield & McCoy plus one) and the Quinn family is large and meddling. They're my kind of family!

First, there's newcomer to Gossamer Falls, Landry and her daughter Eliza. Because of trust issues, it takes a while to learn why they're in this little town. With the decision to settle in, she's drawn into the Quinn family craziness and security.

Enter, Cal Shaw, who is a Quinn due to his mom. Thank goodness there's a family tree at the beginning of the book! Cal - he's the quintessential good guy who has been hurt in the past. He's the youngest, but well loved of the 3 Shaw brothers. Let me tell you, this family knows how to circle the wagons. As Cal's company begins to look at constructing Landry's new home, awful things begin to happen and they have to find out who the target is and why!

One of my FAVORITE parts to this story is the lack of miscommunication. I have seriously been LOVING stories that have characters just being honest with each other when confronted with a question or a request. I truly hope this is a new trend! The build up of the romance was sweet and gave me all of the heart eyes!

Of course, there's a strong faith element in the story and I love that the characters actually pray in the story. Landry is straight-forward that her experiences in the past have made her leery of churches and their members. When you learn about her background it's easy to understand why.

I hope this is at least a 4 book series because I need Mo, Meredith, and Cassie's stories thanks to this book. I can't wait for the next one to release!

About the Author:

Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat, Malicious Intent, and Under Fire, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She loves writing swoon-worthy Southern suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters by putting them into terrifying situations while she sits at home in her pajamas. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Learn more at www.LynnHBlackburn.com.

One Last Shot By Susan May Warren

One Last Shot

by Susan May Warren

Publisher: Revell

Series: Alaska Air One

ISBN: 9780800745479

Susan May Warren is a staple on my bookshelves! When she starts a series, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that her books will be on my shelves as soon as they come out. I was thrilled, needless to say, when she reached out to me asking me to review her newest release! She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

When country music star Oaken Fox joins survivalist Mike Grizz’s new adventure show in the Alaskan wilderness, he just wants to boost his fan base. But when tragedy strikes, and Air One Rescue must save them, Oaken just wants to quit. Too bad his producer has other plans—signing him on with Air One Rescue as a recruit and making a reality show...

EMT Boo Kingston did not join Air One Rescue to train a celebrity. But she’s a rookie to the team, so yes, she’ll train Oaken and keep him alive and not for a minute pay attention to his charm...

And then five women go missing from a resort during a bachelorette weekend gone south. Now, Air One and the rescue team will have to use all their skills--and manpower, including Oaken--to find them before a blizzard settles in. But can they work together before tragedy strikes?

My Review:

In true SMW style, she brings all of the thrills we expect in her suspense stories and set, once again, in Alaska! I love it when she takes us back to familiar places and faces like she does in One Last Shot!

This time we're meeting Boo (her real name is a favorite of mine) who has been burned in the past and she's not interested in it happening ever again. She's in Alaska with Air One ready to rescue people when they're needed. I loved meeting Boo. She's no nonsense and keeps people, even her team at a distance.

Along comes Oaken Fox who is trying to make up for past wrongs doing one of those reality tv survival shows. Too bad that goes south almost immediately and his adventure in the Alaskan wilderness is just beginning. 

When you're with an Alaskan rescue unit, you can be there's constantly action going on, some of it can even be amusing. The dynamics between the team members is one of family and trust (which I thoroughly love). There was constantly something going on with the team. All the while, personal issues arise and we get to know the personalities of everyone to varying degrees. Can I just say, I can't wait for ALL of their stories!

And let me tell you, the faith that's infused throughout the story is FANTASTIC! SMW doesn't mess around. Her characters are either struggling with faith, learning about faith, or encouraging others with faith! I'm a HERE for it!

About the Author:

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly 100 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold, including the Global Search and Rescue and Montana Rescue series. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers' Choice Awards, Susan makes her home in Minnesota. Visit her at SusanMayWarren.com.

The Irish Matchmaker By Jennifer Deibel

The Irish Matchmaker

by Jennifer Deibel

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800744854

I have been a fan of the three previous stories I've read by Jennifer Deibel and they all have the most gorgeous covers. I was excited for this one and she did NOT disappoint! Since I'm on her launch team, she sent me the book for review.

Summary:

Making the perfect match is both art and science--but love doesn't always follow the rules.

As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love--and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. When Andrew, son of Lord Osborne, returns to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker's failed setup, Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man--and for herself!

Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to fulfill his daughter's birthday wish. But when he arrives, it's not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker--who clearly has eyes for someone else.

Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make matches for the two men that could change their lives--and hers--forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?

My Review:

What a wonderful, terrific love story! You don't want to miss The Irish Matchmaker!

I think there's a population of us ladies who, at some point in our lives, have an idea of a man, with romantic notions, yet are actually clueless about that man. Enter, Lord Andrew Osborne. He's back in Lisdoonvarna after a failed matchmaking, but Catríona is ready to make the match... with her. She absolutely had heart eyes for him. As a reader, you knew that was a train wreck you wouldn't be turning away from.

Then there's Donal. He's a widower, with a precocious 9yr old daughter named Sara, and he owns a farm that's basically on his last leg. His relationship with his daughter is sweet, yet he's a bit too dependent on her. Not surprising with the time period. She convinces him to attend the annual matchmaking event in town. He's not interested, but he needs the help.

I feel like Caty (Catríona) is easy to relate to on a number of levels. She's on the bigger side and her mother's nagging ways taunt her mind. She's trying to change to fit in with Andrew's family so who they're getting to know is not the real Caty. She also wants to escape the life she's currently in. No way does she want to go back to farm living nor does she want to continue living above the pub with her matchmaking father, Jimmy. So, Andrew is her ticket out.

Andrew... don't get me started. The end.

On the other hand, as Catríona works to get Donal a love match, she begins to get to know him and his daughter more. Over a couple of weeks and a variety of interactions, there are definitely sparks on both sides, but there are factors that stand in their way. *see all of the reasons above hahahaha

There are some seriously RO-mantic moments in this story that will make your heart swell. They seriously put a smile on my face! Faith is interspersed through the story, mostly around the Sermon on the Mount (although what Sara calls it will forever live rent free in my brain), reminding the characters (and us) about God's provision.

About the Author:

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance),  The Lady of Galway Manor, and The Maid of Ballymacool. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at JenniferDeibel.com.

The Warsaw Sisters By Amanda Barratt

The Warsaw Sisters

by Amanda Barratt

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800741716

I've read one story by the author and I remember it being very powerful. As soon as I saw this one, I knew I had to read it. Whew! This one will feel like you've been sucker punched while rooting desperately for the sisters! I received this book for review from the publisher.

Summary:

A richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and resilience 

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls, along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina knows she cannot stand by and soon becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Meanwhile, Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. 

But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear them apart--and the cost of resistance may prove greater than either ever imagined.

My Review:

The Warsaw Sisters was an incredibly heavy story to read. In many of the WWII stories we read, there are moments of lightness, victory, and even a bit of romance. If you're looking for a "light" read, this story is NOT it. If you want to get into the trenches and live vicariously through fictional characters who are trying to survive the annihilation of an entire country, this story is absolutely for you.

I'll tell you, you have flickering moments of lightness, but it felt like a blink and it was gone. Any victory was very short lived. As for romance, I don't think I could say that it was really in the story. There were glimpses of love and growing feelings, but always just seemed out of reach for the sisters.

We're carried (rather quickly in the beginning) from the start of Warsaw becoming occupied by the Germans in 1939, and within just a couple of years the girls we meet at the start are no longer the same innocent young women. Their lives and the world around them have been devastated and you will feel every bit of it with them. The author is certainly gifted in that area!

Antonina and Helena were truly just your average twin sisters who were the apple of their father's and aunt's eyes. Then, war. Both sisters, over time, have to make heart wrenching decisions. It was so compelling to live through their fictional lives, wondering to myself what I might do in those situations. Like them, one doesn't know until they're faced with it.

A heart-wrenchingly powerful story that was written to help us never forget what happened to millions of innocent people! This story will absolutely move you.

To me, there wasn't an incredibly strong faith thread in the story - more so towards the very end. The family was Catholic and it was mentioned they went to church on Sundays. While both sisters struggled (and understandably so) Antonina, I think, questioned God the most. They would remember things their father said to them, and Antonina (maybe Helena) spoke to a priest once who really encouraged her.

SPOILER BELOW:

Antonina also sleeps with a man she had fallen in love with (and he loves her) before the war in a moment of desperation.

About the Author:

Amanda Barratt is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels and novellas, including The White Rose Resists (a 2021 Christy Award winner) and Within These Walls of Sorrow. She is passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history through a fictional narrative. Amanda lives in Michigan. Learn more at AmandaBarratt.net.

A Royal Christmas By Melody Carlson

A Royal Christmas

by Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800742317

With the season turning chilly in my area, I was looking forward to reading A Royal Christmas! This cover gives off all of the Christmas feels! Thanks to the publisher for sending me the book for review.

Summary:

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school, and she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she is a direct descendant of King Maximillian Konig V, the ruler of a small European principality called Montovia. 

What? No. That's the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Still, curiosity gets the best of her, leading to a Christmas break trip chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament, and the chance at a real-life fairy tale romance.

My Review:

Tis the season! If you're looking for a quick read that gives Christmasy vibes, then you'll enjoy A Royal Christmas. You'll get the sense that you've just landed in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The story felt like a mix between Princess Diaries and To Win a Prince (by Toni Shiloh). It wasn't really original, but it was a sweet read.

I really liked Adelaide. She's thrust into a life she never expected and dives in with great aplomb. There's a dying kind (her father), a "wicked" stepmother, and a stepbrother who is rather clueless. I liked that there was a bit of added suspense with the king's missing brother.

There is a thread of romance in the story, but it kind of feel a bit flat for me. I could see where it was going, but never got a sense of romance other than what the author tells us. Had it been a full length novel I'm sure that storyline would've been more developed.

Thankfully there was a good sense of faith to the story. I really enjoyed how the king and others wanted to keep the traditional sense of Christmas and hearing more about the Weihnachtskrippe (hand carved nativity).

If you want a quick read that gives you Christmastime feels, then you'll want to grab this story.

About the Author:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic TimesCareer Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie, and the movie based on her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.MelodyCarlson.com.

He Should Have Told The Bees By Amanda Cox

He Should Have Told the Bees

by Amanda Cox

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800742737

Having become a huge fan of Amanda's stories, when I saw this cover, I knew it would be on my shelves. As a gardener, and appreciating all of the bees, I couldn't wait to read this story. I was sent an ARC for review.

Summary:

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh was living her dream, until her father's death sent her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family apiary--one who is looking to sell the property--and she cannot fathom why her father would put her in the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she's never heard of, she's not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help, making Callie's financial situation rather . . . precarious. She's sure she has no right to someone else's farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she's always craved.

With an entangled past behind them and an uncertain future ahead, Beckett and Callie must discover why they've been thrown together before all is lost.

My Review:

When I first saw the cover of He Should Have Told the Bees, I knew I was going to want to read it, aside from the fact that I love the author's writing. Be sure to look at it closely because there are lots of different bees on the cover.

If you enjoy books that draw emotion out of you, then be ready for it to happen throughout the entire story.

We initially meet Callie as a young girl and you can tell she doesn't have a stable life. Next we meet Beckett as a young adult navigating life after her father suddenly passes away. Her grief is palpable and the way she tries to just survive day-by-day is heart wrenching. Through the words of the story you can tell how close and dependent she was on her dad.

When Callie and Beckett meet for the first time, it's at the reading of Beckett's father's Trust. Their worlds collide and they have to figure out how to make decisions that will impact both of their lives. You see the struggle throughout the story. It was hard to imagine being in either woman's shoes. The possibility of losing all you've ever known or losing what you've hoped for.

One of the reasons I love this author's stories is because the situations and characters feel so real. As a reader, I become so invested in the story and begin to feel defensive of certain characters. lol I thought the author tackled some serious real-world issues in a very direct, yet sensitive way. It makes you wonder what she draws from to put this much heart and depth into her stories.

There's a powerful message of recovering from trauma as a child, the effects of addiction, and mental illness. In the midst of all of that heaviness is a quirky young girl and two men who come into the lives of Callie and Beckett. Beckett has the opportunity to teach them all about the art and life of beekeeping while trying to keep her world from shattering apart. There's also a strong message of faith throughout the story.

This book is NOT to be missed. It's powerful and beautiful.

About the Author:

Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, both of which were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.

This Is Where It Ends By Cindy K. Sproles

This Is Where It Ends

by Cindy K. Sproles

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800740795

Having read, and loved, What Mama Left Behind, I was excited to learn Cindy's next book was going to be available for review. I'm guessing I was one of the first to sign up for a book. Revell sent me the book for review!

Summary:

How long is a body expected to keep a secret?

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just fourteen years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her held gold. And when he died fifty years later, he made her promise to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contained.

Now at ninety-four, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept her promise. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story.

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.

My Review:

What a heartfelt read. If you're looking for a story that feels like a warm blanket, then you will enjoy This Is Where It Ends.

While it feels like it started off slowly, what was happening was the characters were burrowing themselves into my heart. We meet Minerva right when her husband passes away and then immediately again when she's now 94 years old. She's spent her whole life up on the mountain her husband brought her to as a young bride - alone. As her story unfolds, I felt quite a few emotions towards her dead husband and for all she missed out on. Thankfully, we get to share in her emotions as she learns more than she ever wanted to. Minerva is full sass and isn't to be trifled with. She also loves her Lord and does her best to follow in His ways.

Then, there's Delano. He plants himself into Minerva's life and she doesn't know what to think of this nosy reporter. She doesn't have much cause to trust him, especially since he's come asking about gold. Without giving too much away, we get to see him grow and to know him better throughout this story.

How long do we keep a promise? As Del learned from Minerva, all the way to the grave. Sometimes we hold on to things (a lie, a belief, a hurt, etc) for so long our lives go in a direction we never expected. Sometimes people are put into our lives, unexpectedly, and they become family. We learn all of that and so much more in this story. 

DID I need tissue for this story? Yes I did! The way God provides for Minerva is tender and beautiful. A reminder of how He is faithful.

I did feel like some parts of the story were retold a couple of times and didn't understand the point of it. If you enjoy feeling life you've traveled to the mountains of Kentucky then you'll get that in spades with this story. I could completely picture Minerva's mountain and the people around her.

About the Author:

Cindy K. Sproles is the author of What Momma Left Behind and the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries. A popular speaker, Cindy teaches at writers conferences across the country and directs the Asheville Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. She is the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and freelance editor for Iron Stream Media. Cindy has a BA in business and journalism and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her family.