Sunday, December 1, 2019

The Dating Charade - Melissa Ferguson


Cassie has had so many bad blind dates that she has a full escape plan in place.  She is ready to walk away from the dating scene when Jett Bentley shows up and decides to pursue her, the girl who he admired from afar in high school.  Each has stated up front that they're not interested in having kids, but it's not quite the whole truth for either of them.  When complicated situations leave each of them with 3 kids in their individual custody, they must decide how to, or whether to, fill the other one in, with the risk of scaring them away for good.

This is one of those cases where I almost let a cover and title keep me from reading a good book; I was expecting the whole book to read like the introduction - a woman running from disastrous dates, a firefighter rescuing old ladies.  While that beginning was humorous, and would have made for a fun light-hearted book, but instead, the story got much much deeper.  Touching on infertility, foster care, child abuse and neglect, and unmet dreams and expectations, Jett and Cassie traveled a very emotional path both separately and together.  With well-placed revelations about each of the characters, the story blended past hurts and current struggles.  My one disappointment was that when Jett and Cassie came to a seemingly impassable argument, there was no real work to resolve it; somehow, it magically became a non-issue. 

I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.  I loved this book for all of the tough topics it tackled, but I did wish that the characters would have reflected a little more on how to work through some of them.  I have not been closely involved with foster care, but I did appreciate that the book didn't make it all seem perfect and peachy, for either the parents or the children.

You can find The Dating Charade HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.
(This is her debut novel, and I'm looking forward to more from her!)

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Lake Season - Denise Hunter


Molly, Levi, and Grace Bennett choose to band together after their parents' tragic death, and put their life plans on hold to open the inn that was their parents' dream.  During the last stages of construction, Molly discovers an unsent letter stuck in the walls, and becomes obsessed with tracking down the writer and intended recipient to try to provide healing or closure.  Meanwhile, Adam Bradford, whose pseudonym is the bestselling author Nathaniel Quinn, comes to Bluebell to find inspiration for his next novel.  With no other rooms available during the busy Lake Season, Adam ends up at the Bluebell Inn, and strikes up a friendship with Molly.  Finding himself drawn to both Molly and the mysterious letter, the two of them work closely together to delve into the small town's past to find what they can about this couple that has stolen their hearts.  How close can Adam get to Molly without revealing his secret identity, who just happens to be Molly's favorite author, or without her feeling deceived if he does reveal himself?  Can he trust her with his insecurities that he doesn't measure up to his own heroes?

This book had all the makings of a great summer read - the lake town, the small inn, the tragic beginning, and an author crush, but it fell just a little shy for me.  I wanted the townspeople, or side characters to play a larger part in filling out the feel of the town and story.  The book was entirely focused on Adam and Molly, with a minimal dual timeline addition to give a bit more weight to the letter plot.  Molly's best friend Skye had so much potential, as did Adam's friend Jordan, and Molly's siblings Levi and Grace.  I believe this is intended to be a series, with each sibling getting their turn at a book, so maybe their stories will start to feel more developed.  However, I spent most of the book feeling like I was missing a prequel, or maybe this wasn't meant to be book one, and that I was supposed to already know these people. 

Since Adam and Molly were the focus of the story, I did feel connected to them, and Adam's battle with his father's memory and the insecurities that stemmed from that, as well as Molly's grief and guilt over her parents' death were heartwrenching.  Lizzie and Ben's story was also very emotional, and while I wished for it to be fleshed out a bit more, I did appreciate how well everything tied together in the end.  Some might say too much so, but I didn't mind the coincidences, when attributed to God's sovereignty.

I give this book 4 stars.  November is an odd choice for a beach-y book to release, but maybe you'll want to hold onto it for next summer!  I do plan to read the siblings' stories as they are available, because I think this family set-up is rich for a good tale.

You can find Lake Season HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, November 1, 2019

In the Cradle Lies - Olivia Newport



The Tree of Life series is set in the small town of Canyon Mines, and centers around Jillian Parisi-Duffy's work as a genealogist.  Besides her steady paycheck work of hunting down next-of-kin for insurance companies, she can't help but be curious about the strangers who wander into her town with mysterious backstories.  The Inn at Hidden Run introduces Jillian to Meri, who has run away from her family and doesn't want to talk about it.  In the Cradle Lies brings Tucker Kintzler to town, with his piles of cash and crazy dream to find the Inn's Hidden ski run namesake.  In both novels, Jillian works with her father, a lawyer skilled in mediation and getting people to open up to him, as well as a cast of small-town characters, to dig out enough information to piece together the history these folks need to find peace with their pasts and a path for their futures.

This is such an interesting theme for a series of novels; I love that the small town people we meet continue to tie them together, but a new puzzle for Jillian to solve makes each novel unique.  If you can suspend the question of whether Jillian should be looking into people's pasts who haven't asked, it's engaging to watch the story come together, utilizing a dual timeline to bring their past and current stories together.  Tucker's family history was darker than I anticipated, and I had trouble reconciling the quick tying up of ends with the slow reveal of the atrocities. 

I give both books in this series 3 stars; I enjoy the idea of the genealogical mysteries, and I will likely continue to read the series, but I don't see myself reading these again.

You can find The Inn at Hidden Run HERE.
You can find In the Cradle Lies HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publishers, in exchange for my honest review.


Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Aiming for Love - Mary Connealy


Jo Nordegren and her sisters have lived on Hope Mountain their whole lives, having only each other for company once their grandparents have passed on.  They know nothing of the real world, except that their grandmother was terribly afraid of it and told them it was full of sickness and death.  Now, Dave Warden and his family have appeared on their mountain, and the sisters must decide how to handle these strangers from below.

This book was just not for me.  I found the characters to be unbelievable and bordering on preposterous.  Jo and her sisters did not ring true as women who'd lived sheltered from real life their whole lives; their naivete felt forced, convenient to the plot in some sections, yet oddly missing in other situations.  The most interesting character for me was Wax Mosby - the hired gun whose men ran the Wardens off their ranch and into the mountains.  His determination to finish out the job, while not crossing his own pre-determined lines regardless of his ruthless boss, and begin a new life for himself was intriguing, and I wish he hadn't disappeared from the storyline halfway through the book.

So, while I found the idea of this book interesting, and I am curious to know how Wax extricates himself from his situation, I do not foresee myself reading the rest of this series.  I have read other works by this author, however, and I would likely pick up something else of hers in the future.

You can find Aiming for Love HERE.
You can find the author's site HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Christmas in Winter Hill - Melody Carlson


Krista Galloway and her daughter have packed up their lives and moved to Winter Hill, in order for Krista to take a job as their city manager.  Once there, Krista realizes that this small town may not be a good fit for her; they center much of their city life around Christmas, a holiday that has always seemed to bring catastrophe to Krista's life.  She also finds that the city government has several unrealized problem areas, making her seem like the bad guy who moved into town and started cleaning house.  Can Krista and her daughter make a life here, or will this be one more Christmas disappointment for Krista?

This was a sweet little Christmas novella, perfect for wintry days by the fireplace.  Krista's rough background serves to fuel her disappointment in life, but she gives it her best to give her daughter, Emily, a better shot at a hopeful life.  There is a good mix of villainous characters and helpful, honest ones to balance out the story.  As with most novellas, the reader doesn't get very deep views into any of the characters, but it was enough to want to root for Krista and to feel the pull of the town against her. 

I give this novella 4 stars.  I think this town and its Christmas-loving people would make for a sweet series of Christmas novellas, filling in the story of Christmasville and the people who bring it together every year.

You can find Christmas in Winter Hill HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

The Spice King - Elizabeth Camden


Annabelle Larkin has traveled to Washington D.C. to give her sister, Elaine, a chance to find purpose in her life as a blind woman.  She's been given a temporary job with the Smithsonian, with the understanding that if she can convince Gray Delacroix to give up some of his botanical secrets, there may be a more permanent position in store for her.  Gray Delacroix, while reluctant to give anything away for free, and especially reluctant to give anything to the government, finds himself drawn to Annabelle.  When Annabelle is required to search out more than botanical secrets, will she choose Gray or her country? 

I have always enjoyed Elizabeth Camden's penchant for uniquely employed heroines that give an unusual look into her particular periods of history.  Annabelle is no exception; as a botanist working within the Smithsonian and then the Department of Agriculture, the reader is given a peek into the period of time where food additives were not monitored by the government.  I found this setting to be very intriguing and the interplay between Gray's world of food production and the government's growing interest in food safety was an engaging setting for a novel.  The side stories were woven into the larger picture fairly seamlessly, and I am looking forward to finding out how those play out as this series continues!

I give this book 4 stars.  I enjoyed the characters, and I enjoyed the perspective from this view of history.

You can find The Spice King HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, August 12, 2019

Shades of Light - Sharon Garlough Brown


Having battled depression and anxiety for most of her life, Wren hits a point where she can't continue to cope on her own.  Taking a leave of absence from her emotionally draining job as a social worker, she seeks help, from professionals, from loving extended family, and from those within her faith.  Making progress, she reaches out to help a struggling friend from her past, but can she help him recover without jeopardizing her own fragile healing?

I don't know that I've ever seen a book this gut-wrenchingly open and vulnerable in regards to mental illness, depression, and anxiety.  Sometimes the intensity and the darkness the characters were experiencing was too much, and I needed to step away to catch my own breath.  However, I've never seen a book take on the heaviness of depression and call out and dash all of the typical "Christian" responses of "you just need more faith," or the belief that Christians shouldn't experience depression.  Those aren't Christian answers, they're lazy answers.

There were themes in this book that I am not personally well-acquainted with, such as the stations of the Cross, and while it didn't detract from my reading experience, I think it would make the book an even richer read for those who are familiar with a more mystical approach to Christianity, with some possibly Catholic rituals added in.  (I apologize if I have mis-categorized the rituals in the book)

I have not read any of this author's previous works, and this book stands alone just fine.  However, I did read somewhere that there are some character crossovers, which I think would enhance the background support of this story if the reader were familiar with them.

I give this book 4 stars.  I don't quite know what else I could wish for from this book, and maybe it's the dark subject matter that leaves me feeling too heavy to say I loved it.  That would be through no fault of the author's writing.  But I know that I could not personally pick up this book back up to read again.  At least not anytime soon.

You can find Shades of Light HERE.
You can find the author's page HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Diamond in the Rough - Jen Turano



"Any smidgen of hope that her entrance into New York high society would be deemed a rousing success died the moment Miss Poppy Garrison's tiara became firmly attached to the sleeve of her dance partner."


With that opening, we begin the second installment of the American Heiresses series, and find Miss Poppy Garrison in New York City, living with her grandmother, Viola, participating in the Season.  Viola is determined to show Poppy that being accepted into high society is desirable, and while Poppy was perfectly content living on a horse farm in Pennsylvania, she discovers that she doesn't hate it.  However, mayhem and adventure seem to find her no matter how hard she works on her decorum and poise.  Reginald Blackburn, travelling companion to Lord Charles Lonsdale, is charged with teaching Miss Garrison to fit in to this world of heiresses and money, and yet he finds himself admiring her unflappability in the midst of the chaos that follows her. 

"I've always felt that misfits are far more interesting than normal folks."


I love that Poppy has such a firm grasp on who she is, and what is valuable in the people around her.  The people she is drawn to turn into such rich characters and the relationships that develop throughout the book from such inauspicious connections really made this book great for me.  Poppy owns up to her mistakes, but she is never ashamed of who she is or the accidents that befall her.  She loves others and has a tender heart to those she learns are living in wretched conditions. 

"I think you'll eventually discover that you're delightful just the way God made you, my dear."  "You seem to be an original, my dear, so perhaps you won't feel the need to wait so long before you abandon what's expected of you, embracing who you truly are and who God meant you to be, instead of trying to embrace a sense of who others want you to be."

I love that, even with an entirely new set of characters, by using the same setting as a previous series, Ms. Turano is able to sneak in a cameo of a favorite character from past novels and use her to deliver wisdom from the position of experience. 

This book was one of those rare finds where you don't want to put the book down, but you also don't want it to end too soon!  I loved watching Poppy find herself even more fully, and I enjoyed watching her build up those around her as she did.  I always love Ms. Turano's grouping of friends who enjoy being together throughout the mayhem she puts them through, and this cast of characters is among her best.  I can't wait to hear Beatrix Waterbury's story in the third book!

I give this book 5 stars.  Between Diamond in the Rough and Flights of Fancy, American Heiresses is becoming my favorite Turano series!

You can find Diamond in the Rough HERE.
You can find Ms. Turano's site HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review. 

Friday, August 9, 2019

Finding Lady Enderly - Joanna Davidson Politano


Raina Bretton, more commonly called "Ragna" in her position as a rag lady, is swept off the streets with a mysterious promise of high wages and a beautiful manor, and told she's under no obligation to stay.  That promise, however, is a lie, and Raina finds herself impersonating Lady Enderly in a ruse she doesn't understand and isn't allowed to compromise.  Complicating the trap is her best friend, and hopefully more, Sully, who has kept her safe and sane in her rough life thus far; Sully's life is in danger if Raina chooses to be less than compliant in this charade she willingly, yet naively, became a part of.

There were so many layers to this book, I hardly know where to begin!  There was the mystery - who is the real Countess, and what happened to her?  There's the dangerous element - what will Victor do if Raina slips?  There's the moral dilemma - Raina knows it's wrong to deceive the people around her, but how else is she to protect Sully, and what if she can use this position for good?  There are the characters whom Raina befriends, whether by choice - Lady Remington and Bradford the butler, or by necessity - Cousin Phillip and the Earl.  There's also the softer side - the literary romantic communication between Sully and Raina through carefully collected book quotations coded in secret to slowly reveal their feelings towards each other.

The people and the mysteries in this story were woven so well together that this was a truly enjoyable read.  Victor was despicable, yet time and again Raina managed to rise above the circumstances and bring joy and change to the people around her that would be longer lasting than the temporary control that Victor was attempting to wrangle.  I loved that even wile trying to be the Countess, Raina couldn't help but see the best in those around her and to try to use her strange situation to help where she could.  The power and position could have gotten a hold on her, and she could have fallen into the same traps as Victor, but she didn't.  And no matter how conflicted she felt in her relationship to God due to the role she was playing, only He could have been working through her to bring such kindness and change.

In the end, I really liked how the book resolved not without consequence for bad choices, but by showing that God can even use those choices and consequences for good.  I give this book 5 stars; this is the second Joanna Davidson Politano book I've read, and as long as she keeps writing, it won't be my last!

You can find Lady Enderly HERE.
You can find the author's site HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Love and Other Mistakes - Jessica Kate



Natalie has always intended to take up her father's ministry and carry on his legacy, however, life has gotten in the way, and instead, she finds herself in a dead end job, until the company closes.  Now, her ex- fiance is back in town, and needs her help.  At the same time, the perfect ministry opportunity presents itself.  Can she balance both?

What a surprising book!  I didn't expect much going in, either from the cover (sorry! Cover snob here), or the description, but there was so much more to this book than I thought I was going to get.  This story was definitely deeper than the outward appearances gave it credit for; these characters struggle with hard things (affairs, alcohol, single-parenting, custody issues, and more), and it does not all work out perfectly in the end.  Yet, even in the hardness, there is hope, and there is love, and there is sacrifice for each other. All of which, in the end, points the characters and the reader to the One who sacrificed for all.

I give this book 5 stars.  It's unusual to see so many real-life struggles in a Christian fiction book, especially ones that, like real-life, don't magically work out by the last page.  I will definitely be looking into other books by this author!

You can find Love and Other Mistakes HERE.
You can find the author's page HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Fragments of Fear - Carrie Stuart Parks


Evelyn McTavish has been struggling to recover from her fiance's alleged suicide, an allegation that she doesn't think adds up.  When she is called to pick up a dog that isn't hers, she is swept into a whirlwind of secrets and cover-ups and danger until she doesn't know whom she can trust.  FBI agent Sawyer Price is working his own case when he gets pulled into Evelyn's situation, and they find themselves trying to stay alive long enough to put all of the pieces together.

I really enjoyed the characters of Evelyn and Sawyer.  Mostly Tavish (Evelyn), who was dealing with low self esteem, a mother who didn't care, a dead fiance, and a crazy never-ending mystery.  Speaking of which, the mystery itself didn't really appeal to me.  There were too many moving parts, and too many of them seemed to not really tie into each other.  There were too many pointless deaths, and too many trails pointing the reader away from the actual plot.  When the antagonists were revealed, it didn't feel like a clicking of the pieces together.  Also, the wrap up of the story and then movement into "The Months Later" felt jarring.  The story took so long to come together and reveal the characters that the conclusion should have been a little more gradual as well. 

I give this book 3 stars; Tavish was compelling enough to keep me turning pages, but I was dissatisfied with the overall story.  If you like twisty, turny, suspense stories, with lots of murders to keep you wondering, you may enjoy it more than I did, though!

You can find Fragments of Fear HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Sweet on You - Becky Wade


Sweet on You is the conclusion to the Bradford Sisters trilogy, and gives the readers the story of Britt and Zander.  Britt runs her own chocolate shop, Sweet Art, in Merryweather Historical Village, and Zander has just returned from a year and a half of travelling around the world in order to attend his Uncle Frank's funeral.  Zander has been in love with Britt forever, but she has always seen him as one of her best friends.  Should he make his feelings known, or should he try yet again to move on?  And what is the truth about Uncle Frank's death, was it really just an accident? 

I love Becky Wade's sweet romances, and I love the Bradford sisters.  I didn't quite connect with Britt as much as Nora and Willow in the previous novels, but I did enjoy seeing how everyone was doing, and seeing Britt and Zander work through their relationship changes.  I also loved seeing snippets of the caring things they'd done for each other over the years, without the other's knowledge.  It certainly made for a "sweet" friends to more romantic tale.  The mystery component of the book, while intriguing, wasn't even the highlight of the book for me; I enjoyed revisiting these sisters and their expanding family so much more!

I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.  Overall, this series comes together nicely, and I hope that maybe the author finds another reason to end up in Merryweather so that we can check in on the Bradfords!  I definitely recommend reading them in order, starting with True to You, followed by Falling for You, and concluding with Sweet on You.

You can find Sweet on You HERE
You can find the author's page HERE.
She's also very active on Facebook HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The Noble Guardian - Michelle Griep



Abby Gilbert leaves a loveless home situation with high hopes that her planned marriage to a Lord will turn out to be a love match, even though she's only met the man once.  Along the way, she encounters Samuel Thatcher, a lawman with his own baggage and doubts, but one who takes his duties very seriously.  As the two travel long distances through dangerous situations and complications arise such as a request to deliver a small child to her aunt, they each must face whether the holes they're looking to fill can be met by a person, themselves, or whether they need to look to Someone greater.

I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, but the more I heard about this book, the less I could resist it.  I am so glad that I finally picked it up; Abby and Samuel are such compelling characters that you can't help but want their hearts to heal and for them to find their fulfillment with God.  I always love when a male character appreciates the strong points of the female character, rather than just her curves or fine features, and Abby's bravery and inner strength were what drew Samuel to her over and over again.

I give this book 4 stars.  It seems that this is part of a series, but it was definitely enjoyable as a standalone novel.  I will be looking for the first two, though, if they're as good as this one!

You can find The Noble Guardian HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Half-Finished - Lauraine Snelling


When Mary Jane, known to her friends as MJ, and Roxie decide to hold each other accountable for their unfinished projects, they realize that their community might enjoy the chance to spend time together while working on their own backlog of projects. The idea is a success, and the town finds itself finishing more projects together than they even imagined.  In the process, more than just crafts come together.

This book was such a sweet change of pace.  Based on a group of characters mostly of retirement age, it was enjoyable to get a glimpse into the lives and friendships of a demographic of folks not usually included in fiction.  Seeing them interact within friendships, decades-long marriages, and as grandparents made for a rich story, and the characters were so real that I wept with them as their lives changed dramatically. 

I give this book 4 stars.  It's not a book I'll likely read again, but I would highly recommend it to readers looking for a slower-paced, character-rich story, or those in a later stage of life looking to connect with similar characters.

You can find Half-Finished HERE.
You can find the author's page HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, June 3, 2019

The Extraordinary eTab of Julian Newcomber - Michael Seese


Julian Newcomber has moved yet again because of his dad's crazy inventions. He now needs to learn to fit in again at a new school. But then when his 20-year-old self comes back from the future they must find the power source to his eTab (the invention 12-year-old Julian,s dad is working on) so he can go back to his time and they won't be left to fight over the top bunk forever.

I liked this book once things got explained (chapter 4) and I knew what was happening. I think it is a good book to read if you like shorter chapter books and have the stamina to wait for the backstory. I liked that his dad's inventions were wacky and either exploded or worked.

I give this book a 4-star rating. I think that it was an interesting book but was not my favorite. I might read this again.

You can find The Extraordinary eTab of Julian Newcomber  HERE.
You can find the author's page HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, May 20, 2019

The Boy from Tomorrow - Camille DeAngelis (Freddy)



In The Boy from Tomorrow, Alec and Josie are 100 years apart but are the same age. They quickly become friends but when Alec finds a headstone with their last name on it the two must find out how to get Josie's little sister Cassie away from the house so she can live.

I thought it was a great book because the characters were really entertaining and the author ended the book really well. I also enjoyed the idea and thought the characters were very realistic. The author made me worry about the characters when the suspense started. I recommend this book to kids who like science fiction.

I give this book 5 stars and would really enjoy reading this book again because of the intense plot.

You can find The Boy from Tomorrow HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

Teddy note to parents: This book contained scenes involving a ouija board, which I had not caught in our reading of the original summary before choosing it to review.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

The Pages of Her Life - James L. Rubart


Allison Moore's life is in turmoil; conflict with her business partner, a crisis with her mom, a brother who's been out of touch for months, she doesn't know where she's going or how she's going to get there.  She turns to prayer, and seemingly gets immediate responses, yet even those answers bring more problems, forcing her to figure out who she really is and how she's going to handle the chaos.  Along the way, she overhears a conversation in a coffee shop about a strange journal that she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.  Soon after, the coffee shop owner tells her that a man left the journal there for Allison, and she begins a strange journey of discovering herself through a journal that may be edited by angels. 

As with the previous book by this author that I read, Rooms, Pages looks at unusual ways that God might choose to communicate with us today, to draw us back to Him.  In this book, He uses a journal to call Allison's attention to who He's made her to be, and to get her to question her choices and goals in life.  She continues to doubt whether this is even possible, but when she says to her mom "'God writing in there? That's crazy.  God doesn't do things like that anymore.'" Her mom responds with "'God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  If he did it thousands of years ago, why couldn't he do it today.'"  Allison then finds herself trying to rely on the journal for specific instructions and becomes frustrated when she can't use it like a magic genie.  As she reflects on its place in her life with Richard, a mysterious friend whom she tracked down after seeing him with the journal's previous owner, she says, "'I need change in here.' Allison pointed at her chest. 'It has to be more than pretending I believe in myself.  More than positive thinking.  It has to be real.'"  She begins to see that more than God wanting to direct her life, He wants her to seek Him and make the changes that make her life more meaningful.

In general, I really enjoyed this book.  The idea of an angel speaking for God through a journal and well-placed strangers was an intriguing concept, and it was satisfying to see Allison learn and grow through the process.  There were, however, two characters whose sole purpose in the book seemed to be to frustrate Allison out of her complacency, and they were so devious and hypocritical that it raised my stress level to read their sections.  They did serve their purpose, but it's frustrating to watch a character repeatedly fall for traps that the author has clearly set up as such.  I really wanted to see them get theirs, or for them to change from Allison's persistence, but that didn't happen, and I just ended up still feeling angry at them.

I give the book 4 stars; it was well-paced, I enjoyed the secondary characters, and aside from the naivete or trustfulness of Allison and her mother towards untrustworthy characters, it was thought provoking and tied up well.

You can find The Pages of Her Life HERE.
You can find the author's site HERE.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Monday, May 6, 2019

Introducing FREDDY!

We have exciting news here at Reading with Teddy G!  My son, known here now as Freddy, is joining the blog!  As Teddy, I will continue to review mainly Christian Fiction, but Freddy will add a fresh voice and a new genre - Middle-Grade Fiction.  Freddy is 11 years old, and currently in 5th grade.  He has been a voracious reader since he could read for himself.  His first chapter book was The One and Only Ivan, and he hasn't slowed down since.




Some of his favorite books have included Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and The Bone series, although he has been known to read all over the middle-grade genre.  He is hoping to read and review a book a month, but he is sure to be reading much more than that.






We hope that you enjoy the addition of Freddy and Middle-Grade book reviews to the blog!

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Glory Road - Lauren K. Denton


Jessie is content, if not happy, running her flower shop with her mom and daughter in her hometown.  Then, an old flame returns to town, a handsome wealthy man starts showing her attention, and her mom begins acting strangely.  What decisions does Jessie need to make, and how will they affect her small family's future?

This was such a lovely book.  While there was no great plot to rush the reader to the end, the slow moving glimpse of daily life for this little, unorthodox, family of three was heart warming.  None of the characters were made out to be perfect, and there were certainly challenges they needed to overcome, but none of it felt contrived.  Instead, it just felt like real live.  Even when Jessie needed to choose between the two men who were interested in her, neither man was the clear choice, and the book could have ended just as happily for her if she'd made a different choice.  But choosing life and to live it, rather than to hide oneself away, was the clear theme of this book.  Whether you're almost 70 and had a happy marriage, whether you're nearing 40 and have been badly burned by love in the past, or whether you're 14 and getting your first taste of a crush as well as deciding which voice inside of you you're going to follow, these three generations of women demonstrate that being  yourself and loving your family go a long way towards a happy life.

I give this book 4 stars.  I enjoy seeing characters thrive in unusual circumstances, and I enjoyed watching this family set boundaries and cross them and love each other along the way.

You can find Glory Road HERE.
You can find the author's page HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

The Printed Letter Bookshop - Katherine Reay



Three women, whose lives are intertwined by the death of another. Upon Maddie's passing, her estranged niece Madeline inherits her aunt's bookshop, and along with it, her two employees Janet and Claire. Janet, not known for being warm and fuzzy, and Claire, competent in the Bookshop but accused by Janet as being a bystander in her own life, yet somehow the women find ways to bond and heal through the legacy of the woman who brought them together.

There were so many layers to this book, that I hardly know where to start. First of all, I love the setting of a small town bookstore where the owner knows her customers well enough to recommend books to each person, and the town's love and loyalty to Maddie continue after her death. I love Janet's prickly personality and her journey to realizing what's missing in her life. Claire's family struggles and search for where she lost herself is completely relatable. Madeline goes through her own changes as she realizes that her relationship with her aunt could have been very different. I love all of the supporting characters and how they strengthen the main characters’ stories. Between the three women's individual journeys and their evolving friendships and external relationships, this book was deep and rich, and I waffled between wanting to speed through to discover everything about it, and wanting to slow down and savor it. I especially enjoyed the references to so many books within the context of not just recommendations to customers, but also Maddie's individualized book lists in her letters to the three women that played such a part in their growth. I give this book 5 stars. I have enjoyed all of Katherine Reay's books that I've read, but this one stands out for me. You can find The Printed Letter Bookshop HERE. You can find the author HERE. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Verity - Lisa T. Bergren


Verity is the second installment in The Sugar Baron's Daughters series, and continues the story of the Banning sisters, with the focus on the titular daughter, Verity.  As independent and stubborn as her older sister, Keturah, Verity longs to do her own thing and works to create her own business on the island.  Working to establish trade with the Colonies, Verity will need to decide where her allegiances lay, both those of her country, and those of her heart.

I think I enjoyed this segment of the Banning sisters' story even more than Keturah.  While I enjoyed the unique setting and introduction to the West Indies sugar cane plantations, I was glad that Verity's story brought the variety of the American Revolution.  The story of trying to export goods between the islands and the colonies, and the impact the blockade had not just on the characters' lives, but how it shaped their convictions and roles in the rebellion was well written. I especially appreciated how well the author demonstrated the pull between what felt right and where their loyalty threatened to pull them.  I'm sure that was not as easy as many books make it seem, and I felt the division here. 

I give this book 4 stars.  I'm interested to see where Selah's story takes this family, and I can only hope it's not too much to ask that Angus Shubert gets what's coming to him in the third book.  I definitely recommend reading these books in order!

You can find Verity HERE.
You can find the author's page HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

A Rumored Fortune - Joanna Davidson Politano


Tressa Harlowe has returned to her home, Trevalyan Castle, upon her father's summons.  Only, it wasn't her father who summoned her; he is believed to be dead, and his wife and daughter must take over the castle and vineyards.  However, the only money to run their lands and pay their workers with is that of the mysterious fortune that Tressa's father was believed to have hidden to keep it safe from greedy family members and fortune hunters - many of whom have now turned up at her door to seek.  Tressa's relationship with her father was mostly one-sided, with her following him around and taking in the vineyard's beauty and his teaching, yet with him keeping his emotional distance and refusing to give her any hints as to where he might have hidden the family fortune.  With time running out to pay those who are demanding their wages, can Tressa trust anyone to help her piece together the scant clues her memories and the house might hold?  What of Donegan Vance, the mysterious field manager who showed up claiming he'd been hired by her father?  Does he have ulterior motives? Is he as honest as he seems to be?


John 15:5 (NIV)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
What a delightful surprise this book was!  How could you not love Tressa, with her wounded little-girl heart, and her penchant for running barefoot across the vineyards?  My heart ached for her as those around her not only literally betrayed her, but also wanted her to betray the very essence that God gave her - her loyalty, her colorfulness, and her desire to be loved.  Yet in those betrayals, she was pruned back to the only Vine which could sustain her, and in Him she found abundance.

This was probably the best Christian fiction mystery I have read in a long time; it was well done with enough twists to keep you guessing, yet everything lined up logically in the end.  You could see how the actions of those around her would leave Tressa not knowing whom she could trust.  With all of the pointing fingers and greedy grasping hands, it's no wonder she misplaced her trust now and then.  Once she realized there was only One whom she could trust, her true path became much clearer.

I give this book 5 stars.  This was my first book by this author, but it most certainly won't be my last!  I am already looking forward to the book that was teased at the end of this one.  I only wish that I could hear more of how Tressa's life turns out from here!

You can find A Rumored Fortune HERE and HERE (This e-book version is currently only 79 cents! Check price before buying, as Amazon prices fluctuate frequently).
You can find the author's site HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

The White City - Grace Hitchcock


Winnifred Wylde is the daughter of an Inspector, and is known for seeing a crime around every corner.  However, when she thinks she sees a woman being taken during the Chicago World Fair, her father assigns a bodyguard, Jude Thorpe, and eventually allows her to go undercover to see what she can find out.

I have read many books centered around the Chicago World's Fair; knowing that this one was based on actual events gave it a very different feel.  I really appreciated the author's notes at the end, straightening out what was fact versus what she added to the story.  The slightly unsettling thing was that this book made it so easy to get wrapped up in Winnie's story and dilemma over Jude, that it was easy to lose sight of the fact that it was based on a real serial killer.  While the suspicious character was always depicted as shady, the depth of his evil nature didn't really come through until everything wrapped up in the end.  It certainly would have made it a more disturbing book to go more in depth along the way, but I think I would have liked some more hints or clues as to what he was really up to.

I'm not sure how much the police were looking into the case at the time, but maybe more of a tie in with a real investigation into the disappearances, laid against Winnie's amateur (and dangerous!) sleuthing could have given it more of a suspense and danger tone, rather than a romance book that happened to have a murder in it.

I did really enjoy Winnie's and Danielle's love of books, and Danielle's habit of taking Winnie's books to read herself.  I loved Winnie's few interactions with the bookstore owner, and that's the sort of relationship/character development I'd love to see more of.

I give this book 3.5 stars; I felt like it straddled the line of a romantic/fictitious suspense vs. a real-crime book.  Had it landed squarely on either side of the line, I think it would have fared better. (No pun intended).  I have already downloaded the next in the series, and I am looking forward (maybe with one eye closed!) to the continuation of the series.

You can find The White City HERE.
You can find the author's site HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

A Desperate Hope - Elizabeth Camden


In this third installment of the Empire State Series, Eloise Drake is tasked with assigning worth to all of the buildings and properties in the town of Duval Springs.  The town that she used to watch from afar, from the home of her guardian; the town whose current mayor, Alex Duval, was the recipient of more than her heart when she was only 16.  Alex, as mayor and descendant of the town's founding family, is desperately trying to keep his town, his family, and his family's legacy from being wiped off the map to make room to provide water for the people of New York.  Can Eloise follow her mathematical brain and keep her heart out of this job? What choices does Alex have to help provide for those who depend on him and look to him for leadership?

I was excited to read this continuation of the series; I enjoyed the character of Rosalind Werner in A Daring Venture, and I felt myself grow angry on behalf of the town that was going to be wiped out for the needs of the big city.  The solution that the town came up with was creative and risky, and I loved watching the town and the state workers come together to put it in action.  Eloise's character held so much promise.  As one of only six female CPAs in the state of New  York, her drive and love of math and logic appealed to me, and I was interested to see how that played out when she came back into the life of her childhood love. However, I found her changes of heart to be fickle, as she was courting one man while intending to return to a life that didn't include him. While I can understand her being unsure of what she really wanted, versus what appeared best for her, it seemed out of character to be misleading someone who cared for her. 

I also struggled to fit the pieces of the saboteur mystery into the story; when the culprit was named and the reason discovered, I felt like I'd missed something along the way.  It left that plot line feeling disjointed, and was a strange way to wrap up a story that was compelling enough to stand on its own - that of the town coming together to find a way to hope in the face of impending disaster.

I give this book 3 stars; I love Elizabeth Camden's intelligent, ground-breaking, female characters, but I didn't enjoy that, in this case, Eloise's brain became a bit secondary to her love interests.  I was fascinated by the idea of the reservoir displacing a town, though, and I wish a bit more of the true story would have woven its way into the novel.

You can find A Desperate Hope HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday, February 10, 2019

The Secrets of Paper and Ink - Lindsay Harrel


Three women's struggles are woven together in this time hop novel. Sophia and Ginny are contemporary American women who meet and bond when Sophia escapes to England to heal and recover from the death of her abusive fiance. Sophia rents the apartment above the bookstore Ginny is valiantly trying to save after her husband ran away to London 6 months ago to “find himself.” Emily's story, from the mid 1800s, is woven within the modern women's journeys as Sophia attempts to discover if the story of Emily she has found in the bookstore is about a real person, or merely a fictional account by an unknown author.

Each of these three women's stories is compelling, and the weaving of the contemporary friendship as they bond and create a healing relationship helps tie the book and its characters together into a story of relationships and the need for both God and people to help you through the hard times. Both Sophia and Ginny learn that they don't have to do it on their own, and maybe the dream they thought they were following isn't the plan God has in mind for them. They also discover that if they can see the need for grace and forgiveness of one's self in their new friend's life, maybe they deserve the same.

I really enjoyed watching the friendship between Sophia and Ginny grow, as they gave each other the freedom to be vulnerable and honest. The supporting characters helped to enrich the story, and while I maybe wished for a little more interaction with the townspeople as Ginny realized they weren't against her, and as Sophia tried to settle in, there was enough to get the feeling of a community.

I give this book 4 stars; it grabbed my attention and kept me turning pages to find out the resolution of each woman's story. I think I'll find myself wondering how these characters are doing in the days ahead, only to have to remind myself they aren't real. You can find The Secrets of Paper and Ink HERE. You can find the author HERE.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ladies of Intrigue - Michelle Griep



Ladies of Intrigue contains three novella-length stories:
"The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady," set in 1815 in Cornwall, England;
"The Doctor's Woman," set in 1862 in Mendota, Minnesota; and
"A House of Secrets," set in 1890 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Three stories, involving three women with very different settings and backgrounds, yet they manage to fit together by their main character's pluck and dedication.  Helen, in "The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady," has come to England to care for her ailing father, with the generosity of the Seaton family enabling her to have left her job as a governess to do so.  However, she isn't sure she can trust her host, as her first experience with him has him kidnapping her off her newly arrived ship after having looted it.  "The Doctor's Woman," Emmy, is just about to travel to her aunt's home after her father, the town's doctor, has died, to return to a "civilized" life of dining and dancing.  Instead, she finds herself being called upon to use her medical experience within the nearby fort.  A temporary doctor arrives, and together, they see to the needs of the fort's occupants, and the large group of Sioux which has been led into the fort for temporary containment.  The third woman, Amanda, is happily betrothed to the city attorney, Joseph, in "A House of Secrets.  Yet, as she attempts to please her father by taking on a large charity project, she soon finds that the titular house is not the only thing hiding secrets.

I enjoyed this collection of stories more than I expected, with Helen and Isaac, perhaps, being my favorite characters.  I enjoyed the banter, and how the women in all three stores were strong, and spoke their minds, yet meshed well with the men who admired their spunk.  All three women were looking to serve, putting others' needs above their own.  The men in their lives supported and enhanced these pursuits, with encouragement and enthusiasm, rather than condescension or apathy. 

I give this book 4 stars.  It's really hard to feel invested in characters in such a short space, but I feel that this author did a service to her Ladies, and I wish only that there was more to their stories so I could read more about them!

You can find Ladies of Intrigue HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Flights of Fancy - Jen Turano


Isadora Delafield has found herself in a position that many would envy, from the outside.  She has caught the attention of a duke, to the delight of her mother.  However, when she rebuff's the duke's intentions, she inadvertently places herself in danger, and suddenly becomes part of an insane plan to get her out of harm's way.  The plan involves hiding this great American heiress as a servant in an out of the way household in Pennsylvania.  The household in question is that of Ian MacKenzie, an industrial attorney who has worked hard to draw himself out of the poverty and abuse of his childhood.  Having worked his way into the circles of rich investors and industrial owners, his last goal is to marry up to gain entrance into the social circles of Pittsburgh.  However, a strange housekeeper with a distinct lack of housekeeping skills, and growing tension between the laborers and those who profit off of them may have Ian reevaluating his goals in life.

I have long enjoyed Jen Turano's books, but this may be one of my favorites.  The characters are delightful, and their journeys of self-discovery are so well intertwined that even though you know where the story is headed, you can't help but enjoy the road to get there.  As Isadora, Izzy in her new life, opens her eyes to the world she was always told she was above, she finds out parts of herself that she never knew were there - some good, and some to be left behind with her old life.  At one point, she has this realization about herself:
"She'd grown up in the lap of luxury, spoiled by her parents and raised with the expectation that her every whim would be met by people paid to see to her creature comforts.  She'd never once considered that her demands cast her in a less-than-pleasant light, but now, after having that brought to her attention, and rather matter-of-factly at that, she really had no choice but to agree that she, Isadora Delafield, was a demanding woman, which then suggested that she might not be very...likeable."  
To her credit, Izzy takes this revelation and turns those parts of herself around, becoming not just "likeable," but beloved by everyone around her.

 As Ian tries to figure out exactly why he's drawn to this oddly bespectacled house manager of his, "house manager" being a position he didn't realize existed, he also finds that perhaps he has let his new position in society cloud his view of the life he has been so desperate to escape.  With Izzy worming her way under his skin, and his Aunt and Uncle taking in orphans that will need his care, and his discomfort with his side of negotiations in the factory disputes, Ian also realizes he may need to make some changes.

Between Izzy and Ian's life-changing journeys, Aunt Birdie and Uncle Amos, the four Duffy children who come to live with them, and the animals on the farm who have such distinct personalities as to be their own characters in the book (including a cow who likes to come indoors), this book is filled with enjoyable characters and relationships.  There are, of course, several unsavory characters to drive the plot, but as hateful as they are, they provide a sharp contrast to the loving and God-seeking lives of the main characters.

I give this book 5 stars; it was such a delighful read, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series holds!

You can find Flights of Fancy HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.
Or connect with her on Facebook HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Christmas with Miss Austen - Laura Briggs



Publisher's Description -

Julia Allen is a waitress by day, painter by night, and a famous 1800s authoress on weekends. Moonlighting as Jane Austen for a historical open house is a strange hobby for a contemporary artist, but Julia loves the role—until she falls asleep and gets locked inside after all the visitors are gone! Rushing home from the dark, historical mansion, she collides with a stranger in the snowy park, and discovers later her shortcut cost her the rare copy of Austen's Northanger Abbey borrowed from a friend's treasured collection. Book historian Eliot Weston thinks he imagined the Regency-era figure, but the book he finds in her wake proves otherwise. The first edition of Jane Austen's novel is authentic and incredibly rare, but he fails to find any trace of its owner. Reminders of the unusual encounter keep popping up, however, like the pretty modern artist eager to buy an identical volume. Coincidence? Or Divine intervention making it clear this is anything but an ordinary Christmas for these two hearts?

This was a super cute, quick Christmas read.  Julia and Eliot were fun characters, and the misunderstanding of the lost book wasn't so drawn out as to feel tedious.  I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Julia's contradictory characteristics of modern artist and Austen portrayer, and I liked the addition of Eliot's sister's obsession with Austen to drive some of the connection.  The one thing that bothered me, though, was the question of if this historical open house is such a big deal in this town as to sell out its tickets, why did it never occur to Eliot that the figure in the park was an actress?  However, it was easily overlooked in the interest of the plot, and left the story still enjoyable.
I give this cute seasonal book 3.5 stars.  

You can find Christmas with Miss Austen HERE.You can find the author's page HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.