Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other - Bethany Turner

 

Brynn Cornell is known as the Ray of Sunshine on the Sunup morning show, and has left her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado far behind her.  Until, that is, she's caught on a hot mic disparaging her hometown and the people who live there.  Her only chance at salvaging her reputation and career seems to be returning to her hometown and the people she left without so much as a goodbye 20 years ago and filming her apology and, hopefully, their forgiveness. While there, she encounters Sebastian Sudworth, who has landed in Adelaide Springs from his own search for a fresh start.  Will their fresh starts and second chances counter each other, or be just what they each need?

Normally, I love the enemies to lovers trope in romance, and the need for forgiveness and a second chance was such a great idea for this story.  However, it felt like the switched flipped a bit too quickly and easily for Brynn.  She didn't really work for any of the forgiveness, and she didn't seem to actually regret her actions, just that she got caught.  There were a lot of avenues for side storylines that could have been developed, but there seemed to be an abundance of focus on Brynn's name change from B-R-E-N to B-R-Y-N-N, as if all of her life choices could be hinged on this spelling change.

I also missed some of this author's signature character banter from her previous works.  Sebastian and Brynn could have been a fiery match, but it fell a little flat for me.  I liked Seb, but found myself not really caring if Brynn found success.

I give this book 3 stars; I really liked the characters from Adelaide Springs, and just wish Brynn's transformation could have been a little more developed.

You can find Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other 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.

With Every Memory - Janine Rosche

 

After a devastating car accident that resulted in the loss of her son and months in a rehabilitation facility, Lori Mendenhall returns to a home that she doesn't remember, and a family and life that doesn't match up with the last memories she has - from 8 years ago.  As she tries to fit what she knows with what is happening now, who will she choose to become from this day forward? 

This book covers a lot of tough topics within its pages; sensitive readers should be aware of the subject matter (but I don't want to spoil anything - I'm sure there are warnings in other descriptions).  However, it comes with the good reminder that personal memories aren't one hundred percent reliable, and that there are two sides to every story.  Even with the worst of situations, with grace can come second chances.

3 stars to this book; it was good, and I'm sure it will resonate with some readers.

You can find With Every Memory 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.

Dear Henry, Love Edith - Becca Kinzer

 

In search of adventure and a new start, Edith finds herself staying in the upstairs of what she believes to be a disabled old man's house.  Meanwhile, the homeowner, Henry, is under the impression that an elderly widow, who's a retired nurse, is occupying his upstairs apartment.  Through a series of letters and unrelated interactions, they find themselves drawn to two separate people, for very different reasons, without knowing it's the same person.  When they do finally "meet," how will they reconcile their impressions and their wildly different visions for their futures?

In the end, this book turned out cute, but in the beginning I mostly found myself wishing for an extended version of the mistaken identities and written communication.  Once they found out the truth, the book took several rabbit trails with a variety of plots and more miscommunication that were less unique.  The twists seemed to cloud what could have been a very strong message from the story; both Edith and Henry needed to find that what they thought was God's calling could end up different than they originally thought, and through their journey find that they were loved and cherished.  The journey to those realizations is one that many readers likely find themselves taking.

I give this book 3 stars; I enjoyed the initial premise and the concluding wrap-up, it just got too messy for me in the middle.

You can find Dear Henry, Love Edith 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.

Much Ado About a Latte - Kathleen Fuller

 

In Much Ado About a Latte, readers return to Maple Falls, where restoration of the town businesses continues.  Anita works hard at the Sunshine Diner, even while dreaming of opening her own coffee shop in town.  Unbeknownst to her, Tanner Castillo, her high school tutor, has dream of his own - of owning the Sunshine Diner and making it into a coffee bar/diner combination.  While pursuing their dreams secretly, their friendship grows with the chance of more - but can either aspect of their relationship sustain the secrets and competition?

While I love this town, and the storylines about updating the town and its businesses, this second installment didn't appeal to me as much as Hooked on You. The stories didn't feel flushed out, so the conclusion felt a little illogical.  Why did Tanner end up working in a diner when he was obviously intelligent and driven in high school? Where did Anita get her dream of a coffee shop? There was no build up of her dream or experience; it didn't seem to tie into her passions, it was just a way to prove herself to her parents. There also wasn't a great explanation of how the two businesses were going to work together; it just somehow conveniently tied the end up in a rosy ending.

I enjoy these characters, and I will continue to look forward to the series, but this one was only 3 stars for me.

You can find Much Ado About a Latte 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.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Underwater - Erin Bartels

 

Kendra grew up spending glorious summers at Hidden Lake with her grandfather, and her best friend Cami.  Years have passed since she's been to the cabin; she has published a novel, her grandfather has passed away, and nobody has heard from Cami in too long.  She returns with questions, and the answers may be harder than anyone expected.

This novel left me feeling conflicted.  There were much harder topics broached than the description hinted at - topics that may catch readers off guard.  But necessary topics to be discussed.  Kendra's past that she tries to reconcile in her heart and mind, the topics that she wrote about in her book with thinly disguised characters, while shocking, are handled well in the writing.  Kendra doesn't brush them aside.  She doesn't immediately feel healed. Her relationships are not immediately hunky dory.  She struggles with her own role in what happened to her, and whether she could have prevented any of it.  She struggles with forgiveness.  

While all of these struggles were more realistic maybe than other novels have attempted, as a Christian-published novel, I would have liked to have seen more hope, or counseling, or growth.  It doesn't need to wrap up neatly, because real life isn't like that, but there seemed to be no resources outside of Kendra's own strength and resolve to move forward.

I give this book 3 stars; I can't fault the writing, but it was not really my cup of tea, and the description led me to expect a very different book.

You can find the author HERE.
You can find The Girl Who Could Breathe Underwater HERE.

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

The Kingdom of Ink and Paper - Matthew Newman

 

From Net Galley -

"Every book you’ve ever read. Every story you’ve ever heard. What if they were all true?

When high school student Will Morgan goes on a school trip to Boston, he doesn’t expect to witness a murder. But when best-selling novelist Arthur O’Neill is found dead, Will realizes there’s more to this writer’s books than just words.

After O’Neill’s death, Will receives a mysterious package: a copy of The Redstone Keep, one of O’Neill’s famous novels. Upon reading the book, Will passes out and is introduced to a man named Tam Desmond, The Redstone Keep’s protagonist. Tam explains that he is a resident of the World of the Written, a universe parallel to our own where everything ever published by humans comes to life.

Through his conversations with Tam, Will learns that something was targeting Arthur, and that same force is now after him. Armed with his new powers and a magical sword, Will sets out on a journey to solve the mysteries surrounding the murder; however, all the while, Arthur’s death may have just been the start of something much more sinister."

In my opinion the quality of this book was fair. While the plot and characters were interesting, it reminded me of Here There Be Dragons, and there were several smaller plot holes. In the story the characters gain their powers much too quickly, and there isn't much of a real challenge. However, I did like the involvement of Characters, or people from the story that the Writers are in. Overall I would say that there was not a lot of character development outside of powers/abilities. I would give Kingdom of Ink and Paper a 3 out of 5 stars.

You can find Kingdom of Ink and Paper HERE.

You can find Matthew Newman HERE.

The Key to Love - Betsy St. Amant

 

From christianbook.com:

"The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so, she's created her own version of the famous Parisian lovelock wall at her bakery in Story, Kansas. She never expects it to go viral--or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery. He's definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for a love story like the one her parents had, and that certainly will not include the love-scorned-and-therefore-love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems Bri's bakery is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just her business but the pedestal she's kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri's recipe just needs to be tweaked.

Novelist Betsy St. Amant invites you to experience this sweet story of how love doesn't always look the way we expect--and maybe that's a good thing."

This was a cute story, with some deeper meaning.  Is anyone's story as perfect as it looks?  Is being comfortable enough, or are risks necessary?  Should you believe in someone's take on love, or experience it for yourself?

I ached for Bri - all she wanted was to believe in her parents' perfect love story and experience it for herself.  She was clinging to the bakery as her safe place for memories of her mother.  But as all of those security blankets fell apart on her, she had to choose to look somewhere else for her security, and she had to choose a messy imperfect love. knowing there's only One who can love perfectly.  Her growth wasn't easy and she didn't necessarily go willingly, but it was important to see her finally realize that she'd only had a shell of what she was looking for when she tried to stay in her box.

3 stars; this story was cute, but a little light for me. 

You can find The Key to Love HERE.
You can find the author HERE. 

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

The Cul-de-Sac War - Melissa Ferguson

"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world."

- C.S. Lewis

Bree Leake has been bouncing from job to job and hobby to hobby for far too long.  She is currently sharing her Nana's house with a housemate, because neither of them are willing to give up their share of the house that was bequeathed to them upon Nana's passing.  Meanwhile, she's barely hanging on to her bit part at the local theater.  In the midst of this, a confounding new neighbor moves in next door, with a giant mastiff named Russell, who deems Bree his "favorite," much to Bree's chagrin.  This kicks off a series of increasingly complicated pranks between Bree and Chip, the neighbor, as they both try to figure out where their personal lives are headed, and the part their neighbor relationship might play in it.

I'm not sure how to write about this book.  For probably 80% of it, I didn't even like the characters.  I had trouble foreseeing an ending that would wipe out the problems I had early on in the story.  Chip lied and misrepresented himself and his abilities.  He never even tried to understand why Bree was upset, and his lackadaisical approach to her fear, or at least dislike, of his giant dog was lacking in even basic human compassion.  Their pranks could have been funny, and if the book played off of harmless pranks back and forth, that could have been a fun story.  But their pranks were not entirely harmless, and they drew in other people, wasting their time and resources.  If the story had delved deeper into why Bree couldn't find a path in life, or her paralyzing fear over her niece's condition, it could have taken a serious path and been a a better read.  But most of that was glossed over, until it came into play to tie up the story in the end.  Chip's family and his reasons for setting out on his own were super interesting, and the tragedy that brought him home clearly had a huge impact on him, but the book made it seem only tangential to the neighborhood war.

In the end, the theme seemed to have been based around the C.S. Lewis quote above, but for me, it took too long to get there, and especially in Chip's case, there was very little redemption to a character who was extremely self-focused for so much of the book.  I enjoyed The Dating Charade by this author, and some of the characters do carry over, but this one was a miss for me.  3 stars.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

You can find The Cul-de-Sac War HERE.You can find the author HERE.

Autumn Skies - Denise Hunter

Once again, we join the Bennett siblings at their Bluebell Inn for this final installment to the series.  Now, we focus on Grace, the youngest of the siblings, who is trying to get her outdoor outfitters business off the ground, as the siblings prepare to sell the inn and move on with their lives.  When Wyatt Jennings comes to visit the inn, Grace is drawn to him and his mysterious search in the nearby mountains.  Their lives are so different and headed in different directions, though, what could even come of a relationship?

I have enjoyed this tale of the Bennett siblings, and their mission to run the inn their parents never got to see come to fruition.  I like seeing their interactions as their lives change, and they find their matches, and try to adjust their family expectations.  Grace and Wyatt's story was perhaps not my favorite of the 3 books, but it was good to see the family again and have a sense of where they're all headed from here.  I missed the extra side characters in this portion of the story, however, it was much more centered on the main two characters than the previous books were, and I felt like that left the story a little flat. 

I give this book 3 stars, but overall the series would average higher than that as a whole, and if you read the first two, you should certainly finish it out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

You can find Autumn Skies HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

Heart Chimes - Denise Janette Bruneau

From Amazon:
"Author of Finding Home, Denise Janette Bruneau brings us another story about hope, love, and unyielding faith in God.Dr. Marla Devereaux tries to balance her career as an ER doctor with her duties as a wife until she discovers that her husband has been having an affair while hiding his infidelity as frequent “business trips.” Devastated with the loss of her marriage, Marla’s life suddenly changes when she receives a letter in the mail, informing her of an inheritance from her grandmother in Guntersville, Alabama. Moving into her grandparents’ lake house from her home in Cincinnati, Marla finds a man already there, an ER nurse named Micah Brady. Getting to know her grandmothers’ handsome tenant, Marla soon learns that Micah is suffering from a loss of his own. Holding onto the objects that give them hope, for Micah his heart-tattoo and for Marla her grandparents’ grandfather clock, the two of them rediscover true, Godly love."

The premise of this story is cute: an ER doctor hearing a dying woman's last words of love to her husband, only to cross paths again with the husband 3 years later after her own husband abruptly divorces her.  However, with its short length, it was like a full novel's story trying to fit into a novella-length space.  The details were shallow, and there were holes in the plot.  The supporting characters had a lot of potential, but they weren't deeply developed.  They were the kind of characters and the type of town that could have held a whole series of books, yet I came away feeling like I didn't really know any of them.  Marla's past and her relationship with her husband were brutal to her psyche, and there was potential depth to the story to restore her confidence and self worth as a daughter of God.

I give this book 3 stars; I feel like it had a lot going for it, but it needed to be longer to really reach its story potential.

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

You can find Heart Chimes HERE.
You can find information about the author HERE.

Until June

In a strange twist of events, 18-year-old Josephine finds herself the unexpected caregiver to Geoff Chambers, a WWI veteran who lost part of both legs in the war.  Geoff is initially despondent and dependent on morphine, but with Josephine's care and persistence, he finds himself enjoying life again.  Set in a remote lodge in Alaska, Josephine and Geoff learn to both depend on each other and find their individual strength in themselves.

I enjoyed the setting and idea of this story; I haven't read many stories set in Alaska, nor have I read much about injured war veterans.  I enjoyed watching Josephine persevere through Geoff's stubbornness and defeatist attitude.  However, there were a lot of characters to not like in this book, and for me, it didn't really balance out.  Also, I wished for more of the scenery to really experience the setting of Alaska to set the book apart.

I give this book 3 stars.  It was an engaging read, and I think it will appeal to many readers, it just wasn't one of my favorites this summer.

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

You can find Until June HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

When I Meet You - Olivia Newport

From Christianbook.com :
"A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago leads Jillian and Nolan to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.
 
When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys."

This is the third book in the Tree of Life series that I've read.  I still love the characters of Jillian the genealogist and her father, Nolan, the opera-singing, gourmet-cooking, lawyer, as well as the side characters in their town of Canyon Mines, Colorado.  I liked how this installment brought us a bit more backstory to Jillian and the loss of her mother, as well as the family history there that she's trying to uncover.

However, the rhythm of this story was a little bumpy for me.  I can handle the time shifting, but the correspondence added an additional layer of time lines, and trying to tie Jillian's ancestors in with the woman who was lost to history, as well as trying to unravel the financial mystery...it took me awhile to get the gist of what was happening.  

I give this book 3 stars.  I still love the concept of using genealogy and family history to tie people together and to even solve mysterious questions of the past and present, but I struggled to get into this one.  The ending wrapped up the story well, though, and I was glad I persisted.

You can find When I Meet You 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.

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.

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.

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.

Caught by Surprise - Jen Turano

In this third installment of the Apart from the Crowd series, Temperance Flowerdew comes front and center.  We learn that she's been kicked out of her distant cousin's, Wayne Flowerdew, house, after having lived there as basically a servant since her parents died.  She has recently decided, however, that she is done being the meek, servantile, poor relation, and is reclaiming her spunk and creative spark, thanks in no small part to the reappearance of her childhood friend, Gilbert Cavendish.  This newfound zest will serve her well as she and Gilbert encounter one strange situation after another.  With the whole city thinking that they are engaged, after being caught in what appeared to be a compromising position, can they salvage their reputations and escape gracefully, or will they even want to?

I adore Jen Turano, and her witty, spunky, clever female characters.  Temperance is just another in a growing list of Ms. Turano's heroines who have made me laugh out loud while following their stories.  Temperance and Gilbert's friendship is so precious; I loved how well they knew each other and looked out for each other.  I was glad to see the previous characters from this series making their appearances as well, both Temperance's friends Gertrude and Permilia, as well as their fiances and Gilbert's friends Harrison and Asher.  I feel like this trio of couples would be highly entertaining to spend an evening with.

Characters aside, however, this installment felt a little over the top for me.  The "twists" in the plot had a bit of a soap opera feel, with zany characters and dramatic turns that didn't fit the rest of the series' tone.  Perhaps if you approach the book expecting comedic drama, you'll be able to enjoy it from that point of view.

I give this book 3 stars, based on my enjoyment of the characters themselves, and leaning heavily on the previous books in the series to give this finale a bit more weight than it might deserve.

You can find Caught by Surprise 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.

The House at Saltwater Point - Colleen Coble

Ellie Blackmore is knee-deep in her renovation business, which she runs with her ex brother-in-law, and making plans to renovate a house for herself, when her sister Mackenzie goes missing.  There's a large bloodstain on the deck of her beloved sailboat, and now rumors of her involvement with a missing cocaine shipment are circulating. The main source of those rumors have swept into town with Coast Guard Intelligence Officer Grayson Bradshaw.  As Ellie and Grayson both seek answers to Mackenzie's disappearance, Grayson has family questions of his own to sort out.

This was a tough book for me to review; once again, I didn't realize this was part of a series, and thus I was not familiar with the characters and hints of backstories sprinkled throughout this book.  That always puts me at a disadvantage, but it does lead me to say that this is probably not best read as a stand alone novel.  Also, there was a lot going on in this book, and I feel like several of the plot lines could have been better served by having their own book.  It was a lot to try to get invested in as a reader, and it was hard to believe that any of the characters could have been dealing with that many major things at once. 

I could see how readers who enjoy suspenseful romance books, however, could enjoy this.  Grayson and Ellie were thrown together because of the case of her sister, but there were reasons for them to not just be at odds on opposite sides of the case.  These side storylines fed their relationship and kept it interesting.

While this book wasn't quite for me, I give it 3 stars.  Ellie's persistent faith in her sister, and a group of connected friends made me want to see how it all turned out.

You can find The House at Saltwater Point 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.

A Daring Venture - Elizabeth Camden

Trying to escape the rumors of her past that caused her to return to America from Germany, Dr. Rosalind Werner is working alongside Dr. Leal strinving to eradicate cholera and other waterborn diseases by proving that water clorination is effective and safe.  Encountering opposition, but given a 90-day window to persuade the judge, Rosalind meets with Nick Drake, an outspoken former plumber turned millionaire who is trying to convince the city that another expensive water filtration plant is the right way to go and that he should be one of three commissioners in charge of New York's water systerm.  With 90 days to come to a resolution, can Rosalind and Nick come to an agreement on what's best? For water systems and their futures?

Water quality is something we take very much for granted in this day and age in our country.  We don't think twice about running a glass of water out of the tap, or having functioning bathrooms, unless there's a problem.  Even then, there's usually a relatively quick and easy solution.  So the premise of this book, the battle over chemical aids to eliminate raging disease through large cities, was intriguing.  According to the author's note, Dr. Leal (and George Fuller) were "real life heroes who implemented the first chlorine feed system in the world."  Even though Rosalind was not a historical figure, I loved the inclusion of a female biochemist, who earned a legitimate degree through back channels in Germany.  Additionally, the novel included a female CPA who looks to be the main character in the 3rd installment of this series. 

I do wish I had read the first book, as it seems that would have given more insight into the feud between Nick and his sister against his Aunt Margaret upon their Uncle Thomas's death.  It might also have helped to round out Nick's character, as I found him a contradiction - a humble plumber who's inherited millions - he's happy to throw his money whever his passions and heart lead him, but he's desperate to fit into the rich people's world, forcing himself to try caviar, making his 3-year-old daughter wear silks and fancy shoes for every occasion.  Also, why does he hate the outdoors?  Without more background for him, I found him a difficult character to like, and the relationship between Nick and Rosalind ran so hot and cold, with no real development, that while I wanted Rosalind to successfully rise above the rumors and destruction of her reputation, I would have been just as happy for another character to come along for her to end up with.  Poor Rosalind was surrounded by unsettling characters; why does her sister-in-law hate her so much?  What else was going on with her Doctor Clean situation that they pushed her out so easily?  How did Rosalind manage to keep plugging along in life when it seemed she had no real support from anyone?

I give this book 3 stars; the purification of water and the creation of large reservoirs was not something I'd read about previously, and I found it interesting; however, the characters left too many questions for me to really care about them.

You can find A Daring Adventure 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.

No Less Days - Amanda Stevens

From CBD: "As far as he knows, David Galloway can't die. As those he loves grow old and perish, he grows increasingly isolated in his Michigan used bookstore, until at last he finds others who share his predicament. But when crimes come to light that are older than any mortal, what will God require of him?"

I feel conflicted about how I feel about this book.  Sound confusing?  That's how I feel about it, too!  The premise is intriguing - a man who can't die, perpetually 35, alive since before the Civil War, what are the possibilities in that long of a life on earth?  Would those granted the ability consider it a gift to be used for good, or a curse to resent? For a man of God, how do you live over and over, without knowing when you'll make it to heaven?  How do you find a community of believers, if you have to move every 10 years or so before the fact that you're not aging would start to raise suspicions?  

Some of those questions were addressed, but the book also took a very dark turn that I wasn't expecting. I felt like the story was trying to go in too many directions to thoroughly explore any one of them.  It felt like it would have made a good series; that would have allowed the characters and their relationships to develop, as well as give time to flesh out some of the side plot lines.  The discussion questions at the back were thought provoking, though, and would allow a conversation to follow some of those thoughts to see where the readers thought they'd lead.

Overall, this was a unique book, and I appreciate that.  I give it 3 stars; while I wish it went a little deeper, I was intrigued by the possibilities it presented.

You can find No Less Days HERE.
You can connect with the author on Facebook HERE.

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

The Saturday Night Supper Club - Carla Laureano

Rachel Bishop just wants to be left alone in her restaurant kitchen, and to have her food speak for itself.  However, when a mean-spirited review, an essay, and a misconstrued interview turn public opinion against her, she is forced out by her partners, and left floundering for a new direction in her career and life.  Alex Kanin, the author of the essay that led to the public backlash, feels guilty for the demise of her career, and works with Rachel to come up with a fresh idea to find her place in the restaurant world, and thus is born The Saturday Night Supper Club.

I was really drawn to this book by the cover and that title (I've recently discovered that I apparently have a favorite sub-sub-genre - books about food, and restaurants, and bakeries).  And while I enjoyed the book, and the characters, it fell a little short for me. I was hoping for a lot more to do with the actual "Saturday Night Supper Club," but instead, there were only 2 official events, even though they talked about making it the event nobody would want to miss, and how much they could charge for attendance.  That sort of draw never materialized.  The characters were full of interesting hints of backstories...almost too much.  Every character seemed to have issues they were working through that were affecting their relationships, yet there wasn't enough time in this book to get through them all.  It does appear that this will be a series, so I guess we'll just hope that we learn more about each of the main characters eventually.

I give this book 3 stars.  I hope that if the series continues the characters will settle into themselves and their stories will feel more cohesive.  I also hope for more food scenes. :)

You can find The Saturday Night Supper Club 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.