The Love Script - Toni Shiloh

 

Neveah Richards dreams of being a hairstylist for a hit show, but finds herself in the news for a very different reason when a paparazzo catches her and the Sexiest Man Alive in what is being conveyed as a very romantic position.  While it may convey romance to some however, it creates disaster for Lamont Booker, the SMA, due to his desire to keep his newly Christian image intact in Hollywood, and the morality clauses included in his contracts.  Neveah, Lamont, and Lamont's agent/publicist decide the only way to save both of their reputations is to tell the world they're in a relationship.  Not wanting to lie to the public, Neveah and Lamont decide to date for real and see where it goes. Can that be enough to clear their consciences? Can Neveah handle that kind of spotlight? 

Once again, Toni Shiloh packs faith and faith filled friendships into a fun story that centers around finding God's will and seeking His direction for her characters' lives.  She does Christian friendships so well.  I loved the interaction between Lamont and his guy friends, Tuck and Chris.  Dare I hope their stories are coming?!? I only wished for Neveah to have her own confidante who challenged her faith, but that was part of her story - to realize her need for that sort of wisdom in her life.  And while she got bits of that from Lamont and Ms. Rosie in this story, I'm imagining her becoming fast friends with Piper, and finding a community of her own.

I give this book 4 stars, but I'm super hopeful that I'll get more of all of these characters in future books!

You can find The Love Script HERE. 
You can find the author HERE. 

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

The Words We Lost - Nicole Deese

 

Ingrid Erikson has worked her way up from an internship at a publisher, to its golden editor with the submission and meteoric rise of her best friend's best selling series.  When Cece passes away unexpectedly, before the final installment of the series can be submitted, Ingrid finds herself not only drowning in grief, but also in danger of losing her job. With one final ultimatum from her boss, she returns to the only place she's ever called home, to confront her grief in the form of her ex-boyfriend, her best friend's mom who treated her like a second daughter, and the secrets that she didn't even know were there to discover.

There are so many layers to this novel that it's impossible to do it justice in a short review.  The writing is gorgeous, the characters are tragic and compelling, and the story reels you in in so many directions you don't know which answer you want first.  Even the title is layered within the story, with words "lost" in so many ways - the physical manuscript, the relationships with words left unspoken, and the reading comprehension that grief has stolen from Ingrid.  I found myself torn over whether to tear through this book to reach the conclusions, or to savor its depth slowly.  I see that it's listed as part of a series, and that is an exciting discovery.

I give this book 5 stars.  Nicole Deese has astounded with her last several novels, and this one is just another shining installment.

You can find The Words We Lost 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 Match in the Making

 

Gwendolyn Brinley has decided to take the summer apart from her position as her cousin's companion, and to spend it with Mrs. Parker in Newport.  What she doesn't plan for is Mrs. Parker breaking her leg and assigning Gwendolyn the role of assistant matchmaker.  When she inadvertently reveals the existence of matchmakers to the "catch of the season," Walter Townsend, she finds herself inundated with requests and conflict as the society set duke it out to make the most advantageous matches. How can she keep herself removed from the tumult while seeking to learn as much as she can about the people involved?

Gwendolyn is yet another of Mr. Turano's unconventional, strong-minded, female characters: insightful, compassionate, and independent.  And, of course, she manages to find an ending that sacrifices none of those elements of her self, but one that enhances and sweetens the person she already is.

Once again, Jen Turano has managed to draw me into her fictional world within the first few pages, to care about her characters, and to be sorry when the story is over.  I can only hope that at some point this series will involve Gideon and Adalaide's story, because I know that one will be just as amusing and satisfying as this one was.

5 stars, and I cannot wait for the next installment in the Matchmakers Series.

You can find A Match in the Making HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

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

To Win a Prince - Toni Shiloh

 

After In Search of a Prince, we return to the African island of Oloro Ile, where Iris has started a fashion design company with the intent to help the women and economy of the island.  The man who was convicted of attempting to betray the crown (and Iris's best friend) has been sentenced to work with her.  Can she deny her attraction to him while staying to true to her best friend, her new company, and her adopted home?

I love this series; the friends and characters feel so authentic, even while ensconced in a totally foreign setting, and I love how God-centered their relationships are.  They don't hesitate to call each other out for their behavior or doubt, and they're quick to pray for each other.  I wish more books demonstrated such loving, Christian friendships.

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

You can find To Win a Prince HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

Yesterday's Tides - Roseanna M. White

From Christianbook.com:
When special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.
As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday's tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

I spent a little too long trying to get the pieces of the two time periods to fit in my head; with the time splits being less than 30 years apart, my brain wanted them to fit more quickly, and I think I missed out on enjoying the characters for themselves until I fit them into their slots.  Once I did, I was able to enjoy the side by side tale of two wars and a continuous family thread that tied them together.  I enjoyed the intelligent female characters and the men who respected them for it.  I enjoyed the connection to previous works by this author to some of my favorite characters in fiction.

It did feel like it wrapped a little too quickly, but maybe that was because once I found out how everyone was connected, I wanted to enjoy those connections a little longer.  Maybe I'll just have to read it again!

I give this book 4 stars.  I have loved all of this author's works, and she is an automatic read for me every time she releases something new.

You can find Yesterday's Tides 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.

 

What Happens Next - Christina Suzann Nelson

 

From christianbook.com:
Podcaster/ex-reporter Faith Byrne gained a following telling tales of triumph after tragedy. But her own life is in shambles---her children are summering in Hawaii with her ex and his new wife. When Dora Crane, mother of Faith's childhood friend who went missing, asks Faith to investigate the long-abandoned case, will they finally find answers and healing? 

This was a compelling mix of mystery and introspection for the characters involved.  How does one move on from such a tragic loss? If a family member is so stuck in the past that they can't see the present with the people still there, do they move on alone and leave the stuck family member behind? Or do they then lose 2 family members?

I could appreciate the journeys the characters had to take and I was invested in finding out what had happened to Heather.  It was an odd juxtaposition to see things through her ten-year-old eyes, compared to those who had aged without her, but as she was forever ten in their memories, it made sense.

I give What Happens Next 3.5 stars.  As always, this author's writing is engaging, raw, and fairly realistic.

You can find the book 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.

Hearts of Steel - Elizabeth Camden

 


In this continuation of the Blackstone Legacy, we meet Maggie Moriano, a woman driven by her fear of falling back into poverty, and who pinches every penny to turn her ice cream business into a success.  She is on her way, until she makes a personal enemy of Charles Morse, both by calling him out on his underhanded dealings and by forging a relationship with Liam Blackstone.  Maggie and her fellow Garsden Street business owners become collateral damage in the war between the greedy, immoral capitalist Morse and the undereducated but people-focused Liam.

Elizabeth Camden once again delivers a story of an interesting and undertold slice of history.  In fictionalizing the plight of good people working hard, only to be felled by unregulated monopolies and loose laws and corrupt systems, she forces the reader to consider lines and boundaries of profits versus charity and justice versus revenge.  The characters demonstrate repeatedly that the quick solution isn't always the best solution, and that sometimes self sacrifice is required to make the world better for everyone.

4 stars.
I do wish we'd seen more of previous books' characters.  Although they make appearances, it would be nice to feel that we were still following the larger story of those we'd previously met in this fictional journey.

You can find Hearts of Steel 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 Blackout Book Club - Amy Lynn Green

 

When Avis' brother goes off to war, she takes over his job as librarian.  The problem is two-fold: first, she doesn't read, except magazines, and second, the private library's owner is determined to close the library.  Avis convinces the owner that the library serves an important role in the small town Maine community, and that the book club she's starting is a legitimate war-time activity to honor the required blackouts.  Now, she just needs to find members to actually attend, and she has to actually start reading books.

Reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the idea of this novel was so creative, and ideal for book lovers.  The desperate forming of the bookclub brings together members of the community, some of whom were reluctant readers, but eager for company or free food, and it combined readers of surprising literary tastes.  I loved the variety of texts that they covered, and how they included everyone, from the youngest child, to the widowed pawn shop owner.  By the end, these characters were drawn together by more than books, and cared for each for more than their literary contributions.

There were maybe a few too many main characters to feel that they were covered adequately, but they were a unique lot and their friendships were intricate and enriched the novel.

4 stars, and I am always eager to see more from this author!

You can find The Blackout Book Club 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.

All That it Takes - Nicole Deese

 

In this sequel to All That Really Matters, Molly's assistant Val uproots her life and moves herself and her son across the country to make a go at becoming a film maker.  Miles, her new landlord, finds himself in a career transition as well, but one not of his choosing.  Can these two find their way to new purposes and the path that God has laid before them?

Wow!  I loved All That Really Matters, and I would venture to say that this sequel is even better.  Watching how these two characters worked out God's purposes for their lives, individually, when it seemed their paths may be forged separately was engaging, and for the most part, realistic feeling.  The author did a great job teasing out their fears and what was holding them back.  And the story that worked its way out of their seemingly separate projects was so good.

I give this book 5 stars.  I love these characters and these stories, and if this author doesn't continue with them, I can only hope for new characters to love as much!

You can find All That it Takes 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.

Where the Blue Sky Begins - Katie Powner

 

Small Montana town, ambitious finance advisor from Seattle, eccentric neighbor, and a crazy porch chicken - what could possibly go wrong?  Or how could it all go very very right?

I have to confess - the descriptions of Katie Powner's books never catch my attention the first go round.  But after two amazing, rich, unforgettable stories, I'm all in - I'll never turn down a Katie Powner book again.  Between Eric, the nephew who's been sent to "fill in" in the small town branch, hoping to work his way to a tenth floor position in the Seattle office, to Eunice, desperate to make amends, but painfully private about why it's urgent, to Cinderella, the crazy chicken, and Chicken, the rescued turtle - the lives and stories of these small town characters teach such deep lessons, about faith and loving the folks around you through good times and bad.  I love watching as those who are willing to reach out or listen are changed for the better, and can affect more than they even expected.  Not everything turns out rosy, but there are lessons to be learned even in sorrow.

5 stars to this powerful novel about literally loving your neighbor.

You can find Where the Blue Sky Begins 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.

Worthy of Legend - Roseanna M. White

 

The final installment of The Secrets of the Isles, Worthy of a Legend continues the search for antiquities and focuses in on Lady Emily Scofield and her estranged relationship with her family.  As more clues surface regarding a priceless artifact, Emily's brother Nigel becomes more and more desperate and unhinged.  Can Emily continue to show love to a brother who would stop at nothing to make the discovery that he feels would make him earn his father's respect?  As for Lord Telford, who has a hidden passion for Arthurian legend, and is drawn to protect those who need it, how will he help this quest while keeping the Lady safe?

This entire trilogy has been amazing.  I have loved the characters, the setting, and the adventure.  I love how the characters interact, and draw closer to each other throughout the course of the trilogy.  One of my favorite parts is the friendships amongst the male characters.  Additionally, the truths revealed as the characters struggle through their conflicts and trials are so realistic.  Don't we all want to feel worthy of love? Don't we all wish to know that God cares about us personally?  Lady Emily and Lord Telford may come to those conclusions a little more dramatically than the average non-fictional person, but they reveal the truths that we are loved and we are worthy to God.

I am sad that this trilogy is over; I could continue to enjoy this cast of characters for several more books.  I can only wait impatiently for the author's next set of novels.

I give Worthy of Legend 5 stars.

You can find the book 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.

Paint and Nectar - Ashley Clark

 

From christianbook.com:

"In 1929, a spark forms between talented watercolorist Eliza and William, a charming young man who has been hired to forge her popular paintings. Her aunt makes it clear Eliza should stay away from him because of a feud between their families over missing heirloom silver. But the source of the rivalry was long ago, and as the two get to know each other, they fall in love. William regrets the job that desperation led him to take and their families' ongoing bitterness, but setting things right comes at a cost.

In present-day Charleston, Lucy Legare has just inherited an old house from a mysterious benefactor, along with all the secrets it holds, including an old silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney is determined to buy the house for his family's development company. But as Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, garden, and silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own."

"A movement that can be summed up in this - that redemption, like sunlight, always reaches through the gates, and that we, like flowers, bend toward what grows us.  So that the imitations and likenesses we have accepted as originals are exposed as deception, and we are left with the hope of a truer inheritance, a truer promise: a second garden, where all the dead things come alive and all that is forfeited is restored , and all that is fractured becomes a mosaic of color." (emphasis mine)

The redemption theme and generational legacy that carried throughout this book were deeply engaging and gripping.  Learning the "better" thing, the "better" choice, the "truer" purpose in life is an important lesson for not just the characters in this book, but for the reader as well.

There are many ties to the author's first book, The Dress Shop on King Street, and while it would have been a spoiler before reading them both, I feel like I needed a character chart to keep everyone's relationships straight.  

Regardless of the periodic confusion, I really enjoyed this book, and give it 4 stars.  I love Ms. Clark's writing style and she does a great job tying in the past to its consequences on the present.

You can find Paint and Nectar 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.

All That Really Matters - Nicole Deese

 

From christianbook.com :

"Molly's trendy fashion and beauty advice gains her a substantial social media following and an audition to host a makeover show for underprivileged youth. One problem: she has zero experience with kids in need! So she volunteers for a transitional program. Silas, the director, isn't impressed. Can she win him over---and discover what matters most in life?"

Oh my goodness, what an amazing book!  Such a deep commentary on today's attraction to social media and celebrity status and pretty things.  It seems so appealing and worth attaining, and yet there are so many more substantial purposes in life.  So many people more worth our time and talent and treasures.  SomeONE more worth our hearts.

Watching Molly's transformation from social media darling to a mentor of young adults in transition from foster care, was an amazing journey to follow.  Reading the foster kids' stories, which are likely close to many in real life, was heartbreaking.

5 stars!  This may be my favorite book so far in 2021! I really hope we get a sequel with Miles!

You can find All That Really Matters 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 Prince of Spies - Elizabeth Camden

 

In this conclusion to the Hope and Glory series, Luke Delacroix has returned from Cuba and while trying to regain his health and strength, he is determined to take down the congressman who has been his family's nemesis for years - Clyde Magruder.  However, when he meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's daughter, his agenda becomes cloudy.  Can he find a way to pursue his goals of food safety, without harming the woman he is falling in love with?

The Prince of Spies was a very satisfying conclusion to this series.  I loved how different each sibling's story was, yet how they fit together as a family.  Besides the intriguing background of the regulations regarding food safety, it was super interesting to read about the planning and development of the National Mall.  I don't think I've read anything else set in DC during this time period, and I really enjoyed it.

I give this book 4 stars.  Elizabeth Camden has a knack for unusual storylines, and this was another one done well.

You can find A Prince of Spies 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.

Dreams of Savannah - Roseanna M. White

 

I started this book really conflicted.  With the eye-opening chaos within the country over the last year concerning racial issues, I had a hard time with a book set in the south during the Civil War.  I didn't want to find myself sympathizing with characters who felt like slavery was okay, as long as they treated their own slaves decently, or who really felt like the whole war was over states' rights.  I should have known that Roseanna White would do better than that.  There are still stories to be told about the south, from both white and black points of view, and there had to be turning points for some to realize that the way of life they were used to was not the right way to live.  So, while this book still made me uncomfortable, I think it fell mostly on the side of highlighting just how wrong it really was.

4 stars - I almost put it down early on, but I am glad that I did not.  It's tough for me to read stories with characters who are just wrong, and refuse to open their eyes to what's right, but I was glad for those characters whose eyes were open to the people they had chosen not to see before.

You can find Dreams of Savannah 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.

To Steal a Heart - Jen Turano

 

From christianbook.com:

After a childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she'd put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. In the middle of breaking into a safe that holds the proof to prove her friend's innocence, Gabriella is interrupted by Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend--until he abandoned her.

After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agreed to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he'd be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.   

This story was an interesting combination of class perspectives.  I especially loved Nicholas's contradictory character of trying to fit into society to please his adoptive uncle, while also caring so strongly for those from his former life, and having a heart for those from the life he'd managed to escape.  I liked that while many of the former criminals Nicholas and Gabriella had associated with were reformed and striving for better lives, it wasn't true of all of them.  While some of that was merely to serve as a plot device, it rang true - some people are going to continue to make bad choices and will despise those who find a better way.

I enjoyed the characters and their growth over the book.  I am excited for this series to continue, and hopefully not only get the rest of the boarding house ladies' stories, but continue to revisit the characters we meet in this one.

I give this book 4 stars.  I always enjoy Ms. Turano's humorous stories and characters.

You can find To Steal a Heart 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.

The Right Kind of Fool - Sarah Loudin Thomas

 

From christianbook.com : 

One hot summer day, 13-year-old deaf Loyal swims in the creek---and discovers a dead body. He rushes to tell his absentee father, Creed, who abandoned the family because he didn't want to deal with his disabled son's hearing loss. When Creed is drawn into a murder investigation, will he solve the killing---and reclaim his family's hearts?

Watching this family draw back together through the solving of a murder case was sweet and compelling.  Both Creed and Delphy had to admit to themselves and each other that they had failed the family, and they learned to allow Loyal to grow up, even through their fears for him.  Loyal is deaf from a childhood illness, and it was a unique view into what it must be like to live with that.  Finding ways to relate to those around him and teaching them communication beyond words was a great reminder that there are always was to connect to those you  might not initially understand.

I give this book 4 stars.  Sarah Loudin Thomas's novels are always a little slower paced, but that really gives the reader the chance to lean into the characters and the setting.

You can find The Right Kind of Fool 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.

Things We Didn't Say - Amy Lynn Green

 

From www.christianbook.com :

When translator Johanna is enlisted to work at a camp for German POWs, she reluctantly returns to her Midwestern hometown. As she gets to know the men and their charismatic spokesman, Stefan, she advocates for their better treatment---which angers the community. When the lines between compassion and treason blur, can she decide where her heart truly lies? 

This was such a gripping story!  From the starting point of a German POW camp in the heartland of America, meant to assist farmers who had sent their sons to war, to the epistolary format, it was a unique read and well done.  Jo was a deeply complicated and unusual character, with her reluctance to come home, her gift for linguistics, and her American-Japanese penpal friend whose family was in a Japanese relocation camp.  This was a setting I was completely unfamiliar with, but Ms. Green does an excellent job weaving the historical setting into her letters and giving the reader a complete picture of the era and her characters.

Things We Didn't Say was a debut novel by Amy Lynn Green, but I can't wait to see what she writes next! 5 stars to this beautiful novel.

You can find Things We Didn't Say HERE.
You can find the author's site HERE.

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

The Promised Land - Elizabeth Musser

 

From www.christianbook.com :

"Loss is engulfing Abbie! Her father is going blind; her eldest, Bobby, is taking a year off studies; and her husband is leaving her. Desperate for healing, she follows her son along the famous Camino pilgrimage route---encountering Rasa, an Iranian secretly aiding refugees, and Caroline, a journalist in search of answers. Will their souls find rest?"

There was a lot of depth to this book about needing to let go of control and guilt and the things we're holding onto too tightly that might not be what God wants for us.  As Abbie tried to find the parts of herself that she'd let go of as she tried to control her family under the guise of keeping them safe and organized, she found that she really could listen to others and she was able to bring comfort to those who felt lost.

This book definitely felt like it would be a richer read if I had followed these characters' full stories through the author's previous books; while it read well as a stand alone, I wish I had known the full story to fully appreciate the growth and challenges each of the characters' faced.  

I give this book 4 stars. It was well-written, and had I read the characters' full arcs, it could have easily been a 5-star read for me.

You can find The Promised Land HERE.
You can find connect with the author on Facebook HERE.

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

Before I Called You Mine - Nicole Deese

From christianbook.com :

"After many matchmaking schemes gone awry, Lauren Bailey's one goal is to become a mother. Remaining single to meet the adoption agency's requirements seems simple---until Joshua Avery appears on the scene. Now Lauren must choose between the two deepest desires of her heart. Can she say yes to one and let go of the other?"

What an unusual plotline, well-done story of adoption and sacrifice!  I can't speak to the authenticity of the adoption timeline and legalities, but the idea of a woman choosing to forgo dating and relationships to pursue adoption as a single woman, and then meeting her dream man? What a setup for a heartbreaking decision and enthralling story!

Lauren's and Josh's characters were so well written that I laughed with them and their quick banter and Josh's zany antics, but I also ached with them over the impossible choices put before them, and their desire to hear God's will for their lives.  How could He set Lauren on the path to singlehood adoption and then put Josh across the hall from her every day?  How was Lauren supposed to decide between a man she could build a life with, and possible pursue further adoptions with...four years in the future...or the child she could help right now?!

The cast of side characters in this story were just as well done and so important to the richness of the book; from Lauren's family, whom she felt didn't understand her at all, to Joshua's family, who welcomed her right in, as well as the Cartwright family who showed her what adoption looked like, soup to nuts, and her best friend Jenna, who was there for her throughout it all.

I give this book 5 stars!  While I'm sure the adoption process is much more grueling and emotional than can fit into a single novel, I didn't feel like this book glossed over any of it.  It highlighted that adoption is a calling, and a sacrifice, and that there is great need, but it is certainly not quick or easy.

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

You can find Before I Called You Mine HERE.
You can find the author HERE.