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.

From Scratch - C.E. Hilbert

Maggie McKitrick has opened a bakery in Gibson's Run, Ohio.  Other than bickering with her police chief landlord over her rented space, she seems to be settling in with new friends and a growing business.  But what brought her to Gibson's Run, and why is she so easily spooked by a few out-of-place incidents?  Why does Chief Taylor feel that he's not getting all of the answers he's looking for, even as they set their differences aside?

I am a sucker for books about bakers and chefs; and I loved those scenes within this book, where Maggie is creating and interacting with customers and friends over the fantastic desserts she has crafted.  The highlight of the book, however, was watching Maggie take root in this life she'd begun without any ties.  As strangers became friends, and friends became family, it was uplifting to watch her be able to trust God in settling her in this place, allowing herself to stop hiding and confide in someone about her past.  It was also refreshing to have that happen before it was revealed through other means.  There are some disturbing sections regarding the reason for her running, but they're not over-the-top, and they serve as the means for Maggie's life as it is and give foundation to her deep faith in God.  While the online descriptions of the book promote it heavily as a romance, I would say that's only a minor portion of this bigger story of faith, friends, and family.  I do hope that this will become a series, and that we will get to look more into the characters of Gibson's Run, and perhaps the remaining Taylor brothers?

I give this book 3.5 stars.

You can find From Scratch HERE.
(Although it says that's due to be published April 1, 2016, it appears to be available now)
You can connect with the author on Facebook HERE.

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