He Should Have Told the Bees - Amanda Cox

 

When Beckett Walsh loses her father, and fellow beekeeper, unexpectedly, she is left to follow the tradition of telling the bees of his passing, as well as figure out what life looks like moving forward without him.  Adding to the complexity of the situation is her fear of leaving the property, as well as a newcomer - Callie Peterson, who has inexplicably been added to the trust for the property. Can the two women work together to figure out the mystery, as well as form a relationship that may help heal them both from the trauma of their past?

This was my first book by this author, but I don't imagine that it will be my last.  She wove the separate stories of these two women, as well as the people in their lives, together so well that I cared for them both equally and could feel the tension of no perfect solution to their dilemma.  I thought the support characters were well done, lending strength and confidence to the women, but not overshadowing them.  I loved the addition of the little girl who gave Beck a distraction and a friend, even as she mentored the little girl and befriended her caretaker.

4 stars

You can find He Should Have Told the Bees 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.

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.

Facing the Dawn - Cynthia Ruchti

 

From christianbook.com:

"While her humanitarian husband Liam has been digging wells in Africa, Mara Jacobs has been struggling. She knows she's supposed to feel a warm glow that her husband is nine time zones away, caring for widows and orphans. But the reality is that she is exhausted, working a demanding yet unrewarding job, trying to manage their three detention-prone kids, failing at her to-repair list, and fading like a garment left too long in the sun.
Then Liam's three-year absence turns into something more, changing everything and plunging her into a sunless grief. As Mara struggles to find her footing, she discovers that even when hope is tenuous, faith is fragile, and the future is unknown, we can be sure we are not forgotten . . . or unloved.
With emotionally evocative prose that tackles tough topics with tenderness and hope, award-winning author Cynthia Ruchti invites you on a journey of the heart you won't soon forget."

This was well written, but such a hard read.  So much sorrow, with an even greater amount of healing.  But, oh, the sorrow.  And yet, amidst the sorrow, the author did a phenomenal job of pointing the reader to the only true Healer.

"I can't know the end of my story, God.  And I have to be okay with that, don't I? But I know your heart.  Verse-verse-verse Redemption. Sorrow-sorrow-sorrow-Jesus." 

Mara starts out as bitter as she believes her name implies, but just as the story of her biblical namesake, she finds love and healing in the people who still surround her and teach her that life is still worth living, and there is still hope to be found.

4 stars; the hope within was beautiful, but it was almost too hard for me to read.

You can find Facing the Dawn 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 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 Love Note - Joanna Davidson Politano

From christianbook.com:
"In this Victorian romantic mystery, finding an unopened love letter in her writing desk sends Willa Duvall on a compulsive hunt to track down its author and the intended recipient. Her new position at Crestwicke Manor offers enticing clues but no real information. Will she be able to locate the pair and reunite them?"

The backcover summary of this book does it little justice; this story is so much bigger than a simple mystery of reuniting a letter with its intended recipient.  Instead, this letter weaves its way through an entire household, igniting hope, sparking new loves, and fanning the flames of old relationships.  The note not only creates new confidence and the possibility of being loved with such passion as the note infers, it opens the eyes of the men perceived as the potential senders to a new way of loving.  While not every character whose heart is touched by the letter is expounded upon, the reader is left with the lovely feeling that Crestwicke Manor has taken on new life and new loves that will leave it forever changed.

"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance;

to seek him the greatest adventure,

to find him, the greatest human achievement."

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Perhaps even better than the romantic possibilities brought on by the wayward letter, is the discovery of love and healing that goes beyond romance.  The entirety of the book points to the right kind of love, God's love, even as modeled by imperfect humans, but mostly in knowing that true love doesn't hinder or seek to change, but rather seeks to set one free in the knowledge that he or she is loved exactly for who they are.

I give this book 5 stars.  This may be my favorite read of 2020 so far.  I have loved every book by this author I've read so far, and this one was even better than anticipated.

You can find The Love Note 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck - Bethany Turner

Who is Sarah Hollenbeck?  Is she the former Sarah McDermott, divorcee of Patrick with the wandering eye? Is she Raine de Bourgh, author of steamy novels that are flying off the shelves, and getting her spots on talk shows? Or is she actually Sarah Hollenbeck, who finds herself a new Christian, ashamed of the work that has brought her wealth and fame?  And as Sarah finds herself falling for the pastor at the church she's begun attending, how does she reconcile all three of those people and pasts into a new creation trying to move forward?

I thought this was an interesting concept for a Christian novel.  Like Sarah herself recognizes as she attempts to move from popular romance to her own Christian romance novel, there is a gap in the Christian fiction market.  So many fictional couples have the perfect little romance with little to no temptation, and no sordid pasts to have to explain or be forgiven of.  How true does this ring to life?  While fiction is a good escape from the issues readers might like to avoid, sometimes it's helpful to see problems worked out in someone else's life to see that it can be done, and that they're not alone.

The other thing I really appreciated in this novel was that it avoided the trope of each half of a couple withholding the truth from each other under the guise that they didn't want to hurt their partner, only to have that bite them in the butt when the news was spilled from someone else.  I liked that both Ben and Sarah were as upfront with each other as they could be, even with awkward conversations.  And the one time Ben withheld information, it was because he honestly didn't see it as important.

I give this book 4 stars, for its interesting characters and fresh outlook on what a Christian character can look like.

You can find The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

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

The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow - by Olivia Newport

It's 1893 in Chicago, and Charlotte Farrow has been working hard as a house maid to make a quiet life for herself and to provide for her son - the son her employers are unaware of.  However, once her son's caretaker is called away for a family emergency and Henry shows up at the house, she feels that her only choice is to pretend she doesn't know him.  Fortunately, the family decides he can stay until they've found a home for him, but that leaves Charlotte forced to watch others care for her son while she can't even call him by name.  Where will Henry go?  And will Charlotte be able to live with his absence, or will she find a way to get him back?

This book reminded me very much of the popular British show Downton Abby - the lifestyle, the servants' positions, even their very characters felt like I'd been watching their stories evolve over 2.5 seasons.  I was glad for that, because it actually made the house and staff easier to picture and to understand the interactions between staff and employers.  Initially, the book engaged me because of the familiarity I felt with the characters.  However, as the book went on, I felt less connected and cared less for how it would resolve.  The only character that I was disappointed to not read more of was Lucy, who for the majority of the book was off on her honeymoon to Europe and wasn't actually heard from.

I give this book 3 stars.  The premise of the story was interesting, but it then began to drag on with not much hope or change for the characters until sudden resolutions at the end.  This book was #2 in the Avenue of Dreams series, and it looks like book #1 was exclusively about Lucy, so I will be interested in backtracking to read her story.

You can find The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

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