Book Review: True to You by Becky Wade

Book Details
Title: True to You
Author: Becky Wade
Series: A Bradford Sisters Romance #1
2017, Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1936-8
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Book Summary
After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother. 

The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

My Review
Becky Wade is one of my favorite Christian Contemporary authors. I was excited to read this first book in her new series A Bradford Sisters Romance. To be honest, I had a hard time getting into the book at first. I wasn't really connecting with Nora, the main character. She was a little too stuffy for me - although I decided later that I probably could BE Nora's character in a different life. haha

That being said... as the book went on I got more and more invested the stories of these characters. I really enjoyed her love interest John Lawson and all the fun secondary characters. Nora's sisters were likable and I am excited to read the next installments of the series to see where it takes them. 

This book was told from the POV of Nora and John, but it had some fun little snippets in the form of letters, text messages, Facebook messages, etc from some of the other characters, so you got a little taste of what was going on behind the scenes in John and Nora's lives - that maybe they didn't even know about.

This has nothing to do about my liking the book, but I was surprised that the setting for this series is in Washington State and just one county over from where I live! Mason County! Such a tiny, unknown little area! I have been to Shelton! Considering the author is from California and lives in Texas, I found this to be a little unexpected! =)

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.


FYI - Upon writing this review I discovered there is a novella that goes with this series that is currently FREE for Kindle owners!!!

Book Review: Home on the Range

Book Details: 
Title: Home on the Range
Series: Double S Ranch
Author: Ruth Logan Herne
2016, Waterbrook Press
ISBN:978-1601427786
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

Book Summary:
Can the brother left behind and a woman without hope work together for the good of two precious children?

Nick Stafford stayed in central Washington, working his family’s large ranch after his brothers left to pursue other passions—but his toughest job is being a single dad. As a child he watched his father fail at marriage and parenting, so Nick was determined to show him up. He’d be a better husband, father, and ranch manager than Sam Stafford ever was. Despite that commitment, three years after Nick’s wife left him, he has a daughter in trouble at school and both of his girls are facing issues that force him to rethink his stubborn plans. 

For Dr. Elsa Andreas, life fell apart when tragedy caused her to abandon her family therapy practice and retreat to the backwoods of Gray’s Glen. Her school principal sister believes Elsa can guide the Stafford girls and that working with kids will draw Elsa out of her protective bubble. 

Summer on the Double S teems with life and adventure. Amid the bounty of God and land, will Nick and Elsa find the courage to build futures based on faith rather than fear?

My Review:
This was the first book I've read by this author and it was very enjoyable. Obviously, I did not read the first book in the series and although it probably would have added to my book experience because I would have known some of the background story, I think this book can easily be a stand alone. I am from Western Washington and have been to some of the places surrounding this story, so that was a fun little part for me. 

Nick is a single dad whose wife left him with two daughters. He works hard at the Double S, the middle son, and the only one still working at the ranch. He puts a lot of stock in being better than his dad was, but is failing miserably. Then his eldest daughter starts having a lot of trouble at school and he has to make some adjustments.

Dr. Andreas was an interesting character. I had a hard time getting into her at first because she was so hermit-like and mysterious. But the farther into the book I got, the better I liked her. Can she learn to trust God and herself again while helping Nick and his girls get back on track?

It is a great story of real-life issues. A story of redemption and forgiveness... and not just forgiveness of others. Sometimes we have to learn to forgive ourselves. I really enjoyed the story. I felt like it was not too predictable and it felt real. I would definitely read another book in the series.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Press for my honest review. No other compensation was given and all thoughts and opionions are my own.

Book Review: Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg

Book Details:
Title: Like Never Before
Author: Melissa Tagg
2016 Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0764213083
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Book Summary:
A dying newspaper. An intriguing mystery. And a love they didn't see coming.

Maple Valley became Amelia Bentley's haven after her heart and her dreams of a family were shattered. But her new life as a newspaper editor is shaken when the small-town paper is in danger of closing. Her one hope: A lead on an intriguing story that just might impress the new publisher...if only she knew who he was.

After his biggest campaign success yet, widowed speechwriter Logan Walker now has the chance of a lifetime--a spot on a presidential campaign. But his plans are interrupted when he finds out he's inherited his hometown newspaper. He travels home intent on selling the paper and spending some much-needed time with his young daughter before making the leap into national politics.

But instead of a quick sale and peaceful break from his hectic career, Logan finds himself helping Amelia chase her story. She's scrappy, but wounded. He's dependable, but lost. They may butt heads more than expected, but a series of leads on Maple Valley's quirky unsolved mystery is just the start of the sparks that fly in the office and in their hearts.

My Review:
This book is the second in the Walker Family Series. I have not read the first book in the series and was happy to find that although you could tell there was another couple whose story I didn't know the background about, it did not affect the reading of this installment at all. 

I'm a big fan of Melissa Tagg and this was another beautifully written book with interesting, likable characters. Told from the POV of the two main characters Amelia Bentley and Logan Walker and centered around a cute small town called Maple Valley.

The author did a good job keeping some mystery surrounding why Amelia had decided to come to and settle in Maple Valley in the first place. All we really knew was that something in her past had brought her here.... but we didn't really know what. Amelia is a sweet character. She is very invovled in the community both as a reporter and a citizen and everyone loves her. But she's always got that thing you know is lurking in her past.

Then there is Logan. I loved that he really isn't perfect, but he's a very polished, professional person. He's a single dad and his daughter is speech delayed. His wife died and he lives in LA. His in-laws resent that he lives so far away and his career is about to take off... I really liked his character. He's just a really down-to-earth person who is trying his best to be the best at everything.

It took me awhile to make in through this book because I had a baby right after I started it. Even though it literally took me almost my whole 3 month maternity leave to finish it, I was able to jump right back into the story at any point and get right back into it. Loved it and I think I'll be checking out the first book in the series!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own and I received no other compensation.

Book Review: The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

Book Details:

Title: The Art of Losing Yourself

Author: Katie Ganshert

2015, Waterbrook Press

ISBN: 978-1601425928

Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

Book Summary:

Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.

Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together.  But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.

Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?    

My Review:

As always, Katie Ganshert writes a beautiful story. The characters are well developed and the writing is lovely. This was a modern day story, set in Florida’s panhandle. Carmen Hart is the local TV meteorologist and she is married to the local high school football coach. They look like they have the perfect life from the outside… but on the inside they are struggling. They have been trying to have a baby of their own for years now and the longer the process takes, the more withdrawn Carmen becomes.

Enter her younger sister, Gracie. Gracie’s life looks like a total mess on the outside. She doesn’t fit in, her mother is an alcoholic, and she is always getting into trouble in school. When Carmen finds Gracie living in a vacant motel, she takes Gracie home with her and that stirs everything up.

To be honest, I struggled with this book some. Not because the story wasn’t good or because the characters weren’t believable – because they were very real – but because it was very sad. At one point, I put the book down and just had a heavy weight on my chest from all the hurts in this book. Yes, there is hope and redemption and restoration, but the road to get there is very bleak, depressing and hard. My sorrow for Carmen’s character had me feeling her pain on many occasions and I almost didn’t want to continue on at some points because I was afraid of what was going to happen.

My favorite character in this book was Carmen’s husband Ben. He is a wonderful man who is full of integrity and love for his wife, but he wasn’t perfect. There were a couple times I was expecting a royal screw-up on his part (thank you to the author for not letting it happen… I don’t think I could have handled it) but he kept clinging to his faith, his family and his dreams throughout the story.

There are also many colorful secondary characters, Aunt Ingrid who has dementia (also a sad aspect to the story) Elias, Gracie’s friend and Carmen and Gracie’s mom were all great additions to the storyline.

So… if you want to read a beautifully written story of faith and redemption that is woven with realistic life doubts and crisis this is a great read. If you can’t stand sad book, then this is not the book for you.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in return for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

Book Review: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

Book Details:
Title: A Love Like Ours (A Porter Family Novel #3)
Author: Becky Wade
2015, Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0764211096
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

Book Summary:
Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake's childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion's reluctance to run.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake's will, Lyndie's sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he's built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he'd thought he'd lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

My Review:
Becky Wade is becoming one of my favorite authors. I think I've enjoyed every book I've read by her and this one was no exception. This book is set in Holley, Texas and is told from the POV of both Lyndie and Jake.

Who doesn't love a novel with a setting surrounded by horses? And not just any horses - a Thoroughbred ranch! Lyndie's family has moved back to Holley,Texas after about 20 years of living in California. A lot has changed. Lyndie's once best friend, Jake Porter wants nothing to do with her - and is a shadow of himself. Lyndie is determined to make Jake like her even if they can't be friends like they were before.

This was a really interesting book. The author tackled both a main character with PTSD (and did a very admirable job, I thought) and gave Lyndie a sister with severe cerebral palsy. Each of these on their own are difficult subjects, but the author wove them together into a beautiful story of healing, coping, love and restoration.

Jake lives with guilt everyday over the IED that went off and killed his fellow soldiers under his command in Iraq - he being the lone survivor. Can Lyndie's gentle way finally bring him to a place where he can forgive himself and God?

Excellent story, well-written characters and a wonderful message. This book kept me entertained from cover to cover and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House publishers for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

Book Review: When Grace Sings by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Book Details:
Title: When Grace Sings (Book #2 -The Restoration Trilogy)
Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
2015, Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0307731333
Genre: Christian Amish/Mennonite Fiction

Book Summary:
When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets. Can they continue to seek the God of all grace amidst the fog of confusion?  
Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas will ever fully accept her. Her family roots here aren’t what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over. The bed-and-breakfast she’s operating needs to succeed so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder not knowing his real motives for being amongst the Plain folk.
 
But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa’s insecurities and sets Briley on the trail to uncovering a web of hidden truths. 
 
Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang in the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined. They must trust in a loving, heavenly Father and His plan for their futures.

My Review:
This is the second book in The Restoration Trilogy. If you haven't read the first book, you will be very, very confused.

This is an excellent series. This book is told from four POV's. The setting is a modern day Old Order Mennonite community. We have Alexa, her cousin, Anna Grace, the reporter Briley and Anna Grace's fiance, Steven. This book picks up soon after the first one ends. 

Alexa is living with her grandmother and has opened her B&B. She has learned she is not her mother's biological daughter and is struggling to feel like she really fits in with all her Mennonite family members. She is constantly trying to do what is right so that they look past the fact that they are not her blood family and accept her.

Anna Grace is our next character. We briefly met her in the last book, but this time she is a main character. I found Anna Grace to be a little sickly sweet - a little too perfect. But as the book went on, I liked her more. She became more realistic to me as her perfect world crumbled a little.

Steven and Briley were both new introductions. I enjoyed both. Steven was a little bit of a frustrating character because he was never telling anyone what is real dream was... to be a teacher, not a farmer like his father. I felt like Steven really created a lot of his own problems and at one point wondered if he should even be getting married to Anna Grace, but he redeemed himself to me eventually also.

Briley was a bit different because he was a total outsider. He was a rather jaded man with a very dysfunctional past who was going to dig up dirt on the Plain community. I liked him because he was a very charismatic character, but he was very unhappy with life. I won't give away what happens, but I'm wondering if his character is done for this series or if he'll be back...... 

Of course this book also catches up with some of the other characters through their interactions with these four. Just like the first book, this book is about family, God's grace and the restoring love of Christ. The characters are well developed and the stories are interwoven into each other. I am excited to read the third book and see how all the loose ends are tied up!

Learn More:
Book Info
Author Bio

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review. No other compensation was given and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

Book Review: Together With You by Victoria Bylin

Book Details
Title: Together With You
Author: Victoria Bylin
2015, Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764211539
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

Book Summary
Sometimes the most unexpected love can be exactly what a heart needs...
When a Lost Child warning blares over the mall's PA system, Carly Mason finds the little girl playing with a stuffed rabbit. Something about Penny Tremaine is different. An ex-social worker, Carly recognizes that the child suffers fetal alcohol effects, and a piece of Carly's past suddenly confronts her. Never again will she become personally involved with a client. The risks are far too great. But something about Penny--and Penny's handsome father--tugs at Carly's heart.

Dr. Ryan Tremaine is trying to put his life back together. With his ex-wife remarried and on a trip far away, his two teenage sons and Penny are living under his roof full time. Ryan has put his faith in his Sink-or-Swim list, a plan to reconnect with his children. The first step: recruit Carly Mason to be Penny's nanny.

Ryan never anticipated being so drawn to Carly, an attraction Carly seems to fight as much as he does. Could Carly be the missing piece that helps his family stay afloat, or will their blossoming romance only complicate things further?

Book Review
This is the first book I've read by this author and it was a very emotional, well-written book. Told from the perspective of Carly, Ryan and sometimes Penny, this book takes it's readers on a story of love, guilt, confusion, and ultimately redemption and forgiveness. 

Carly becomes the nanny for Penny, a 5-year-old girl who has recently lost her mother to an accident and is living with a father she has just met. Penny also suffers from Fetal Alcohol Effects. Ryan also has his two sons from his failed marriage living with him for the summer - boys he barely knows because he's been such a workaholic in the past. Ryan is hoping Carly can help him with his SOS list to connect with his children over the summer. Carly is a believer, but Ryan is not... and he has no interest in God.

This was a very good book. The characters were deep and their struggles were real. Ryan and Carly were both very broken people. Even Carly with her faith in God has a lot of very real struggles. My only real issue with the book was the love story between Ryan and Carly. On Carly's side, I was frustrated with how attached she allowed herself to become for a man who was not a believer. She just couldn't let it go no matter how wrong she knew it was and I just got really annoyed by it. 

Other than that, I enjoyed the way Ryan tried so hard to connect with his family and right his past wrongs the best he could, how Carly was so awesome with the kids and how Carly and Ryan conducted themselves with integrity throughout (even though I was annoyed with her far-gone interest in him, I could appreciate that she didn't ACT upon it.)

Definitely worth the read and gives the reader a lot of food for thought about FASD and God's grace.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

Book Review: Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade

Book Details
Title: Meant to Be Mine
Author: Becky Wade
2014, Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0764211089
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Book Summary
Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school--irresistible. When their paths cross again after college--still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel. 

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia's ready to be Ty's wife, but Ty's not ready to be her husband. He's a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he's long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he's known since childhood. 

Five and a half years pass. Celia's buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty's achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn't forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia's trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

Book Review
Okay, my first thought was how stupid can you be? about the main character Celia Park. But once I got past the flashback portion and we got to the present day portion of the story I loved it! 

Set in present day and from the POV of Celia Park and Ty Porter, this story touches on lots of topics: single mothers, marriages, faithfulness, prescription drug abuse, family support (or not), careers... the list goes on. Somehow though, nothing is lost or feels out of place in this novel - everything fits together into a seamless story.

Celia Park and Ty Porter get married in Vegas after four days of dating. Ty wakes up the next morning with regret and breaks Celia's heart. Five years later sees Ty's bull riding career coming to an end and Celia raising a little girl on her own - still never divorced. When Ty shows up to get some closure and meets Celia's daughter things start changing quickly for both of them.

Know what I really loved about this novel? It was a little steamy for a Christian book. Nothing immoral happened, but it definitely had it's share of good kissing scenes. Honestly, I felt like this was a little more realistic while still being clean. Becky Wade is a talented author - she definitely kept my attention throughout the whole book wondering how everything was going to work out.

I also loved all the colorful secondary characters. Celia's Uncle Danny who runs an online surf shop and trying to find the right woman through online dating sites, Ty's family, the owner's of the Sugar or Cream shop where Celia works. They are all fun and add so much to the story.

Overall I loved this novel. It is one of the best Christian novels I've picked up in quite awhile. I am going to be checking out the first novel in the series next because I liked this one so much. I think I've found a new favorite author in Becky Wade. If you like a good contemporary Christian romance with a little spice, this book is for you!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

Book Review: A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

Book Details
Title: A Broken Kind of Beautiful
Author: Katie Ganshert
2014, Waterbrook Press
ISBN: 978-1-60142-590-4
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Book Summary

Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong.

Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four-year-old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she's learned a sacred truth - appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows - so when it starts to unravel, she'll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother's bridal wear line - an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.

If only her tenuous future didn't rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the facade she works so hard to maintain. In fact, it seems that everyone Ivy comes across in Greenbrier challenges what she as come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her - a woman stained and broken by the world - yet wants her still?

My Review
What an amazing book! I wasn't really sure I was going to enjoy this book after reading the back cover, but this book kept my attention all the way through! And isn't the cover beautiful?

This is a contemporary novel set in South Carolina. The author did a wonderful job of giving me an idea of the landscape without it detracting from the story itself. The story is told from the POV of Ivy, Davis and occasionally Marilyn, Ivy's stepmom. 

This book is full of twist and turns. There are some great secondary characters. Marilyn, whose husband had an affair and fathered a child (Ivy) with that "other woman". Marilyn is childless herself and causes a great conflict between everyone when Ivy shows up.  Then there is Davis's sister, Sara. Sara had an accident several years ago that left her blind. Despite her injury, Sara is a wonderful example of a woman of faith and is able to share that with Ivy when the two become friends.  Then there is Bruce - Ivy's agent. Through those scenes are when the reader gets a glimpse of the cut-through fashion world.

I don't want to give away too many details, but I would like to say that this book felt very realistic to me. The thoughts and emotions the characters expressed did not feel contrived. They all had hurts and different ways of dealing with them. Each a a different kind of relationship with God.

There was also some mystery to each of their lives that the author very gently unraveled as the story went on. I found myself looking forward to discovering what each of them was hiding or how something was going to work out in the end. 

This is my second book I've read by this author and I think she has me hooked. I would probably read anything she published at this point. 

Release Date: April 15, 2014

More Info
Author's website
Author's Facebook
Read Chapter One

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this  book from Waterbrook Press through the Blogging for Books program for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.

Book Review: Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

Book Details:
Title: Made to Last
Author: Melissa Tagg
2013, Bethany House
ISBN: 0764211323
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction
Book Release Date: September 15, 2013

Book Summary:
Miranda Woodruff, star of the homebuilding show "From the Ground Up," will do anything to keep the job she loves. Due to a painful broken engagement and a faith she's mostly forgotten, she's let her entire identity become wrapped up in the Miranda everyone sees onscreen. So when she receives news that the network might cancel her program, she must do the very thing she fears most: let the spotlight shine on her closely guarded personal life. The only problem? She's been living a lie--letting viewers believe she's married--and now she's called upon to play wife to a sweet, if a bit goofy, pretend husband to boost ratings.

Desperate to help his family and prove he's not a total failure, reporter Matthew Knox is looking for a breakout story. When he's offered the opportunity to do an online serial feature on Miranda Woodruff, he jumps at the chance, even if celebrity reporting isn't really his thing. But as soon as he meets Miranda, he knows she's keeping secrets.

When Miranda's former fiance suddenly appears on the scene again, she doubts her life could get more complicated. Juggling three guys, an on-the-rocks television show, and the potential exposure of her deception is way more than she bargained for. Can the woman who makes things look so good onscreen admit it's time to tell the truth about who she is? And if she does, will the life Miranda's built come crashing down just as she's finally found a love to last?

My Review:
Well, other than the fact that I had to read this ARC copy with all the letter f’s missing, it was very cute! (Seriously, try reading “different”, “off”, “stuffed”, or “Woodruff” for an entire novel without the “ff”). Miranda’s homebuilding show From the Ground Up is her whole life and she’ll do just about anything to save it – and the crew. Unfortunately, her fans all believe that she’s got a husband hidden away at home who has taught her everything she knows… except… she never married him. Her fiancé left her three years earlier. She’s kept this secret by being extremely private about her personal life, but her fans are clamoring for more.

There are rumblings about the show not getting another season, so to try and save her show she agrees to giving up some of her personal privacy. She allows them to find her a fake husband and have a reporter follow her around to write a weekly blog of her life. Life is about to get complicated.

I really loved the interaction between Blaze, the fake husband, Miranda, and Matthew, the reporter. They had a really good vibe going between the three of them and interacted very well. This isn’t the kind of reporting Matthew usually does – not this fluff celebrity stuff. But his career had hit a rocky patch and he thought this would be easy – until he actually gets to know Miranda. Sparks fly between the two of them, but she’s already married – isn’t she?

This book had some great side-stories going on. Miranda’s missionary parents, her past fiancé (who also shows up at some point), Matthew’s dad, his brother’s family, the reason for his tanked career and then Blaze – I was left wondering about his story. Maybe he’ll be another book?? Matthew and Miranda both also have some trust issues, which have caused them to doubt God. I didn’t feel like the God aspects of this book were forced. It was nicely woven into the storyline.

I wouldn’t say this book was anything super wow! or amazing about it, but it was a nice, solid and clean story. I would read another book by this author. Preferably with all the letters in the book.

Disclosure: I recieved a free e-book copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gone South by Meg Moseley

Book Details:
Title: Gone South
Author: Meg Moseley
2013, Waterbrook Multnomah Press
ASIN: B00A5MRFGU
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

Book Summary:
The charm of the South drew her back to her family’s roots. But when the town’s old resentments turn the sweet tea bitter, can Tish find a welcome anywhere?
 
Leaving frosty Michigan for the Deep South was never a blip in the simple plans Tish McComb imagined for her life, dreams of marriage and family that were dashed five years earlier in a tragic accident. Now an opportunity to buy her great-great-great-grandparents’ Civil War era home beckons Tish to Noble, Alabama, a Southern town in every sense of the word. She wonders if God has given her a new dream— the old house filled with friends, her vintage percolator bubbling on the sideboard.
 
When Tish discovers that McCombs aren’t welcome in town, she feels like a Yankee behind enemy lines. Only local antiques dealer George Zorbas seems willing to give her a chance. What’s a lonely outcast to do but take in Noble’s resident prodigal, Melanie Hamilton, and hope that the two can find some much needed acceptance in each other.
 
Problem is, old habits die hard, and Mel is quite set in her destructive ways. With Melanie blocked from going home, Tish must try to manage her incorrigible houseguest as she attempts to prove her own worth in a town that seems to have forgotten that every sinner needs God-given mercy, love and forgiveness.

My Review:
This book had a really cute story line. The main character of Tish was well developed and interesting. After her mom and new step-dad decide to move away from the Midwest to Florida, Tish has no ties to keep her in her old town. She decides to buy the old family home in Alabama - and has no idea what she's getting herself into. Her dad's old stories about the McComb family don't seem to be adding up with the reception she's getting from her fellow townspeople.

My only complaint about this book, is that it had SO MANY sub-plots going on. Each character seems to have at least two more stories stemming from them and I found it a little overwhelming for the length of this book. Melanie, a young adult with a past and trying to make her way and George, the local antiques dealer. I felt that each of their stories could have almost been their own book rather than crammed into the space of the one about Tish McComb.

Interesting story about love, finding out about yourself, family roots, old grudges and finding forgiveness.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me free of charge from Waterbrook Multnomah Press for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

Book Review: Firefly Island by Lisa Wingate

I just realized that I've gotten a little behind on my book reviews! Whoops! I don't think they will keep sending me books to read if I forget to review them! The last couple have been very good too!

Book Details:
Title: Firefly Island
Author: Lisa Wingate
2013, Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0823-2
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Christian Fiction

Book Summary:
Sometimes love takes you on an adventure completely off the map. 
Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love. After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself heaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake, Texas - with husband, stepson, and a U-Haul in tow.
A sweet, mishap-filled journey into marriage, motherhood, and ranch living ensues, and Mallory is filled with both the wonderment of love and insecurities of change. But what she can't shake is the unease she feels around her husband's new boss, Jack West. Jack's presence -and his mysterious past - set her on edge, and when hints of a scandal emerge, Mallory finds herself seeking answers ... and comes to realize that the middle-of-nowhere home she wasn't sure she wanted is the very place she'll risk everything to save.

My Review:
This is my second book from this author - and the third installment of this Moses Lake series. They seem to be able to stand alone, but having read the 1st (read my review of Larkspur Cove here) and now the 3rd, I'm curious to read the second one!

I really enjoyed this book! This author seems to be able to weave a good balance of romance and suspense. The mystery of what's going on with Mr. West and his family is very intriguing and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what was going on! I remember thinking the same thing about the strange happenings in the first book! Wonderful character development.

Mallory comes from Washington, DC, and her new life in the very small town of Moses Lake, Texas proves to be very hard. She takes up blogging about her experience as the Frontier Woman, which of course I found very fun - and something I'd probably DO or READ! Her relationship with her stepson and her struggles with becoming an instant mother and family was very well understood and explored, I thought.

I would greatly recommend this book. It is a nice change from your average Christian fiction or romance because of the mild suspense aspect! It's not scary - but does make for a really interesting read!

Check out Lisa Wingate's website here.

Disclosure: The book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. All opinions in this post are my own and I did not receive any other compensation.

Book Review: Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

Book Details:
Title: Wildflowers from Winter
Author: Katie Ganshert
2012, Waterbrook Press
ISBN: 0307730387
Genre: Contemporary Christian

Book Summary:
Like the winter, grief has a season. Life returns with the spring.

A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built the life she dreamed of during her teen years in a trailer park. An unexpected interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa.
Determined to pay her respects to her past while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of five hundred acres of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.
Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. When Bethany is left the land, Evan must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany’s vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.
For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn’t seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace that she’s not even sure exists?

My Review:
Bethany is running from Peaks, Iowa and from the God who was introduced to her there. She has become a successful architect in Chicago and wants nothing to do with her hometown or most of the people there - especially her mother and the local Pastor Fenton.

Circumstances require her return though. She hopes to return for only a few days, but God has other plans. She ends up inheirting a farm and her carefully orchestrated life starts to unravel. How can she spend time in this place without becoming re-attached to it or the people who live there?

I LOVED this book - I almost read the whole thing in one sitting actually. The characters are realistic and believable. They have real struggles and emotions. Nothing comes easily or without struggle. I loved the exchanges between Bethany and Evan as they were drawn to one another, yet trying not to be. I also enjoyed Bethany's journey to change her perception of a God she does not trust. I felt this book was a wonderful example of how far God will go to bring someone back to him and show them His love.

I found that I kind of appreciated that not all loose ends were tied up neatly at the end (like real life). The relationship between Bethany and her mother was not really fixed, nor was everything completely resolved with Pastor Fenton by the end.

I am looking forward to the continuing story of Bethany's best friend Robin in the next book!

Disclaimer: I received this book free for my honest review from Waterbrook Press. All opinions are my own.

Read the First Chapter of Wildflowers from Winter!

Book Review: Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

Book Details:
Title: Almost Amish
Author: Kathryn Cushman
2012, Bethany House
ISBN: 978-0764208263
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Christian Fiction

Book Summary:
Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She's overwhelmed and burned out, and in today's unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity.

The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that "living simple" is no simple matter. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

My Review:
I loved the idea behind this book! I think I would love the opportunity to do something like this. In this story, Susan and Julie, sister-in-laws, go to live as an Amish family with their children for the summer as part of a reality TV show. Okay... other than the fact that they're on TV and without their husbands... those parts I'd change.

Julie has agreed to this plan because she hates her life. She hates everything about it. She's a stay-at-home mom, but she's so busy, she feels like she doesn't spend any time with her family. She also feels like she doesn't have any real gifts.... nothing to contribute that's special...

Compared to Susan, who is coming out of a nasty divorce and is trying to rebuild her life. She has a book coming out that she's trying to get some PR for by doing this show. She's extremely driven and the producer of the show doesn't help matters by adding a little more pressure.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of interesting characters and the duel storylines of Julie and Susan were well-written and interesting. The kids attitudes were believeable and they added a lot of fun to the story. It was really a book about discovering yourself and what's important in life.

Disclosure: The book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. All opinions in this post are my own and I did not receive any other compensation.