Review of The Gold in These Hills by Joanne Bischof

A split-time history and love story!

Juniper (June) Cohen is a loving mother, friend, and wife, who has found herself in a very challenging situation. Her husband has disappeared and she continues to wait for him while living in the now almost abandoned town of Kenworthy. When she discovers he may not be the man she has always believed him to be, she must decide the best way to move forward.

Johnny Sutherland’s (present day) wife has not only abandoned their marriage, she is for sure not willing to reconcile. Determined to parent well and provide a safe and loving environment for their two small children, general contractor (check this) Johnny purchases a 100-year old farmhouse in the former boomtown. When he discovers writings and information from Juniper’s life, he is moved by how they connect to his own.

The author utilizes story, letters, and several strong characters to paint a wonderful message of redemption and forgiveness. The cultural impact and setting are wonderful to read about and I very strongly recommend this book (and author)!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of Power Play by Rachel Dylan

This is the third book in the author’s Capital Intrigue series.

Attorney Vivian Steele may be best friends with FBI and CIA Agents, but she is a State Department employee who ensures things stay on the up and up - and that is the way she likes it. When a strange and shocking series of events catapult her into a role she never imagined, she quickly finds that some things are worth taking a risk for.

Jacob Cruz is working in Diplomatic Security when he is paired on a joint FBI task force with Vivian. Initially assuming she is out of place and even possibly a suspect, he soon begins to fear for her safety – and perhaps something more.

This series was especially interesting in that the leads are strong females in pretty high level roles. The stories were compelling and worth a read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

 

Review of Let It Be Me by Becky Wade

I put off reading this for far too long. My reason? I knew that if I started it that meant it would soon be over, and then I couldn’t look forward to it anymore :/ But I finally made it happen….and it definitely did not disappoint.

Dr. Sebastian Grant is one of The Miracle Five and has found his purpose as a pediatric heart surgeon. Although his motivations to save lives run quite deep, and he is very successful, he is also lonely. When a car accident connects him with a mystery woman he searches for her …only to find out she is the same woman his best friend has been in love with for some time now.

Leah Montgomery is a math genius who has put her career dreams on hold to raise her younger brother. When a DNA test is returned with some shocking results, she is determined to solve the mystery. Leah was such an interesting character! Her brilliance, motivations, and straightforward speech and behaviors were incredibly refreshing.

I especially appreciated how the author portrayed the (teenagery) conflicts between Leah and her brother as well as navigating the resolution for several of the conflicts. Everything rang true, but without being trite or typical.

Although this could possibly be read as a standalone novel you will be far happier if you read book one (“Stay With Me”) first. I strongly recommend this series, and truly loved everything about this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Never Miss" by Melissa Koslin

Kadance Tolle's upbringing was untraditional, to say the least. A former sniper with the CIA and born into a family of assassins, when she sees someone in danger (even though she is on the run from said family) she can't help but intervene. Kadance may have some deep and understandable trust issues but at the core she is a caring person who wants to do what is good.

Lyndon Vaile is not just brilliant - he has a photographic memory and holds three doctorates: microbiology, pathology, and epidemiology, all of which he earned before turning 30 (oh, and a master's in cybersecurity btw). When Kadance saves his life and their paths become intertwined, they must work together on a case that has both global and national security ramifications.

I loved the cat (we had a Maine Coon that was basically a dog in cat form - that breed is amazing), and overall I really thought this was a very solid first book from this new author. Although there were some mild mis-steps -and frankly, the things that I noticed seemed like they were an editing issue that could have been solved with a word search for repetitive statements- it was overcome by the interesting backgrounds of both main characters and highly relevant subject matter. I look forward to more offerings from this author.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "The Nature of a Lady" by Roseanna M. White

Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair is tired. Tired of being expected to be something she isn't, and of being pressured to marry someone she doesn't love. She is still grieving the loss of her father, and even though she loves her family dearly she just wants to make her own choices without the pressure of their expectations. When the opportunity arises to spend the summer with just her laddies maid (and friend) Mabena on the Isles of Scilly, she jumps at the chance. She doesn't know that Mabena has her own reasons for wanting to go, or that there is possible danger - and maybe even love - waiting for her when she arrives.

Oliver Tremayne's sister - also named Elizabeth - (this is a crucial story point) has been off on an adventure and asked for some space...but since she hasn't checked in recently he is starting to worry. His responsibilities as the village vicar are many, and his beloved grandmother (Maam-wynn) seems more frail than usual. When the mystery intensifies - and people are missing and possibly dead - Libby and Oliver work together to solve it

I loved learning about the "Scillies", and enjoyed the deep family relationships and ties. I always experience some frustration over the rules of the day dictating certain behaviors but that is what it is. :) I also enjoyed learning about the rich history of this area and people. I am happy to recommend this book and look forward to the next in the series (The Secrets of the Isles).

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Love and the Silver Lining" by Tammy L. Gray

I will tell you straight up that this is going to be an incredibly positive review. I loved this book. I loved it even more than the first one (this is #2 in the State of Grace series; although you might THINK you can read them as standalone, in my longstanding opinion it is a MUCH BETTER experience - remember, context is key - if you read things in order. So go ahead and read this review because I'm not going to give you any spoilers, then go get "Love and a Little White Lie" and read it first, pretty please.)

Darcy Malone has banked her future on a couple of things: she is going to be a missionary, and love is not reliable...the second conclusion reached following her parent's divorce. When the proverbial rug is yanked out from under her missionary plans at the last possible moment, she becomes paralyzed from one too many major letdowns at once.

Darcy's lifelong BEST FRIEND (yes the caps are intentional, because their BESTFRIENDNESS is a v. important part of the storyline) Cameron Lee had his own life turned upside down in book one, and he is counting on the band he joined to be his future. Cam is Darcy's go-to for basically everything - but when their mutual friend and lead singer in the band Bryson Katsaros is integral in finding Darcy a new place to live, she begins to look at him in a different light.

This book addresses grief - mourning the future you thought you were going to have; disconnecting from your faith and other things that kept you grounded - but still finding your way back; how even the deepestr of relationships can change and grow; and, not everything will be resolved by the end of the book - I appreciated the author's willingness to go there. The book is complete on its own but you will still look forward to the next one. Rich in snappy and compelling dialogue, laugh out loud moments, and dog training (you don't see too many romantic comedies that weave dog training into the story in an effective way, but this one does, and does it well)! I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.