Review of "From This Moment" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Jase Edgar and his fiancee had their whole lives ahead of them when she is killed in a tragic car accident. In the process of moving forward in spite of his sadness and disillusionment, Jase takes a new job as a youth pastor in Bradleyville, Kansas.

Told from multiple points of view, the author weaves together a story of redemption and healing.

The take on the Amish from Kenzie's point of view is not typical and very interesting. The relationships are beautiful and supportive, and the struggles the characters are going through are varied: grief, health issues, food addiction, foster care, humility, honesty...

There is a small mystery that is not hard to sort out, but it was still fun to watch it unfold. If you are looking for a story to encourage you to be encouraged and find hope, this is a great book for you.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Water Brook/Random House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Plot Twist" by Bethany Turner

What a fun, unique, and just plain GREAT take on a romantic comedy.

Writer Olivia works for a greeting card company but is not so secretly working on a screenplay and would love to be in a serious relationship. She is 30, after all. She also is convinced that she will never be the leading lady - only a supporting character. This mindset messes with her in a number of ways...and really, there's too much to attempt a summary so here are my bullet points for your review reading pleasure:

• The relationship with her longtime best friend is basically, the best
• The card quotes are awesome
• The timeline that follows our heroine through the years is well paced and interesting
• There is plenty of sassy repartee and a ton of laugh out loud moments
• I was surprised multiple times - and frankly, that doesn't happen very often in this genre

The most important takeaway: this book was a pleasure to read and I definitely recommend it!

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

Review of "At Lighthouse Point" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 This is the third book in the author's Three Sisters Island series, and I think it's actually my favorite!

Youngest sister Blaine may have had some growing up to do when she left the island to "find herself in Europe", but she also needed healing from some intense trauma that really came to the forefront during her trip. When she returns to the island two years later with her hard won diploma from Le Cordon Bleu and dear friend Jean-Paul in tow, Blaine finds a number of changes - not only on the island, but in her family and Camp Kicking Moose as well. Some of those changes cause Blaine to reassess her purpose and place in this world, and they also require her to fight to hold on to her newfound peace.

There are some lovely surprises and new visitors to the island, and it's fun to see the "progress" that has been made in the two years since we were last with this family. The author's delightful sense of humor shines through in this entire series, with the quirks of several characters just enough to be fun rather than simply strange :) You will definitely want to visit Three Sisters Island when you are done with this series!

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

Review of "The Letter Keeper" by Charles Martin

 So....when I first read "The Water Keeper" (book 1) and enjoyed it, I didn't know there was going to be a sequel. Amazon now says this one is "Book 2 of 2", but I'm telling you right now that it better not be stopping here. Although there were a few instances that some suspended disbelief is required (honestly, how many times can someone have such serious injuries and still pull through, but whatever), it's still worth it. I definitely recommend them both. But please know that you absolutely MUST read The Water Keeper first. And Mr. Martin, I am assuming there is a third Murphy Shepherd book on the way, so please do not let me down.

David Bishop/Murphy Shepherd is a rescuer of lost souls, and he continues to do so even at great personal cost. The bad guys make it super personal by taking his family, but he will find them and there will be a substantial price to pay along with some surprising secrets revealed. This book also provides more background into Murphy and Bones' history.

I will gladly recommend this book, and remember: read the first one BEFORE you start this one!

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

Review of "All That Really Matters" by Nicole Deese

I'm pretty sure I have read all of Nicole Deese's books....and I know that I have enjoyed them all. But this one...this one is special, and it is by far my favorite!

Molly McCormick is a successful influencer of "Makeup Matters with Molly." She is on the verge of a next-level breakthrough in her career, and is encouraged by her agent/boyfriend to find a human interest cause to partner with....all to demonstrate why she should become the host of a new Netflix show. After a series of (amusing) missteps, Molly eventually becomes a mentor at The Bridge, a program that assists young adults in successfully transitioning to adulthood.

Silas Whittaker, Director of The Bridge, has some deep seated reasons that drive his passion that the program be not only successful, but duplicated. And he's not sure if Molly is a distraction, or just what the program - and he - needs.

The author bounces back and forth between Silas and Molly's POV, and they are both compelling. The combination of witty repartee along with serious life issues are powerful. The journey and solutions to the conflicts are fresh and interesting. I am PASSIONATE about recommending 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 "Night Fall" by Nancy Mehl

This is the first book in the author's Quantico Files series; it focuses on PTSD, cults, and even biological and spiritual warfare.

Alex Donovan has finally realized her long-held dream of joining the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit when she is put on a case that throws her right back into a traumatic part of her past she is desperate to forget. However, her connection to the cult and subsequent insight into the inner workings of their suspect's mind are crucial to stopping him before hundreds of thousands - or even millions - of people die.

There are a few twists and turns, and the psychology is interesting. Although I did figure out part of the mystery early on, it didn't spoil anything. I am excited to read the next book in this series.

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

Review of "The Way It Should Be" by Christina Suzann Nelson

Newlyweds Zara and Chad Mahoney have big plans - ones that are set aside when Zara's niece and nephew (her estranged twin sister Eve's kids) are in need of emergency foster care. Desperate to be a mother, but terrified of her genetic risks, Zara agrees to take in the kids and hopes it will ultimately be a path to healing some of her broken places.

Tiff Bradley's drug addicted daughter is long gone and presumed dead. She is committed that if there is anything she can do to help another family avoid the same devastating loss, she will do it - even at great personal risk. When she meets Eve on one of her "ministry" nights out on the streets, Tiff sees something she can't ignore and becomes involved far deeper than seems wise. But is that level of commitment and consistency what Eve really needs to break free for good this time?

This was such a challenging story to read - but very good, and so worth it. The author uses Eve's journal entries to give a peek into her struggles and thought process, and it is both effective and enlightening. The journey they all make as a family, along with the unexpected ending, was satisfying and also left me wanting more. I truly enjoyed this book!

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