Review of "Convergence" by Ginny Yttrup

Here is my (first ever!) bullet point review:

This book totally messed with my mind (primarily in a good way).

I was kept guessing throughout - but I will say, when it came down to the final chapters I discovered that was right all along! :)

I appreciated the author's first foray into suspense. It was well done overall.

I was especially thrown off for a long time (likely intentionally) by the "back cover" synopsis - it took me forever to make sense of it all, to connect the dots.

Main character Denilyn Rossi is interesting and compelling. She has truly been traumatized and you are rooting for her the whole way through. She's not unrealistically tough OR wimpy/whiny/does not play the victim...even though she of course is.

I will gladly recommend this book!

I was provided a complimentary copy of Convergence by Shiloh Run Press in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "The Last Year of the War" by Susan Meissner

I have long enjoyed Susan Meissner's books; always something different, they make you think, I often find myself "living" with her characters in my brain and on my mind for a while after I am done reading. This book was no exception.

Teenager Elise Sontag is living a content and hopeful life in Iowa with her parents and younger brother. When her beloved father is taken away by the police for his ties to native Germany, her family is devastated and soon moves to live with him in an interment camp. There Elise meets Mariko Inoue from Los Angeles. Even though their parents are legal US residents, are in no way sympathizers with the enemies in the war, and both families dearly love America, they and many like them are exchanged with POW's and returned to their "home" country. Elise was born in the United States, does not speak German, and the family is unwittingly being sent directly to a war zone.

The book bounces back and forth between present day Elise (in her 80's with Alzheimer's that she has named Agatha, after a girl in school who stole things) and the story of their friendship. Her journey takes many twist and turns, many of them quite unexpected. The author deftly weaves the two together in a way that keeps you engaged and reveals things at a perfect pace.

This book was thought provoking, eye opening to a part of history I knew little about, and engaging all the way through. I highly recommend it.

I was provided a copy of this book by Berkley Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "The Inn at Hidden Run" by Olivia Newport

A split time novel, and first in a series.

Present day:
Genealogist and coffee purist (there is a lot of food talk in this book, in fact) Jillian lives with her father Nolan in the small mountain town of Canyon Mines. Her mother died when she was a teenager, and she works from home at her thriving business creating family trees, among other things. Her lawyer father is a skilled negotiator and mediator. Her best friend Nia owns a local Inn/B&B, and Nia has just spontaneously hired the clearly-in-crisis-but-they-don't-know-from-what-yet, Meri Davies.

1878 Memphis:
When yellow fever attacks the city, people are dying left and right -and at the cost of all good sense, Eliza is determined to help in any way she can. She partners with the Sisters and pitches in, taking food and providing aid to numerous ill and dying families around the city. When her close friend and housekeeper Callie leaves to help her sister's family, Eliza is alarmed when she doesn't hear any word.


I did find the 'quick' connection of Nia and Nolan to Meri somewhat unusual; I won't go quite as far as to say it was unbelievable, but their deep emotional investment in helping Meri was unusual. Perhaps that was the point.

Also, I found Meri to be a little too abrasive for my personal preference. I found her slightly off putting rather than sympathetic. I loved the 'small town' friendships, and overall I enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to the second one in the series (teaser chapter at end that was intriguing!) But just how are these two timelines and stories connected? You'll have to read all the way to the end to find out!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Breach of Trust by Rachel Dylan

This is the third book in the author's Atlanta Justice series.

When lawyer Mia Shaw's close friend and co-worker Chase is murdered, a series of odd and dangerous events follow that lead her to question if there is a connection. Mia (who is hoping to make partner) is then given the case Chase was working on before he died. When danger follows, she wonders if it's more than she can handle. 

Noah Ramirez is a founding partner of a private security firm with Cooper Knight and Landon James (subjects of first two books). Initially Mia does not trust him, but begins to realize he is a stand up guy who only has her best interests in mind.

I have read all three books in this series and did enjoy them overall. You can easily read this one as a standalone novel; however, it might have been my least favorite. I was frustrated initially by Mia's choice to decide a certain party was guilty - even with little to no evidence - and I then felt like it took her too long to adjust, even with her background and knowledge. Certainly she would have been emotionally involved, but it still seemed out of character and I just couldn't fully connect with her or the story after that. However, the mystery is good, the culprit not obvious, and it ends well.

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

Review of "We Hope for Better Things" by Erin Bartels

The debut from author Erin Bartels, this novel is incredibly thought provoking and engaging.

Alternating between three points of view and two primary locations (Detroit and Lapeer County, Michigan) we meet present day, Elizabeth Balsam; her aunt, Nora Balsam both present day and 1963; and their ancestor Mary Balsam, 1861-1975.

Elizabeth Balsam is a reporter who was recently fired for something beyond her control. Finding herself at loose ends and wondering what she will do next, she is commissioned to connect with her distant Aunt Nora by a man who wants to return something he knows Nora won't accept from him. Elizabeth, sensing a link to a story that could be her breakthrough, goes to stay with Aunt Nora - both to help her in any way she can and also take some time to figure out her next steps. Nora (both present day and 1963) has quite a layered history, and lives in the family estate in Lapeer County.

Mary Balsam's husband Nathaniel is determined to fight for the Union in the Civil War, even though his wife is pregnant and they have a farm to run. He leaves for long periods of time. Although Nathaniel and Mary are both are committed to the cause and passionate about freedom, this decision ultimately kicks off a complicated series of events. These events are at best heartbreaking and at worst, dangerous.

Although I initially wondered if I would truly be able to clearly follow bouncing back and forth between times and still connect the dots on who is related to who and how it all fit together....I know now that the author did an excellent job of linking people and time frames to create a cohesive and meaningful picture. There are surprises, heartbreaks, challenges, and more. This story provides believable glimpses into poignant and important times in our country's history.

I cannot say enough good things about this book.

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

Review of "One Thing I Know" by Kara Isaac

Please read this review through the following filter:

I have ready every single book by Kara Isaac. WITHOUT EXCEPTION I HAVE LOVED THEM ALL...so it truly pains me to say that I cannot in good conscience tell you that I loved this one. I was so eager to read this book, and may have even jumped up and down a bit when it became available. I very much wanted to write this review and sing it's praises, but the ending won't let me.

Although Rachel Somers is the author of a number of incredibly successfully relationship books, due to a traumatic event (not revealed until much later in the story) her Aunt Donna is the author of record. "Dr. Donna" is beloved and respected with many books on the best-selling list, but the deadline for their latest book is fast approaching - and Rachel's got exactly nothing. But she knows that she will do anything to keep the advance and ensure the deadline is met.

Lucas Grant hosts a sports-focused radio show, and his end game goal is syndication. When his professional connection to Dr. Donna is tapped by a successful Hollywood producer who is convinced there's a scandal to be found in her past, will Lucas investigate, even though he likes Donna (and the fact that he is falling in love with her niece/assistant, Rachel)? And how will he and Rachel work things out when the relationship on both sides has been built on a house of false cards?

Side note: this is the first (to my knowledge) of the author's books a) set fully in the United States, and b) does not have any connection to her other standalone books.

Ultimately I struggled with several things: The length of time some of the mysteries were revealed seemed too drawn out. When the secrets and their reasons finally came to light, the fallout felt incredibly extreme. I then felt irritated and frustrated by the hypocrisy of one character, and the subsequent quick "forgiveness" or acceptance of the other. Ultimately my view was just too colored by this ending that left me so wanting, and I was quite dissatisfied.

However, please remember two things: I've loved (actually loved) every other book she has written. You may not feel so aggravated by the ending, so really, you should still read it for yourself. :)

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Howard Books in exchange for my honest review.

Review of "Summer by the Tides" by Denise Hunter

In this standalone novel by a favored author, Denise Hunter, our heroine Maddy Monroe has recently experienced a major dose of trauma when her boyfriend Nick betrays her. Not only does Nick cheat on her with another woman, he simultaneously steals the promotion she has long been working for. The next day, Maddy receives an urgent call from her beloved grandmother's neighbor, Connor Sullivan. He says her grandmother is missing - and could she come to Seahaven right away? Little does Maddie know that Connor has also reached out to her two sisters, who have long been estranged...and they are also on their way to Seahaven and the family cottage.

Connor is a local businessman and widower. Largely due to her recent heartbreak, Maddie also fosters a distrust of men (in general it seems) but this leads her to make several snap judgments about Connors' motives as well as make some assumptions about his relationships.

I think I have read (if not all, then most) of Denise Hunter's books. I almost always want to rave about them. I found this one to be a total departure from her usual style or "voice", if you will. I can't say I loved it fully, as I usually do. I didn't dislike it either; it was an interesting story, in a lovely setting, with a satisfying conclusion. Beyond that mild endorsement, I will simply encourage you to check it out for yourself.

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