A Tapestry of Secrets (Appalachian Blessings #3) by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Title: A Tapestry of Secrets (Appalachian Blessings #3)

Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas

Pages: 296

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     What is the weight of a secret? What happens when that burden becomes almost too much to bear?

     For decades, Perla Phillips has hidden the truth of a decision that still fills her with guilt. But now, seeing her granddaughter, Ella, struggle in a similar way, she’s prepared to finally open the past to her family, no matter the consequences. But when the opportunity is snatched from her in a most unexpected manner, will she have waited too long?

     Spanning generations, this moving family drama weaves together the interlocking stories of two women as they navigate relationships, family, faith, and the choices that will shape their lives. Heartwarming and nostalgic, the story explores the courage to share the wounds of the past and celebrates the legacy a family passes from one generation to the next.

My review:

     A charming story of small town living.

     I loved returning to Wise, West Virginia for the third time. It has been an absolute joy for me to see so many ways that the community has stayed the same over all the years. In many ways though this book feels more like it is just centering on the Phillips family and there isn’t quite as much interaction with the community as a whole.

     We see a new generation as they are trying to sort out their feelings and figure out who they are supposed to spend the rest of their lives with. Ella suddenly finds herself with two attractive men interested in spending time with her. Which one is the “right” one for her? There was a nice balance with also trying to figure out what God wanted for her and for the community.

     I found the times when Perla’s struggles with her limitations due to health to be very poignant. I can’t even imagine how frustrating it would be. She was trying so hard to know what God wanted her to do about a secret that she had kept for over 50 years.

     I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the quilt art that Ella designed. I was amazed that she was able to work in shading and different textures with the different type of stitches that she used. I would love to see quilts like the ones described.

     This incredible book is getting a rating of 5 stars from me and I’m highly recommending it.

     You can find my review for Miracle in a Dry Season, book #1 in the series, at: http://godslittlebookworm.blogspot.com/2015/04/miracle-in-dry-season-appalachian.html

     My review for book #2, Until the Harvest, is at: http://godslittlebookworm.blogspot.com/2015/07/until-harvest-appalachian-blessings-2.html

     You can find out more about Sarah and her books on her website at: https://sarahloudinthomas.com/

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Without Warning (Elite Guardians #2) by Lynette Eason

Title: Without Warning (Elite Guardians #2)

Author: Lynette Eason

Pages: 346

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Intensity. Skill. Tenacity. The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have it all.

     Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.

     Daniel might be concerned, but he’s not convinced that a bodyguard—and a female one at that—is necessary. A new attack and his niece’s urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who’s behind the intimidation and threats—before a would-be killer strikes again.

My review:

     An incredibly well-crafted romantic suspense novel!

     This is a stand-alone story. Some of the characters are the same as in book one but the focus is on a different member of the Elite Guardians Agency.

     I thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about Katie Singleton and her past. It was wonderful to find out what led her to join this wonderful agency of women bodyguards. She has some very painful memories that affect how she deals with different situations and I really liked seeing how she learned to move past them and do the job that needed doing.

     Daniel Matthews has so much skill and strength of character going for him that he is used to not needing anyone’s help. I found it delightful to find out that he was able to put that all aside and accept help from Katie and her friends just knowing that it would make his niece Riley feel better having them around. I love it when a strong man is willing to do something just to help someone he loves cope in a trying situation.

     The story is fantastic. There were so many twists and turns to it that I was kept guessing until very late in the book as to who the villain was. That is always going to keep me reading and totally engaged in the book.

     I have to give this marvelous book a rating of 5 stars. I am definitely highly recommending it.

     You can find out more about Lynette and her books on her website at: http://www.lynetteeason.com/

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

To Follow Her Heart (The Southold Chronicles #3) by Rebecca DeMarino

Title: To Follow Her Heart (The Southold Chronicles #3)

Author: Rebecca DeMarino

Pages: 352

Year: 2016

Genre: Historical Romance (1664/1665)

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Duty and love are powerful forces. Only one has the power to make her life complete.

     It is 1664 and Patience Terry is devastated to learn that Captain Jeremy Horton’s ship has been shipwrecked off the coast of Barbados. There were no survivors. She had hoped that Jeremy would someday give up the sea and settle down with her in Southold, Long Island.

     Unaware his memorial service is being planned, Jeremy sails aboard a British warship with secret orders to attack New Amsterdam and claim it for the British Crown. When he makes his surprise return to Southold—and to an overjoyed Patience—it’s not quite the happily ever-after his beloved had hoped for.

     With a finely tuned sense for authentic historical characters and settings, Rebecca DeMarino plunges you into a world of tall ships, daring journeys, and yearning hearts.

My review:

     A wonderful conclusion to the series!

     This is the final book in a “true” series. You need to read these stories in order to really follow and understand them.

     I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Southold and these fantastic characters. Life has moved on for these people and I love the fact that two of the secondary characters from the previous books were front and center in this book. It was wonderful to have more mature adults trying to navigate the sometimes rocky waters of a romantic relationship.

     Both Jeremy and Patience had a strong foundation of faith. They were each trying to know what God had for them to do with their lives. Patience especially had a difficult journey to follow in learning to let go of fear and trust God instead. I loved the support and encouragement they received from their friends and family members.

     I was impressed by all of the incredible descriptions of what life was like in the mid-17^th century. They gave a very clear image of what people did on a day-to-day basis.

     I cannot recommend this incredible book highly enough. It is getting a 5 star rating from me. In fact I loved the entire series and am highly recommending all of them. I have reviewed both of the previous books here on my blog.

     You can find my review for A Place in His Heart at: http://godslittlebookworm.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-place-in-his-heart-southold.html

     My review for To Capture Her Heart is at: http://godslittlebookworm.blogspot.com/2015/07/to-capture-her-heart-southold.html

     You can find out more about Rebecca and her books on her website at: http://www.rebeccademarino.com/

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

My Sister's Prayer (Cousins of the Dove #2) by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould

Title: My Sister’s Prayer (Cousins of the Dove #2)

Author: Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould

Pages: 368

Release Date: September 1, 2016

Genre: Historical (1704)/Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Women of fearless devotion.

     Virginia, 1704: Celeste Talbot is usually such a sensible young woman—until she falls for an English soldier reassigned to the Colonies. Leaving her Huguenot family behind, she sets sail for America, only to realize that her younger sister, Berta, has been kidnapped and forced on board the very same ship. Whom can Celeste trust? The dashing soldier? Or the vigilant carpenter who remains by their side in the perilous New World?

     Virginia, present day: Madeline “Maddee” Talbot has her hands full when she agrees to take in her younger sister, Nicole, following a serious car accident. The young women grew apart when Nicole fell into drug addiction, and Maddee prays this will be the start of a better life for her sister. But as they investigate a trauma from their childhood, Maddee must keep a diligent eye on Nicole—and the shadowy figure watching them from afar.

     From the Christy Award—winning team of Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould, My Sister’s Prayer tells the epic tale of two women compelled to protect their sisters, confront their fears, and navigate the muddy waters of betrayal to find true love.

My review:

     This is a wonderful historical/contemporary romance!

     This book is part of a “true” series. You need to read the first book to truly understand and follow this story.

     The characters in the book are extremely well developed and I was able to quickly connect with many of them. I related the most to Celeste and Maddee. I enjoyed seeing how each of them learned to accept that life isn’t always neat and tidy. They also had to learn that they weren’t responsible for the consequences that others have to face because of their own choices. This is something that we all need to learn and some of us have a much harder time learning it. Both Celeste and Maddee work hard to remember to take their concerns for themselves and their sisters to God in prayer.

     I found a number of parallels among the main characters between the two time periods. I was fascinated by the similarities between the two sets of sisters.

     The continuation of the story of the dead man in the cabin in the woods from about 19 years prior to the present day story-line is great. I really like the fact that this book focuses on two of the other cousins that were there that day. Each of them has been affected by that long ago event and they are all trying to move past it in their own ways.

     I am giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars and highly recommending it.

     You can learn more about Leslie and her books on her website at: http://www.lesliegould.com/

     You can learn more about Mindy and her books on her website at: http://www.mindystarnsclark.com/

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love #2) by Angela Ruth Strong

Title: Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love #2)

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Pages: 254

Release Date: September 1, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Mountain Brook INK

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Bright Star Ranch led him to her—but will he stay?

     Josh Lake is forced to head home for the holidays after he’s suspended from his job in the city, but running into Paisley Sheridan could be exactly what he needed. Not only does she board him at her ranch in exchange for his advertising expertise, but spending the Christmas season with her in Big Sky, Montana, brings more joy than he’s felt in a long while. Is he willing to give up the lavish lifestyle he’s worked for in exchange for the gift of love?

     The last thing Paisley wants for Christmas is to spend time with Josh Lake—the guy who broke her heart in high school—but until her bank loan goes through she has to take all the free help she can get. Unfortunately, Josh seems to want back in her life again, and the town’s quirky coffee shop owners don’t help by hanging mistletoe at every opportunity. Will Paisley succeed in driving him away, or will she find the healing needed to have hope for a future together?

My review:

     A charming contemporary romance!

     I thoroughly enjoyed both Paisley Sheridan and Josh Lake. They each have very deep seated insecurities that affect the way they interact with each other. I was drawn to both of them equally and rooting for them to work through their issues. I wanted to see them emotionally healed and on the road to a much deserved happily-ever-after. I was very happy to see that they were able to turn to God to help them sort out their feelings.

     The other characters that inhabit Paisley’s world were a riot. I absolutely loved both Dot and Annabel. They definitely made me smile with all their quirks.

     This is a delightful holiday story. I’m highly recommending it and giving it a 5 star rating.

     You can find out more about Angela and her books on her website at: http://www.angelaruthstrong.com/

Always Watching (Elite Guardians #1) by Lynette Eason

Title: Always Watching (Elite Guardians #1)

Author: Lynette Eason

Pages: 336

Year: 2016

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

About the book:

     The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common- they’re also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.

     But when Wade’s bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia’s skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade’s stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the feeling that she’s next on the list. And to complicate things even further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much danger as her client.

My review:

     This is an intricately woven suspense novel!

     I loved both of the main characters. They are so well developed and the way their personalities are presented layer by layer is amazing. Olivia has a number of tragedies from her childhood and one by one they are shared with Wade. It is very easy to understand how each of them went into defining who she is as a person.

     Wade is a solid believer and has established himself as a very knowledgeable psychiatrist. Just the type of person to understand Olivia’s past the best and then to help her move beyond the emotions that hold her back.

     I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the calm way that both Wade and his father Bruce turned to prayer at the most frightening times. This is something that all believers should remember to do and yet it can be so hard to accomplish.

     I’m giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars and highly recommending it. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for the great team of bodyguards.

     You can find out more about Lynette and her books on her website at: http://www.lynetteeason.com/

Redeeming Grace (Hills of Habersham Novella) by Denise Weimer

Title: Redeeming Grace (Hills of Habersham Novella)

Author: Denise Weimer

Pages: 140

Release Date: June 1, 2016

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Denise Weimer

Format: eBook

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this story from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Searching for something she cannot define and breaking under the stress as a rising star at The Metropolitan Opera, Grace Galveston travels to Tallulah Falls, Georgia, for a reprieve. In the summer of 1886, Tallulah Gorge, with its multiple waterfalls, spectacular mountain scenery, and lavish resort hotels, was already known as “The Niagara of the South.” Even amid the crowds and excitement surrounding the attempt of an aerialist to cross the chasm on a high wire, Grace hopes to find peace. Unexpectedly, though, the trip sheds light on the secret pain in her heart. Can the blessing of friendship and the possibility of love with a local minister guide her toward healing? Or will their differences and the call of her life back in New York mean even greater heartbreak?

My review:

     A charming tale of God’s redeeming grace!

     I found Grace Galveston to be an enchanting character. She carries so much hurt within her heart. It is coupled with doubt as to whether or not she is worthy of love. Throughout the story I wanted to see her heart healed and her surrounded by the love that she deserved.

     I really enjoyed Daniel Monroe as her love interest. He is such a strong believer and a wonderful example of trusting God. I liked the fact that when it came to loving a woman he found himself unsure of himself and what God wanted him to do. This is so true of all of us when our emotions are deeply involved.

     There are a number of marvelously detailed descriptions of Tallulah Falls and the history of this location. I was delighted with them and learning of this part of Georgia.

     I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and am highly recommending it. It is getting a rating of 5 stars from me.

     You can find out more about Denise and her books on her website at: http://deniseweimerbooks.webs.com/