Mystery Rider (Horses and Friends #3) by Miralee Ferrell

Title: Mystery Rider (Horses and Friends #3

Author: Miralee Ferrell

Pages: 224

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Horse Story

Publisher: David C. Cook

Age Level: 8 – 12 years old

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     In the third installment in the Horses and Friends series, thirteen-year-old Kate Ferris already has one problem. Snooty, well-to-do Melissa is boarding her horse at Kate’s family stable. When Melissa suddenly turns nice, Kate is shocked … and suspicious.

     The last thing she needs is more trouble. So when a hooded rider appears – and then disappears – on a stunning black horse outside her home, Kate isn’t sure if Melissa is playing a trick or something more dangerous is going on. Either way, Kate and her friends will need an extra measure of faith and courage to solve this mystery.

My review:

     Another wonderful story for horse lovers!

     The is part of a “true” series in that it should be read in order to receive the most enjoyment from it.

     It was wonderful visiting with Kate, Tori, and Colt again. I really enjoyed seeing how they are all growing and maturing as this series progresses. They have been friends for awhile now but in this story they are trying to figure out how to work things out as they try to add one more person to the group. Not just any person this time but the one who has caused them the most grief in the past.

     I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Melissa and slowly learning about her life and what has caused her to change in how she treats Kate and her friends. It was wonderful to see Kate trying to reach out to Melissa and share her belief in God at the same time.

     These are all such realistic thirteen year olds. They are struggling with trying to figure out how to make wise and proper choices. They are also working on learning the balance of when they can make their own decision and when they need to seek the counsel and advice of their parents. It is a tough balancing act for any young teenager and this book does a marvelous job of telling it.

     I have been thoroughly enjoying this entire series. I highly recommend this book and I have to give it a rating of 5 stars.

The Lopsided Christmas Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter & Jean Brunstetter

Title: The Lopsided Christmas Cake

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter & Jean Brunstetter

Pages: 208

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Genre: Amish Fiction

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (available in paperback also)

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Join the Hochstetler twin sisters on stage as they bumble their way through baking a cake for a charity auction in front of a live audience. The take-charge Elma and the klutzy optimist Thelma manage to entertain their audience – and attract the admiration of two bachelors, an outspoken woodworker and a shy harness maker from a neighboring Amish community. As fall leads into the Christmas season, could romance be blossoming for one or more of the Hochstetler twins?

     Find out in this brand new romance from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

My review:

     This is an enjoyable Amish romance.

     I fell in love with all four of the main characters. Their personalities were very different from each other and that made their interactions entertaining to me.

     I’m not used to reading Amish stories where the romantic leads are in their thirties already. It was actually refreshing to have adults that were already settled away from their parents. At the same time they were trying to figure out life on their own and concerned that they may never find the right person to marry.

     The story was very sweet and I really liked that they took time to develop a friendship first. Then as they spent time together they gradually moved into a courting relationship.

     The only think that was a distraction for me was the sporadic use of a single Pennsylvania Dutch word. If they had been used regularly throughout the story I would have enjoyed them. At times it felt a little like the authors were reminding the reader, “This is an Amish story. They don’t speak English.” Then there was a forced feeling in fitting in the English translation for the word used.

     This slight distraction is definitely not enough to stop me from recommending the book though. Because of it I am subtracting half a star. That means I am giving this book (at least here on my blog) a 4 ½ star rating.

The Midwife's Tale (At Home in Trinity #1) by Delia Parr

Title: The Midwife’s Tale (At Home in Trinity #1)

Author: Delia Parr

Pages: 336

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Genre: Historical (1830)

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Format: Paperback

Note: I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Martha Cade comes from a long line of midwives who have served the families of Trinity, Pennsylvania, for generations. A widow with two grown children, she’s hopeful that her daughter will follow in her footsteps, but when Victoria runs off, Martha’s world is shattered.

     Worse, a new doctor has arrived in town, threatening her job, and she can’t remember a time when her faith has been tested more. Still determined to do the work she knows God intended for her, Martha is unprepared for all that waits ahead. Whether it’s trying to stop a town scandal, mending broken relationships, or feeling the first whispers of an unexpected romance, she faces every trial and every opportunity with hope and faith.

My review:

     I absolutely LOVE Martha Cade!

     She is one of the most well developed characters that I have ever met. The depth of her faith in God is incredible. She looks at everything that comes her way as being a gift from God. That includes the hard circumstances and difficulties that she has to face. She finds some of them easier to accept than others though. Her focus, especially with the problems, is to figure out why God sent that gift to her. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her journey as she sought God with each situation.

     Martha’s outlook on life and everything that comes her way was quite a challenge for me to trust God more myself with everything that happens in my life. I found myself searching my own heart to see how I feel I would handle a similar situation.

     The descriptions of how childbirth was handled and the job that the midwife and her helpers did were wonderfully detailed and informative. It only brought to my mind again all the changes that have taken place in medical care over the years.

     I had never read anything else by Delia Parr. I will definitely be looking for her other books after reading this one! I highly recommend this wonderful novel and I’m giving it 5 stars. I really want to give it more though.

Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope #2) by Jody Hedlund

Title: Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope #2)

Author: Jody Hedlund

Pages: 379

Year: 2015

Genre: Historical (1865)

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Format: Paperback

Note: I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     1865 Windmill Point, Michigan

     Can she forgive the hurting man who costs her the role she loves?

     After her father’s death, Caroline Taylor has grown confident running the Windmill Point Lighthouse. But in 1865 Michigan, women aren’t supposed to have such roles, so it’s only a matter of time before the lighthouse inspector appoints a new keeper – even though Caroline has nowhere else to go and no other job available to her.

     Ryan Chambers is a Civil War veteran still haunted by the horrors of battle. He’s secured the position of lighthouse keeper mostly for the isolation – the chance to hide from his past is appealing. He’s not expecting the current keeper to be a feisty and beautiful woman who’s angry with him for taking her job and for his inability to properly run the light. When his failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Caroline feels drawn to this wounded soul, but with both of them relying on that single position, can they look past their loss to a future filled with hope . . . and possibly love?

My review:

     This is a fantastic historical novel!

     This book can be read as a stand-alone story even though it is the second book in the series. There are a couple of brief references to characters in the first book but that is all.

     I absolutely loved both Caroline Taylor and Ryan Chambers. They both have enormous difficulties to deal with when they first meet. They each have a different way that they are approaching those problems though.

     Caroline believes in God yet she is so burdened with her responsibilities that she doesn’t really know how to trust Him to take care of her and her siblings. The heartache and uncertainty that she has faced already in her life caused me to just want to reach out and give her a hug and encourage her that she could get through the new problems facing her.

     Ryan has been wounded both physically and emotionally by the atrocities of the Civil War. These wounds have left him doubting God and his own worthiness as a man. His physical wounds were immediately described. As the story progressed we are then gradually told about the emotional burden that he is carrying.

     As trouble mounts and dangerous situations are faced they both need to learn how to turn to God for His help and strength. The steps that are taken by each of them were very clearly written and thought provoking.

     I thoroughly enjoyed this visit to 1865 Michigan and am highly recommending it. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

Never Broken (Everlasting Faith #1) by Kathleen Fuller

Title: Never Broken (Everlasting Faith #1)

Author: Kathleen Fuller

Pages: 224

Release Date: August 25, 2015

Genre: Historical (1840s)

Publisher: Mountain Brook INK

Format: Will be released in eBook

Note: I had the opportunity to be one of the final proofreaders before release.

About the book:

This novel is revised and updated from the original book Never Broken. It includes new material that isn’t in the original version.

Rory O’Leary has little use for his uncle and aunt’s stately Irish manor where he has lived since he and his brother were orphaned. That is, until he encounters Shannon Cahill, a new servant, in his Uncle Edwin’s rose garden.

When the Irish potato blight affects Shannon and her sister Ainslee’s tiny village, they are devastated when their ailing parents insist they immigrate to America. Shannon fears she’ll never again see the handsome man who stole her heart in the Gormley rose garden.

But fate has other intentions, as Rory discovers when he rescues the sisters from the squalid docks of County Cork, leading them all to Scotland…and an adventure they never expected.

My review:

This is a wonderful historical novel.

I was really drawn into the story very quickly. There were a number of characters that I consider to be downtrodden that my heart went out to almost immediately. They were very well written and easy to connect with. I wanted so badly for things to work out for all of these characters.

There were also a number of the well-to-do landowners that were also well developed. They were just mean and self-centered. I desperately wanted them to get what they had coming to them (and not good things either).

I really enjoyed all the details included in this novel about what life would have been like in both Ireland and Scotland in the mid 1840s. During history class I read about the potato famine in Ireland. This story has really helped to make it come to life for me.

I had the privilege of being a final proofreader for this wonderful book and I am writing my honest opinion of the story.

This is book 1 in what is going to be a “true” series. That means that when this novel is finished it will feel as if there is more to the story. That is because the story will continue in the next book of the series. I’m really looking forward to book 2 so I can find out what comes next for these wonderful characters.

I’m giving this book a rating of 5 stars and highly recommending it.

King (Books of the Infinite #3) by R. J. Larson

Title: King (Books of the Infinite #3)

Author: R. J. Larson

Pages: 343

Year: 2013

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

About the book:

     Akabe of Siphra, I have brought your enemies low and lifted you from the dirt.

     Against his wishes and desires, Akabe Garric has been chosen by his people to be king. A warrior at heart, he’d never dreamed of such a swift, unexpected rise to power. Determined to prove his worth to the citizens of Munra and honor his Creator, Akabe undertakes a monumental task: to rebuild the Infinite’s Holy House in Siphra.

     Only this I ask: Restore My temple and let Me dwell again among the people.

     Akabe soon discovers that the land he needs is held by the Thaenfalls, known Atea-worshipers who will give up their claim only if he marries into their line. Though he seeks direction from the Infinite, his pleas are met with silence. Frustrated, Akabe makes an impulsive decision, sweeping his nation into a lethal storm that threatens his plans for the temple. As questions of love and faith become tangled with lies, ancient feuds, and treacherous plots, can Akabe, his mysterious queen, and his trusted friends Ela and Kien Lantec find the Infinite’s path . . . or will they fail as so many others before?

     Will your faith hold strong when I am silent? Child, can you be My king?

My review:

     This is another incredible fantasy novel!

     This is the third book of a “true” series. By that I mean that both of the previous books in the series need to be read before this one for full understanding and appreciation of this wonderful story.

     This is the final installment of Kien Lantec and Ela the Prophet of Parne’s story. In this segment though, King Akabe Garric takes center stage. Kien and Ela are his closest supporters and he tries to understand how his Creator, the Infinite, wants him to lead his country. Akabe’s heart’s desire is to rebuild the Holy House for the Infinite. The massive conflict between the Infinite’s followers and the goddess Atea’s followers is the central theme of the story.

     Once again R. J. Larson has crafted fantastic characters and presented them in such a way that I was able to understand them and their motives. I even understood those that I didn’t agree with their beliefs. In this book as with the previous 2 books of the series I was continually rooting for the good guys safety and success.

     It was a relief to finally see that most of Ela’s doubts about her ability to do the job that the Infinite had called her to do had finally been resolved. Her maturity level has grown wonderfully throughout the series.

     As with both of the previous books in this series I’m highly recommending this one and giving it a 5 star rating. It is my belief that unless you absolutely hate fantasy novels you can’t go wrong in taking the time to read all 3 books in this wonderful series. I’m looking forward to the next books set in this marvelous fantasy land.

Love Unexpected (Beacons of Hope #1) by Jody Hedlund

Title: Love Unexpected (Beacons of Hope #1)

Author: Jody Hedlund

Pages: 348

Year: 2014

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

About the book:

     1859 Presque Isle, Michigan

     What is the secret that could shipwreck both of their lives?

     All Emma Chambers ever wanted was a home, but when her steamboat sinks just outside Presque Isle, she’s left destitute and with no place to stay.

     An unlikely solution arises when the lighthouse keeper arrives in town. He’s just lost his wife and is having a difficult time caring for his child. So a traveling preacher gets the idea that the keeper and Emma might be the answer to each other’s dilemma. After a hasty marriage, she finds herself heading to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger. Nothing in her aimless life, though, has prepared her for parenting a rambunctious toddler, as well as managing a household.

     Emma soon suspects Patrick may be hiding something from her, and then she hears a disturbing rumor about the circumstances surrounding his late wife’s death. It seems as if her wish for a home and family of her own could end up leading her once more into turbulent waters.

My review:

     This is an incredible historical romance!

     I loved both of the main characters, Emma Chambers and Patrick Garraty. They have both had a very hard childhood which has left them wanting a secure home and family. In reaction to his childhood Patrick made some very poor choices as an adult. Then when he hit a very low point he found God. Emma has drifted along life with her brother moving from place to place with no idea how to achieve her dream.

     At the beginning of the book they are thrust together out of necessity. The rest of the story is about their efforts to work together and build that family and home life that they are searching for. Before that can happen though Patrick has to face his past and learn the full meaning of God’s salvation and forgiveness. His journey to discover what that means is a wonderful reminder to all of us exactly what God’s grace and mercy is all about.

     I have loved lighthouses for years. The fact that the lighthouse is an integral part of this story captured my interest from the beginning. I am giving this book a rating of 5 stars and highly recommending it.