All Things Hidden

Book description:  "Gwyn Hillerman loves being a nurse at her father's clinic on the beautiful Alaskan frontier. But family life has been rough ever since her mother left them, disdaining the uncivilized country and taking Gwyn's younger sister with her.

In Chicago, Dr. Jeremiah Vaughan finds his life suddenly turned upside down when his medical license is stripped away after an affluent patient dies. In a snowball effect, his fiance breaks their engagement. In an attempt to bury the past, Jeremiah accepts Dr. Hillerman's invitation to join his growing practice in the isolated Alaska Territory.

Gwyn and Jeremiah soon recognize a growing attraction to each other. But when rumors of Jeremiah's past begin to surface, they'll need more than love to face the threat of an uncertain future."

My review:  Not only is this a great story, it has wonderful spiritual truths embedded throughout the book.  A lot of Christian novels do not have many Scripture or Biblical lessons incorporated into the story.  This novel is not one of those.  I was encouraged by the verses and challenged to examine my own life and responses to the circumstances in which God has placed me.  This is a book that I could share with an unbeliever and know that not only would they be reading a great story that will hold their interest, but the seeds of God's Word will be planted into their hearts.  I enjoyed each of the characters and was immediately drawn into each of their lives.  The characters were real and the historical facts that played into the book made the story that much more interesting.  I hope the authors plan to make this a series.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  

Sweet Olive

Book description:  "Camille Gardner came to small town Louisiana in the name of big business. But will the town of Samford change her before she can change it?

A talented businesswoman in the oil and gas business, Camille Gardner agrees to take on one last assignment for her uncle at the J&S Production Co. She would rather be anywhere than Samford, Louisiana, the small southern town where she once spent the worst month of her life. Most of all, she wants to move on to the art gallery job that is waiting for her in Denver.

To fulfill the obligation she feels to her uncle and get on with the life she dreams of, Camille needs to entice a group of rural landowners to sell their mineral rights—and allow use of their precious water for the drilling of natural gas. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the local folk art created by those same landowners, and attracted to Marsh Cameron, the attorney representing them.

Camille must decide whether family obligation—and her own plans for her future—are more important than the lives and tradition of this small community."

My review:  This book is an easy read.  Even though it was quite predictable, I still enjoyed reading it.  It was a bit frustrating having a heroine without a backbone, but she did get better by the end of the book.  I appreciated the "community" feel that was present throughout the book.  The local folk were so representative of many small towns.  The romance that developed between Camille and Marsh was pretty funny, and the encounters between the two and the landowners helped to keep me interested in the story as I read.  While this book was not a page-turner for me, I am glad that I read it.  I would definitely be willing to read other books by this author.  I received a complimentary e-copy from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.