Thursday, March 28, 2013

The House that Love Built

Book description:  "Brooke has only loved one man, her late husband. Owen’s rebuilding after a painful divorce. Can a mysterious house bring them together for a second chance at love?
In the charming town of Smithville, Texas, Brooke Holloway is raising two young children on her own, supporting them by running the family hardware store. The last thing on her mind is falling in love. But she’s intrigued when a stranger moves to town and buys the old Hadley mansion. She’s always heard that house holds a secret—maybe even a treasure—and she can’t wait to see inside. When she meets the new owner and they spend time together, she can’t deny the attraction. Could God be giving her another chance at happiness? Or is she betraying her late husband’s memory by even thinking that way?
Owen Saunders bought the Hadley place to spite his cheating ex-wife. She’d always wanted to restore an old house in Smithville. Now he’s going to do it without her. But if anything needs restoration, it is Owen’s heart. Then he meets Brooke and her kids and finds himself tempted by love. Can he bring himself to trust a woman again?
Throw an eccentric uncle into the mix, along with the town’s teenage troublemaker, and even a finicky cat—and one thing becomes clear: God is bringing them all together for a reason."
My review:  On one hand I would say this book is a quick easy read. On the other hand, there are some deep issues that are addressed.  I enjoyed the story, and the theme of forgiveness is a thread throughout the book.  That theme is present on several different levels and reminds the reader that forgiveness is something we deal with in a lot of every day situations as well as difficult situations.  Death is also prevalent in this book.  These are only two of the difficult themes that are dealt with.  The author, Beth Wiseman, gives the reader plenty the think about while reading and even after the book is finished.  Even though these are issues we like to ignore, this was a great book to read.  There was plenty of humor, mystery, and romance to balance the book.  This is another  book by Beth Wiseman that I can recommend.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their Booksneeze Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Firefly Island

Book description:  "Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love. After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself leaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake, Texas--with husband, stepson, and a U-Haul in tow.

A sweet, mishap-filled journey into marriage, motherhood, and ranch living ensues, and Mallory is filled with both the wonderment of love and the insecurities of change. But what she can't shake is the unease she feels around her husband's new boss, Jack West. Jack's presence--and his mysterious past--set her on edge, and when hints of a scandal emerge, Mallory finds herself seeking answers... and comes to realize that the middle-of-nowhere home she wasn't sure she wanted is the very place she'll risk everything to save."

My review:  This was a book that was hard for me to get into.  As I continued to read I was drawn into the story, but it took me awhile.  I did really enjoy the character development of Mallory.  Her personality continued to grow throughout the story.  The mystery of Jack West wasn't completely revealed, so it would seem another book should be written.  Even though the beginning of the book was slow for me, the author, Lisa Wingate, did a great job in developing her story and the mystery surrounding the plot.  I was disappointed when it ended and would like to read a sequel to find out more about Mallory, the small town, Moses Lake, and the mysteries surrounding them.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.   

Thursday, March 21, 2013

A Matter of Trust

Book description:  "When life is murder, who can you trust?
One minute Mia Quinn is in her basement, chatting on the phone with a colleague at the prosecutor’s office. The next minute there’s a gunshot over the line, and Mia listens in horror as her colleague and friend Colleen bleeds to death.
Mia’s a natural for heading up the murder investigation, but these days she has all she can do to hold her life together. As a new widow with a pile of debts, a troubled teenaged son, and a four-year-old who wakes up screaming at night, she needs more time with her family, not less—and working Colleen’s case will be especially demanding. But Colleen was her friend, and she needs to keep her job. So she reluctantly teams up with detective Charlie Carlson to investigate Colleen’s death. But the deeper they dig, the more complications unfold—even the unsettling possibility that someone may be coming after her."
My review:   I really enjoyed reading this book by Lis Wiehl.  I had just barely started the book when knew that I would have trouble putting it down.  The plot had plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.  Her characters were real and their lives were believable.  I hated to have the book come to an end, and I look forward to more books about Mia Quinn.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their Booksneeze Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.