Thursday, May 28, 2015

Hearts Made Whole

Book description:  "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:  Although this is the second book in the series, you do not have to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one.  A wooden cross ties the stories in the series together, but other than that and the fact that the stories take place at a lighthouse, there is not much of a connection between the two.  Jody Hedlund is an awesome story-teller.  Her characters are real and the story pulls you into their lives and doesn't let go.  There is a little bit of mystery and a lot of romance, so if you like romantic historical fiction this is a great book.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

What a Girl Needs from her Mom

Book descripton:  "Mystified by the situations girls face today?

There's a good reason, Mom. Our girls are growing up in a completely different world than we did. But whether your daughter is very young or a teenager, you can equip yourself with the wisdom and practical help she needs for the pressures and decisions ahead.

With keen insight and warm encouragement, Cheri Fuller shares how you can become a more welcome influence at every stage in your daughter's life. Drawing from her own experiences and the expertise of others, Cheri answers all the top questions, including:

"How can I help my girl avoid the dangers of social media and navigate the digital world?"
"How can I counter society's unhealthy messages about body image and sexuality?
"How can I help my daughter (and me!) deal with her emotional ups and downs?"
"What are the best ways to instill good values?"
"How can I help her grow a firm faith in God?"

Filled with trustworthy suggestions, this book will help you steer your daughter toward becoming a healthy, confident young woman."

My review:  This was a very timely book for me since I have two young daughters.  The author wrote in such a way that was as comfortable as having a conversation with her.  She gave practical suggestions to help with the particular topic she was covering in each chapter.  She also gave plenty of stories to support and illustrate what she was talking about.  Cheri Fuller is a mom that has done her best to understand and encourage her own daughter, and has chosen to encourage other moms by writing this book.  Each chapter covers a specific topic, and they are all very good.  While a lot of what she has written is practical and common sense, there is still plenty of information that I know I never thought of.  Every mom with girls would benefit from reading this book!  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, May 7, 2015

Taken

Book description:  "An investigator who knows tragic loss firsthand, 
and his new client, missing far too long...

Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time. 

When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn't mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they'll stop at nothing to silence her.

If justice is to be done, and if Shannon's life is ever to get on track again, Matthew will need to discover exactly what happened to her--even if it means stirring up a hornet's nest of secrets."
My review:  This novel, Taken, keeps Dee Henderson as one of the top suspense authors! Not only is the whole book full of suspense, one of the main characters, Shannon, is full of suspense within the book.  While Shannon slowly unfolds her story, the reader will find herself quickly turning the pages in order to get her to tell her story faster.  Dee Henderson gives her characters such depth that the reader is able to enter into their lives in such a way that makes them seem so real.  Just a hint of romance is included for those that like romantic suspense.  This is another awesome book that I highly recommend!  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

To Win Her Favor

Book description:  "A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who can help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing for good.
An Irish-born son far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He's come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and start a farm, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he'd wagered, especially when Maggie Linden's father makes him an offer he shouldn't accept yet cannot possibly refuse.
Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the annual Drayton Stakes at Nashville's racetrack--the richest race run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance, and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder, Maggie's father--aging, yet wily as ever--makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail--Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.
Cullen and Maggie need each other in order to achieve their dreams. But their stubborn, wounded hearts--and the escalating violence from a "secret society" responsible for lynchings and midnight raids--may prove too much for even two determined souls."

My review:  Tamara Alexander is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!  To Win Her Favor is just one example of why I love her books.  Cullen and Maggie are both very strong characters that make the reader laugh and yell almost in the same breath. Strong prejudice intertwined with a marriage of convenience gives the readers a sense of the struggles still endured four years after the Civil War. Add in a horse farm and this historical romance has everything it needs.  I love the characters, the setting, and the plot.  This is another book that I finished in record time and was sad to see it come to an end. Definitely a page-turner you don't want to miss!  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher through the Booklook Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.