Windswept Way, a Hope Harbor novel by Irene Hannon, A Review

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Book Description

Buying a haunted house was never in Ashley Scott's plans, but when an intriguing opportunity drops into her lap after a major setback, she finds herself trekking cross-country to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast to launch a new life.

Wounded warrior Jonathan Gray isn't sure what to make of the attractive woman on his reclusive older neighbor's isolated property, but her presence is none of his business--until she enlists his help with an ambitious project. When Jonathan finds his interest in the new arrival becoming more personal than professional, however, his defenses go up. There's no room in his life--or his heart--for romance.

Yet, as these three hurting people join forces to restore life, laughter, and love to a historic estate that has known too much sadness, they may also find healing, hope, and happiness for themselves.

Bestselling author Irene Hannon invites you back to Hope Harbor, where hearts heal and love blooms.

Review

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

While this book is the ninth in the Hope Harbor series, it can be read as a standalone. This is the only book I've read in the series but the small town cast of characters enhanced the story and it wasn't confusing at all.
Windswept Way is the name of a road along the Pacific coastline that leads to a Victorian mansion that is the home of a recluse and loads of local rumors. Ashley sees the potential of the mansion as an events venue and strikes out to revive the historic home, with help from Jon, a war vet with visible scars that have made him leary of forming connctions in the small community. Ashley is also nursing a broken heart but they each see the kindness and generosity in each other and love blossoms.

I will say that I had a hard time settling into this book. The story premise was fine, the writing is fine it was very slow paced. Maybe I was also short on time. It sat unread about 1/3 of the way in for weeks. But as I came back to it and kept reading, it was okay and I was thinking it would be a two star read for me. It really redeemed itself in the last third of the book which drew me in more than the earlier portions of the book had. The final third of the book is filled with deep insight and I tabbed so many pages! The way Ashley and Jon both addressed their worries over a relationship between them - internally and with each other - was mature and absolutely refreshing. No whiny angst that drug on for pages, no beating around the bush with each other....I had to add a star which I did not see coming!
I certainly plan to pick up more by Irene Hannon and look forward to encountering the people in Hope Harbor again (Charley, the clergy and those seagulls!)

I received a ARC from the publisher; this is my honest review.

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green, A Review

 

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Book Description

An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European Front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

Review

I received a dARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

If you love books that feature books, read this.
If you enjoy historical fiction, read this.
If you are looking for strong female characters, with lots of character development, read this.
If you are want a WWII narrative with a domestic focus, read this.

The Blackout Book Club showcases four women, from different backgrounds and no connection to each other, who form a bond over books and learn the value of community and friendship. Green also includes many bits of life and the domestic war effort that are easily overlooked in World War II.
This will be on my best of the year list, no question.

I received a dARC from the publisher via Netgalley; this is my honest review.

I gave this book: ★★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin, A Review

 

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Book Description

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She's not a victim, she's a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she's determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can't stay safely over the border in America--unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

Melissa Koslin throws you right into the middle of the action in this high-stakes thriller that poses the question: What is the price of freedom?

Review

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

Wow - what a book!
Captivating story from the very beginning. This book focuses on human trafficking, which gets very little attention in proportion to the major crime problem that it is. I liked how Koslin brought focus to the issue without including graphic detail that would make it difficult for many readers to read. Liliana is a strong character, who really personifies the "I never saw myself as a victim" mentality. Meric is a man with an intense sense of right and wrong and the conviction to seek justice for those who are taken advantage of. Their past experiences with human trafficking - hers, very recent and his rooted in trauma his mother faced - draw them together in a shared vision of doing what they can to help.
It was so sweet how both Liliana and Meric selflessly cared for the other, thinking that they needed to put aside their personal feelings so that they other could heal. They both needed the other to truly see them and to trust them.
I really enjoyed this story - thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review. 

I gave this book: ★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Among the Innocent by Mary Alford, A Review

 

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Book Description

When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after another Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's deaths.

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning. Could it be that the former police chief framed an innocent man to keep the biggest secret of all buried? And what will it mean for Leah--and Dalton--when the full truth comes to light?

USA Today bestselling author Mary Alford keeps you guessing as two determined souls plumb the dark depths of the past in order to forge a brighter future--together.

Review

I expected a low key thriller that would be nejoyable to read. It's a little more than that. It is low key in the sense that the mystery is pretty clear cut: there is a killer and while they can't identify him by name, there are not several potential suspects. They know who they are looking for which takes one aspect of a thriller off the table. Despite being "known", the villain is creepy and terrifying. There are absolutely times of suspense in this book that had me quickly turning pages and reading while cooking to see what he was going to do next.
BUT
Alford still weaves a tale that quickly pulled me in to the story. Leah survived a brutal attack that left her orphaned and seeing her deal with her past and find peace is interesting. I think there could be a little more character development with her and this process but she definitely shows her strength and ability to focus on a task rather than wallowing in pity. The role that Dalton plays in the story and the second tier mystery in the book adds a great twitst. The shocker at the end of the book with this tangent has me hoping there is a second book coming that will resolve that mystery.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher; this is my honest review.

I gave this book: ★★★.5

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher, A Review

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Book Description

Dawn Dixon can hardly believe she's on a groomless honeymoon on beautiful Cape Cod . . . with her mother. Sure, Marnie Dixon is good company, but Dawn was supposed to be here with Kevin, the love of her life (or so she thought).

Marnie Dixon needs some time away from the absolute realness of life as much as her jilted daughter does, and she's not about to let her only child suffer alone--even if Marnie herself had been doing precisely that for the past month.

Given the circumstances, maybe it was inevitable that Marnie would do something as rash as buy a run-down ice-cream shop in the town's tightly regulated historic district. After all, everything's better with ice cream.

Her exasperated daughter knows that she's the one who will have to clean up this mess. Even when her mother's impulsive real estate purchase brings Kevin back into her life, Dawn doesn't get her hopes up. Everyone knows that broken romances stay broken . . . don't they?

Welcome to a summer of sweet surprises on Cape Cod--a place where dreams just might come true.

Review

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

Absolutely charming!
I adore Marnie and her positive outlook on life and ability to be spontaneous.
The Sweet Life is a look at a mother-daughter duo who undertake the rejuvenation of an ice cream shop in the vacation town of Cape Cod. It explores how we deal with grief and disappointment and finding a path forward through life when it doesn't go as planned.

I appreciate how Dawn wants security and predictability and is a perfectionist. She is able to see though that her attempts to control life - as she wants it - ultimately ended up causing it to crumble.

I absolutely can't wait for the next book in the series!

I gave this book: ★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

A Dazzle of Diamonds by Liz Johnson

 

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Book Description

Best friends Penelope and Tucker have faced their share of challenges. But finding a lost treasure in time to clear his family's name and win him an election may uncover something they never expected.

Review

I received a dARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

Best Friends to Lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and I really liked Johnson's approach to this classic setup. While Tucker and Penelope have been friends for decades, there was none of the years of secret feelings that one or both had for the other They were truly just best friends. Penelope had an ex-fiance that broke her heart, Tucker had self-esteem issues that needed to be worked through as their relationship moved from friendship to romance. I did like how quickly they realized that something was there and pursued it. The mystery tied to past generations added a fun element to the story. The ending - was a happy ending, even if it wasn't a typical happy ending - which I appreciate!
This is a cute, light-hearted, HEA guaranteed romance book!

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

The Black Midnight by Kathleen Y'Barbo

 

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Book Description

Two Series of Murders Seem Mysteriously Connected
Step into True Colors -- a series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

Could a series of murders in London in 1889 be related to unsolved murders in Austin, Texas, 1884? Queen Victoria wants to know and asks her granddaughter—who left the queen’s good graces by going off to America to become a Pinkerton agent—to quietly look for any connection. The catch is the queen doesn’t want her to do it alone. Alice Anne must find her former Pinkerton agent partner—now an attorney in Austin—and enlist him in the hunt. As the pair get closer to finding their suspect, their lives become endangered, but they refuse to be intimidated. Can this case be solved?

Review

I received a dARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I have read several books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them. This book explores a series of unsolved murders in both Austin and London during the late 1800s. The Jack the Ripper cases are well known; as a native Texan, I was not aware of the slew of murders in Austin that many believe are connected to the Ripper cases. I read almost half the book the first night - mainly because I was trying to figure out if the main characters were completely fictitious. In past books, they are yet the details around the crime are well researched and key players from history appear in the story. In this book, there's just a few things that are hard to believe. First, Annie, the heroine, is written as a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She either needs to truly be a granddaughter of the queen or should have been a much more distant relative. The other detail that really bothered me was the ending where Annie and her sister both seek to marry men outside of their social and economic circle and that it is easily allowed. I just don't buy it - not for the time in history. I believe women wanted more, but I don't believe that would be a choice women would be able to take, and certainly not royal women.
I really enjoyed the segment of the book that focused on the Austin murders; this series does such a good job of shedding light on historical crimes that would have been headlines in their time but that have also been forgotten. I wish there had been a little more time spent in London on the Ripper cases, but that's not the point of the story and of course, the killer has not been found. For such a complicated and well-known set of crimes, I like the way Y'Barbo handled the story.

This series is terrific for readers who love mystery and/or historical romance.

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner - A Review

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Book Description

Betty Sweet is still recovering from the loss of her husband when she becomes the temporary guardian of a five-year-old nephew she never knew she had. As they struggle to move forward, they build a relationship upon the foundation of storytelling and its special kind of magic.

Review

I was provided a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

There are times when I read a book, that I enjoy immensely, and I can not find words to express it adequately. This is such a book.

We meet Betty and see rather quickly that life has not turned out the way that she would have wished. Her story starts in the middle, (view spoiler) and progresses forward, while also flashing back. This could lead to a confusing timeline but Finkbeiner handles it expertly: I did not have any confusion.

Betty is a lovely example of how we find joy despite the hardships and disappoints of life. Her relationship with her sister was a portrayal of of how God can reconcile relationships. I appreciated that Betty struggled with walking out her faith at times - it was authentic and raw and relatable.

I was drawn to the cover initially, looked at it several times as I was reading. It wasn't until I read the last page, closed the book and took a breath as I began to process the story that I looked at it and made the connection to the story. Kudos to the team that designed the cover that so subtly and perfectly captures this book.

This was the first book I've read by Susie Finkbeiner but it will not be the last!

I gave this book: ★★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

What Momma Left Behind by Cindy Sproles, A Review

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Book Description

Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and dysentery ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1898, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie's mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.

Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers--one greedy and the other a drunkard--Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma's children.

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

Review

I received a dARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

This book was a surprising 5 star read for me. I expected to enjoy the story and anticipated giving it 3 or 4 stars based on the title alone.  As expected, this is the story of a young woman and how she deals with the loss of her mother and how she grows through the process. Sproles weaves an intriguing story that offers a glimpse into Appalachian history and a discovery of faith around a common life experience (the loss of a parent).

One of the strong components of this novel is the voice used by Sproles. She writes in a way that captures the Appalachian language and syntax accurately but without falling into cliche. It did take some getting used to but I feel like it added so much authenticity to the time and place that this story is set. 

I'm not sure when this novel was finished and submitted for publication, but in light of COVID-19, there are many parallels between the strange sickness that sweeps through the region and our current pandemic. Worie does not hesitate to care for children and her kindness and resourcefulness are inspiring. She values family and sacrificed marriage, one of the few opportunities available to women at that time, to care for her mother. While she lacked a formal education, she was bright enough and mentally/emotionally strong enough to stand up for what she believed to be right. 

I gave this book: ★★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette, A Review

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Book Description

After being branded during the battle of Jericho, Moriyah has had no prospects for marriage--until now. She hopes to please the man, but things go horribly wrong and she is forced to flee for her life. Seeking safety at one of the Levitical cities of refuge, she is unprepared for the dangers she faces, and the enemies--and allies--she encounters on her way.

Review

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I do not typically read Biblical historical fiction so this was a new venture for me. I am so thankful for the publisher sending me a copy to review. I've only read one other book in this genre so I wasn't really sure what to expect. While I think I am fairly well-versed in the Bible, particularly well-known history, I do not consider myself to be advanced in Biblical knowledge so I always hesitate to know if the book stays true to history.
What I really enjoyed about Moriyah's story is that she is a fictional character set during the time after Joshua has led God's people into Canaan as they begin to settle the lands that they have conquered. I was able to enjoy the characters and immerse myself in the daily living on the period which brings a whole new element to my understanding of that time when I actually go back and read the Bible.
I also thought Moriyah was endearing as a character. She has certainly faced hardship and judgment which has further led her to close herself off from being an active part of society. I could relate to how the fear of what people are saying about you can hinder our relationships, with God and each other. Seeing the journey that Moriyah took to accept circumstances that were beyond her control and reach out to boldly grasp a future for herself was inspiring.
This is the first book in the Cities of Refuge series published by Bethany House. Goodreads shows that the second book in the series is expected to be published sometime in 2018. I am interested to see the next installment and read further works by Connilyn Cossette.

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it