Under a Summer Sky

Under a summer sky Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 6, 2017

Reviewer: Jennifer S. Roman

Melody Carlson brings another sweet yet fun romance to her many readers in Under a Summer Sky: A Savannah Romance. Nicole Anderson, art teacher in Seattle, is languishing teaching high school students. She knows her lectures are boring and she is not creating art as she had hoped. With summer break looming on the horizon, she hopes her summer is quiet and productive. That is, until her mother shows up unexpectedly at the end of her school day on a Friday. It turns out that her mother’s friends are taking a summer-long tour around the world, and her mother has recommended that Nicole manage the friends’ art gallery in Savannah while they are gone.

The trip is spur-of-the-moment, and Nicole has no formal training to run an art gallery, but she decides it would be fun. Besides, her childhood crush, Alex, the son of her parents’ friends, is going to be around as he finalizes his divorce. She knows she can rely on him to help her with the gallery, and maybe start up a romance. What Nicole doesn’t expect, however, is that Alex is irresponsible with his teenage daughter Bernice. Additionally, Amyra, her co-worker at the gallery is a snobbish, rude woman who tries to control Nicole. To make matters worse, Nicole was told that she would be managing the gallery, not Amyra, but nobody told Amyra that. Nicole must deal with her frustrated colleague while also trying to keep an eye on Bernice.

As the summer progresses, Nicole manages to sell several pieces of art at the gallery while signing new artists. She realizes she is good at running the gallery and that she has feelings for Alex’ nerdy brother Ryan instead of Alex. How this will play out with the boys’ sibling rivalry is anyone’s guess.

True to form, Melody Carlson has written a sweet romance novel set in a beautiful setting. She brings just the right amount of conflict to make the story interesting while not going overboard. The characters are likeable and realistic, albeit predictable. Still, for a summer romance with plenty of southern charm, this book fits the bill.

Readers who take this book for its simple romantic story will enjoy it. There are not a lot of complex situations or characters, but they are fun and easy to understand. The romance is not bodice-ripper; rather, it’s the first stage of romance that involves butterflies in the stomach and hand-holding. It’s a fun read that relies as much on the setting as the characters to tell the story.

This is a charming book that does not contain violence, sex, or foul language. For this reason, I recommend this book for young adult readers and up. Fans of Melody Carlson and sweet romances in general will find this book enjoyable.

Naomi’s Hope

Naomi's Hope Author: Jan Drexler

Series: Journey to Pleasant Prairie #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 6, 2017

Reviewer: Jennifer S. Roman

The third and final installment in the Journey to Pleasant Prairie series finds a newcomer, Cap Stoltzfus, joining the two groups of Amish who have arrived in LaGrange County, Indiana, in the 1840s. One group is from Ohio, and one group is from Pennsylvania. Although one group is considered more progressive than the other, they live and work together across a wide area separated by marsh and forest. They make miles-long treks on Sundays for church services and during the week to help their neighbors with chores. Cap finds himself settling in nicely, and is especially happy when he meets Naomi Schrock, a single girl who lives with her family and son near Cap’s new cabin. She has rescued a young boy whose family perished in a deadly storm, and even though her neighbors accept it, some people gossip that the boy, Davey, is the product of a sinful relationship. Cap is determined to get to know Naomi while finding out the truth of Davey’s coming to live with Naomi.

Meanwhile, a new preacher has arrived in the settlement, and he brings back horrible memories for Cap. Shem Fischer used to bully Cap when they were boys, and while Cap does his best to forgive Shem and put that experience in the past, he can’t help but feel that Shem is stirring up trouble throughout the settlement. Rumors fly, people refuse to help one another, and there is talk of breaking the church into two different sects. Shem seems to be behind all of it, but Cap has no proof. It’s up to the other members of the church to see Shem for his bad behavior and keep him in check.

I have enjoyed the first two books in this series, so I was excited to read the final book, as well. I have to admit that I had no idea there could be such Peyton Place-like drama playing out in an Amish settlement in the middle of Indiana, but after reading this book, it’s a whole new possibility. People are quarreling over where to hold church, how to plant and harvest crops, and what to serve for Sunday dinner. Married people have their eyes on someone other than their spouses, and rumors fly like birds. This is probably not typical of the average Amish settlement, but in this book, it was quite common. While the Amish are not immune to drama and conflicting personalities, it seems like this is an awful lot for a small new community.

I enjoyed the characters this book has, including the many newcomers. Several main characters and side characters have personal conflicts that need to be addressed, and they realize that until they give them up to God, the issues won’t go away. This causes stress in a few relationships, and the people involved learn how to work together instead of apart. There are many lessons for the characters to earn, the biggest being to trust God above all others. While some of the drama may be a bit over-the-top, the storylines and true commitment to living a simple life make the book a worthwhile read.

This is a charming book that does not contain violence, sex, or foul language. For this reason, I recommend this book for young adult readers and up. Fans of Amish fiction, Amish romance, or a good clean story about the settling of America will enjoy the story.

Dark Deception

Dark Deception Author: Nancy Mehl

Series: Defenders of Justice #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: June 6, 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fast paced, gripping story that will leave readers wanting more until the very last page. By far the best I have read by Nancy Mehl.

After surviving an attack by a serial killer four years ago, Kate O’Brien has been living a quiet life in the small town of Shelter Cove, Arkansas in the witness protection program. It has been a struggle to get her life back to something she can be happy with, especially in the beginning when she wanted to end it all. The man that attacked her has been in prison, but now there is new evidence showing he might not be the murderer. Kate is subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Afraid to face her past, Kate refuses to go until Tony DeLuca, the deputy Marshal who was assigned to protect her during the original trial, comes to escort her back. This is one assignment Tony has no problem taking. He has had a hard time getting over Kate O’Brien. She made an impression on him and he hasn’t been able to get her out of his mind. As Tony arrives and prepares to take Kate back, the case takes an interesting turn that ends up putting both him and Kate in danger.

I have been a fan of Nancy Mehl for a while now and I must say that Dark Deception is her best yet. The character development and the situations they found themselves in were what I enjoyed the most. Part of it could be that that Kate is a twin and so am I. Seeing how Kate had to deal with that loss was played out really well. A few instances with Tony could have been fleshed out better to make him more believable in his role. But other than that, I don’t have many negatives to say about this book. The scenes were tight, the characters were written to play out as I felt they actually would, and the suspense was very well written. It can be difficult writing romantic suspense and find the right balance between the two in order to keep the story flowing just right. With each book, I feel Mehl is getting better and better at fining that stride and getting the dynamic just right. I recommend this book to fans of Mehl and romantic suspense novels that will keep you guessing till the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Riverbend Reunion

Riverbend Reunion Author: Henry McLaughlin

Series: Riverbend Saga #3

Publisher: CreateSpace

Release Date: December 14, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The third book in the Riverbend Saga brings Michael Archer back to what he has been running from for years and is the best in the series!

Michael Archer feels like the luckiest man in the world. He has just married, Rachel, the woman he is madly in love with, and they have a bright future to look forward to. He has finally decided to settle down after running from his past for years. But when he receives a cryptic telegram from his sister Ellie telling him to come home, he feels led to go. He is hesitant to go because the last time he was home he was saving his sister from their father, who he then stabbed with a pitchfork. Thinking he had killed his father he runs and doesn’t look back. Going back might just be the hardest thing he has ever had to do.

After reading all three books in the Riverbend Saga, I can easily say that Riverbend Reunion is the best. The first two focus on Michael and all he goes through. With the third, it starts with his sister Ellie and what led to Michael leaving home. The story then continues for almost a third of the book with Ellie before switching back to Michael. I thought this was an interesting approach, keeping the main character from the first two books mostly absent till a third of the way through, but it worked. I enjoyed getting the story of Ellie and how she handled all she went through before going back to Michael. His story in Riverbend was fleshed out enough that it was easy for him to leave and go home to deal with the family issues he had been harboring for years. I can tell that McLaughlin is growing and improving as a writer with each new book. The characters are relatable and the story itself is much more tight with the suspense in just the right places. I’m not sure if there is going to be another in the series, not only do I see potential with a few of the characters being delved into a little further, but also feel it has been wrapped up well if this is the end. The nice thing about this book was there were no spots were the story came to a stop and I felt like I wanted to be done, I was invested and wanted to see what happened with the characters. Overall it was very well written and I will be recommending this to readers that enjoy a good western tale with a lot of suspense and redemption throughout.

Riverbend Justice

Riverbend Justice Author: Henry McLaughlin

Series: Riverbend Saga #2

Publisher: CreateSpace

Release Date: January 6, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

With more action and suspense than the first, this new installment is sure to be a hit with readers.

Michael Archer is having a hard time getting over the guilt of having taken a life, even if it was to try and save another. Before dying, Sam Carstairs asked Michael to clear the name of his son Ben, the original reason for Michael coming to Riverbend. After dealing with his demons, he and a few new friends head to try and clear Ben’s name. It is going to be harder than they could have imagined, records are missing and more bodies keep turning up. It takes Michael being shot and beaten up, a young girl kidnapped, and hurting the girl he is falling in love with to make him put aside all his pain and fears to get to the bottom of what is going on.

Henry McLaughlin has followed up his hit debut novel with an even better, more suspenseful sequel, Riverbend Justice. At first, I got a little tired of Michael and his attitude of self-pity; luckily, it quickly changed and he became the man he should be. The mystery of what Michael was trying to solve was even more interesting here than the first. The characters flowed well with each other and the entire story. There is a faith message throughout, but also a lot of action. I do feel this book is more developed than the first in several ways. Even though it is independently published instead of with a publishing house, the story touches a nerve and keeps you into the story because of the feelings and emotions it brings up. McLaughlin does a great job bringing you back to the old west with the language he uses to set up the scenes and the characters. Michael and Rachel are right for each other, that is obvious from the first book. In Riverbend Justice, I found myself connecting more and more with Rachel; she has had a hard past but has turned herself into a strong, independent woman that is not only capable of taking care of herself but also helping to take care of those around her, my kind of lady. Overall this was a very enjoyable read that I will recommend to lovers of western romances with a nice dose of suspense thrown in for good measure.

Journey to Riverbend

Journey to Riverbend Author: Henry McLaughlin

Series: Riverbend Saga #1

Publisher: Tyndale

Release Date: January 24, 2011

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A Christian western with a lot of gunslingers, kidnappings and much more to enjoy.

After unsuccessfully trying to stop the hanging of a man, Michael Archer has a mission. He promised Ben Carstairs that he would find his father for him and try to reconcile with him, even though he is being hung for a crime he didn’t commit. Michael tried to stop it but couldn’t get the evidence he needed. Now Michael must travel to the town of Riverbend to find Sam Carstairs, a ruthless business man that kicked his son Ben out and isn’t likely to give Michael the time of day. As he arrives in Riverbend, Michael meets and quickly finds himself attracted to Rachel Stone who is running from her past and is hesitant to start any kind of relationship. Sam Carstairs isn’t in town and Michael waits for him. Soon word gets to town that Sam has been kidnapped on his way home and Michael feels led to join the search party to find Sam and bring the news of his son. It is a dangerous road ahead and not everyone will make it home alive.

This was the winner of the Christian Writing Guild’s Operation First Novel contest. The writing is well done and the characters are very relatable. I did feel that it had some unneeded content, especially in the last third where the action needed to pick up speed and instead stalled. There were a lot of characters, that is a hard thing to pull off and I think it could have helped to cut out about half of them, especially with the search party scenes. The overall concept of the novel was good, having the characters consider the actions they take and the consequences to their choices. Even though this is a historical novel, these concepts can be applied to everyday life and we can all learn from the characters and how they deal with their actions and the consequences. As a debut novel, this was very well done and I recommend it to lovers of historical fiction with a good message.

Trusting Grace

Trusting Grace Author: Maggie Brendan

Series: Virtues and Vices of the Old West #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Even the unlikeliest of characters have a chance at true love.

Robert Frasier feels scammed. He just lost his wife after a few short months of marriage and has now learned that she has three kids after his late wife’s sister drops them off at his door. To make matters worse, he has lost the family farm to debt and must now find a job to make ends meet. Wandering from town to town, Robert searches for a place to work. He finds work at a farm in Montana in the employment of Grace Bidwell. Hopefully Robert can work the farms to keep himself and his bedraggled children fed and clothed.

Grace Bidwell has always longed to be a wife and mother. But after her husband passed way before they had children, it seems that is an unlikely dream. She is now taking care of her widowed father whose health continues to get worse. Her new farm hand Robert is very unapproachable, almost as if he has something against her, but sometimes she still sees a softness to him. At least with his help she can manage to keep her farm.

A well written book by Maggie Brendan and my first to read by her. Even so, I don’t feel like I lost any portion of the story by starting with the third is a series. It just picked right up and took me along for the ride. I’m not sure if there were any history of the main characters in the previous two stories, but I don’t feel like I need them. The romance between the main characters was set at the right pace. Not too fast, but not too slow either. The relationships between the kids and Robert played out well too. They had a lot of problems getting started, but worked them out throughout the book and became a trusting family. Grace was a very strong woman, but still had a time of need for Robert when he managed to rescue her in a bad situation.

If you like western historical fiction with some clean romance, I recommend you give this a try.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

What Hope Remembers

What hope remembers Author: Johnnie Alexander

Series: Misty Willow #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The third installment in the Misty Willow books brings the heat and is a pleasant addition to the charming series.

Gabe Kendall has decided to try and make a fresh start at his aunt’s horse ranch. Having just been released from prison, he is skeptical of being found trustworthy anywhere he goes. As he goes for a ride one day, he bumps into a face from the past, Amy Somers. He has been in love with her since he was a teenager, but fell out of contact for many years. He doesn’t think she will ever want to be with him after finding out about his past. The thing Gabe doesn’t know is that Amy has a past and secrets of her own, some she isn’t proud of either. Can these two let go of what has been holding them back and find a way to move forward? Or are they going to be stuck in their own self-made prisons?

What Hope Remembers is a nice addition to the Misty Willow books. The nice thing is you don’t have to read them all to enjoy each one individually. It has been a while since I read the previous in the series and didn’t remember a whole lot going into this one, but that didn’t keep me from connecting with the characters and enjoying the story. I did think that both Gabe and Amy were a little too hard on themselves at times. Yes, they made mistakes, and yes, they had things in the past neither was proud of, but that was all they seemed to think about for most of the book. The last quarter of the book was the best, the suspense kicked in and made the pages fly. I think fans of the series, and the author, will really enjoy this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Stolen Heart

A Stolen Heart Author: Amanda Cabot

Series: Cimarron Creek #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 14, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Cabot’s new trilogy set in the Texas hill country makes for a great new series.

When Lydia Crawford steps off the train the train in Cimarron Creek, she expects to meet her future husband. Instead she meets the sheriff, who informs him that her husband to be is missing. And then tells her that his wife is frantic with worry. Although Texas is known for its friendliness, just a few years after the civil war people still hold grudges and suspicion against any northerner in their presence. Alone and in a new place, will Lydia be able to start over? Or should she just return back home?

Amanda Cabot’s novels are always entertaining and seem to put the main character in very awkward situations. This remains the case for Lydia when she finds that the man she loves in married to someone else. Then romance appears for this character in someone who would be an unlikely fit. This is pretty much her formula, but one that works very well. It is similar to her Texas Crossroads series, but set in the 1880s rather than present day. If you like Texas historical fiction coupled with romance, this is a new series for you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Sandpiper Cove

Sandpiper cove Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The third book in the Hope Harbor series brings the romance to a whole new level. Romance lovers will not want to miss this one.

Lexi Graham is the Hope Harbor police chief and is being pulled in too many directions at once. She has her son to take care of along with the residents of Hope Harbor, who have been dealing with a string of theft and vandalism. All of this is more than enough to keep her busy and leave zero time for anything else, romance included. With being so busy, she is caught completely off guard when she finds herself attracted to one of the victims of vandalism, Adam Stone. To make matters more complicated, Adam is an ex-con. He came to town after getting out of prison trying to make a new start. When Lexi catches one of the vandals, she talks to Adam about trying to be a mentor to the boy who is going through a tough time at home and could use his influence. Adam isn’t sure he is the right person to help the boy, but feels God leading him to try. Together Adam and Lexi work to make a difference in the lives of those they can reach and see if there is anything left to make work between the two of them.

This story is one of second chances. Lexi needs a second chance at love and Adam needs a second chance to prove he can be a good person. He doesn’t come to town looking for love and doesn’t think he deserves it either. I like the way he doesn’t want feel as if he isn’t good enough for Lexi, (even though deep down that is how he feels.) He has several people in town looking out for him who tell him that he doesn’t have to be the same person that spent time in prison. He did his time and now he needs to be willing to move on from that. I love the message of knowing it is ok to make mistakes as long as we learn from them and move on to do the work God has planned for us to do. Sometimes we tend to beat ourselves up over things that we need to let go of. If God can forgive us, then we should be able to forgive ourselves and move on too. Irene Hannon is one of the top Christian Romance writers and it is for good reason. She can weave good story with a message and characters we want to see happy. Sandpiper Cove has all of that and more. It is the third in the series, some of the characters are the same, Charley is back and you can’t help but love him, and some are new. You don’t have to read all to enjoy each separately, which is nice. I recommend this to readers that love a good, clean romance story that will put a smile on your face.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.