The Preacher's Bride

Here is yet another story of strength and fearlessness through Christ, in the face of severe difficulties.  (Funny side note here...no matter how many times I have read this title, I still want to say The Preacher's Wife!  Duh?!  What's my problem?!  I think I'm broken...)

Book Rating:  Best of the Best

I fell in love with Hedlund's writing after I read The Doctor’s Lady.  I immediately ordered The Preacher's Bride, and waited (quite impatiently, I might add) for it to arrive at my door. It came by way of UPS and no one saw me for the next 24 hours.  OK, not really—but I did spend every spare moment reading it.  As with The Doctor's Lady, this book is based on truth--I just love that!

If you are a mother, (and even if you are not…) the first pages will tug, violently at your heart, and you will not be able to stop reading!

Elizabeth Whitbread is a sweet, caring, and unassuming looking woman, who feels that God is leading her to take care of John Costin’s children, in the wake of his wife’s death.  (Let me say quickly here, that I had no idea about this time in England’s history, and I was SO fascinated!  Wow. You will simply love this time-period!)

John Costin, the leading man, believes it is his mission to spread the word of God, no matter how he is threatened or abused.

As his grief over his wife’s death passes, John begins to fall in love with Elizabeth and sees her as the perfect companion for him.  She is already deeply in love with him—for his faith, his strength, his determination and not to mention dashingly good looks!  *sigh * Love it!  But the obstacles they face are almost too oppressive to bear.

There is a wonderful rescue scene in this book…I dog-eared the page, so if I just wanna go back and read that part I can. (teehee...)  I have been found, numerous times, reading that particular part with a big, silly grin on my face.  It’s at those moments my husband knows I must have had a particularly stressful day chasing my kiddos around.  So, wisely, he let’s me finish, before he asks what we are having for dinner.

Your faith will be strengthened when you read this book, no doubt.  Enjoy!

Happy Reading!
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Song of My Heart

When I read these books I like to find the things that I have in common with the leading lady.  Sometimes those things are easy to find and sometimes there’s nothing at all.  In Song of My Heart, my connection was the music.  I was actually wondering if any writer had done a story about a girl that likes to sing…so when I found this book I knew I had to read it.   (Can  I just interject a little something here while we are talking about “connecting” with the leading lady—where are the leading ladies with brown hair and brown eyes! WHERE ARE THEY?!  I only know of one book so far where the leading lady had brown hair AND brown eyes.  I’m not feelin’ the love.)

Book Rating:  Best of the Best

I found this book to be a complete joy.  It just goes to show that you may have to try a few books from the same author before you give up on them completely.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about Sawyer after reading A Hopeful Heart, but I gave this one a try and, boy am I glad I did!  I had a very hard time putting it down.

Sadie is a sweet devoted girl, who goes to work at a mercantile in Kansas to provide for her family who live hundreds of miles away in Indiana.  She also has been “chosen” to sing at the towns Opera House.  But there is something fishy going on and Sadie can’t quite seem to put her finger on it.

Thad McKane is a Sheriff (‘member how I love those lawmen!?) who has come to town to look into some illegal boot-legging.  He is just a totally lovable guy.  I wouldn’t name him as a rugged man-of-a-man, but he is very appealing.  Maybe his character is supposed to be that way since he is trying to follow his dream of becoming a preacher.

Thad is beginning to fall for Sadie in a bad way (or I should say a good way…hehehe…) but he is beginning to think she might somehow be involved in the crimes he came to town to investigate.

You will thoroughly enjoy this book.  It’s light and and a pure delight (like my play on words there?) to read.

Happy Reading!

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Courting Morrow Little

Courting Morrow Little was so deliciously romantic, I needed to keep a towel with me to mop up my drool.  (Keep in mind, all these books, though deeply romantic are also very clean.  No hanky-panky.)

Book Rating:  Best of the Best

All of Frantz’s books are dark.  No doubt about that.  But, they really do make up for it in other areas such as…romance.  Hello?!  I mean, isn’t that one of the main reasons we all read these?! 

Morrow is a young woman who, in this untamed land of 18^th century Kentucky, is about the most eligible lady around.  She is attracting numerous suitors, but only one captures her heart.  He (and I’m not going to divulge anything about this particular leading man.  I will only tell you, be prepared to L-OVE-AH him to death!  That’s where the towel will come in handy…) happens to be a part of her heartbreaking past.  Can she learn to forgive and move on?

There’s a lot of action in this book.  Read it when you have done all your chores like a good little mommy—you’ll want to focus.  Also ideally, read it when everyone else is asleep so you can enjoy it unfettered. 

Happy Reading!

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The Girl in the Gatehouse

I’m about as big ‘a Jane Austen fan as you can find.  Regency period certainly has it’s place.  The Girl in the Gatehouse was well received by many, therefore, I was eager to partake.  (The girl on the cover?  I want her dress!)  However, I can only say that it was, for me, just ok.  Now, ring the bell for tea, Kitty.

Book rating:  Here a little, there a little

There was a whole-lotta stuff going on in this book.  I was overwhelmed.  In fact there was SO much that I almost felt like I was reading a mystery/romance/drama/something-else.  So, as you can guess it was a bit much for my meager brain to digest.

Mariah Aubrey  is sent away to live by herself, essentially, away from all “polite” society.  What has she done to deserve such a fate?  I can’t tell.  She resides in the gatehouse of a distant and somewhat mysterious relative.  It is here that she gets to know the handsome Matthew Bryant.  When he leases the estate on which Mariah resides, he finds he can’t quite keep away from this bewitching beauty.

Now, there is just so much that goes on I feel that I am highly incapable of summarizing it for you.  In short:  crazy stuff happens and I think you are really gonna like it.  How's that for ambiguity?!  *teehee* If you prefer a more simple story this may not be your thing, but it’s made plenty of readers pretty dang happy.  So when you read it let me know what you think.

I was honestly very, very surprised to learn that this book won the 2011 Christy Award for Historical Romance. I would have voted for Within My Heart, hands down.  (You can read my review for that one if you're curious...) But, that’s just me.

Happy Reading!

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Rekindled

Rekindled is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  This is the first book in the Fountain Creek Chronicles series and boy, is it a doozy.  I was sucked in from the very beginning. "But you don't have to take my word for it!"  (Yep, that's my not-so-subtle "shout-out” to the best "book review" show ever-- Reading Rainbow.  Hollah!)

Book Rating:  Best of the Best

First off, don’t expect to get through this without crying.  Have a tissue handy….or two… or three.  It’s a beautiful story about—well it’s a story about a lot of things: finding Christ, finding yourself through Christ, forgiveness, and of course true love.  I am really surprised this didn’t win a Christy Award, frankly.  But all the books in this series have won awards or have at least been nominated.  Again, I read these out of order, and I don’t recommend that though it can be done.

Kathryn Jennings is deeply in love with Larson, her husband of ten years.  He loves her deeply as well but, unfortunately, has some serious trust issues.  These issues stem from childhood so you know they’re gonna take some time to get over.  Also, they have not been able to have children, and he blames himself.  Kathryn hopes that someday he will break down his emotional walls so they can enjoy a truly happy marriage.

One night, something dreadful happens to Larson, nearly killing him, and sending him through a rough and lengthy recovery.  In the process he learns a great deal about himself, and about God.  But, there are still some hurdles to get over in his quest to show his wife that he loves her more than ever.

So many times I put down this book and said, “Holy crud!  This is so sad!  I can’t keep reading this!”  Then twenty seconds later I would pick it back up and start reading again….voraciously I might add.

The characters are phenomenal.  The plot, captivating.  The message, fabulous.  Go read it.  Now!


Happy Reading!
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A Hopeful Heart

I had a hopeful heart when I read A Hopeful Heart.  (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) Eh, hem.  And, this being my first read of any Sawyer book, I was pleasantly surprised.

Book Rating: Here a little, there a little

To be completely honest, there were times during this book I found myself getting bored.  Sawyer’s style is very verbose with lots of details.  This made the book drag on a bit for me.  I also felt that it took away from my imagination as a reader, but that’s just personal preference.

Next, I was disappointed in the romance.  There was enough to keep me reading and wondering what was going to happen next, but in the end I was disappointed that I had to wait until the very end of the book for the two love-birds to finally get together.  Exhausting!

Tressa is a young beauty from the east who has been sent by her Aunt to a Herdsman School in Kansas where she will learn to be a ranchers wife.  (I thought the plot was way fun!  I just would have enjoyed more romance.  More romance, people!) Abel is the owner of a ranch near the school and wants nothing to do with the girls from the east—he’s had his heart broken before.  Also, there’s trouble at his ranch and he needs to get to the bottom of it.  Somehow Tressa finds herself in the middle of the problem, and he gets to come to her rescue!  Yay!

There was a twist in this plot that I didn’t really see coming, and I found that to be thoroughly entertaining.  The supporting characters were also fun, while the Christian side of it really shone.

Definitely read this when you are looking for something simple and down-right fun.

Happy Reading!

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Loving Libby

Loving Libby:  cute, fun and totally great for an escape from the rat race.  Otherwise known as, “Mom, what’s for lunch?”  “Mom, I have to go poopy!” “Mom, where’s my barbies?!” “Mom, mom…mom…mom…mom…”  Ok, you get the idea.  (I only joke about it because, deep down you know I love my life as a mom!)

Book rating: Up All Night’er

I love these books by Hatcher where I can just jump into another place and time and feel good in the process.

Libby Blue didn’t start life as Libby Blue.  She was the daughter of a sickeningly wealthy, and horribly mean man named Northrop Vanderhoff.  And her name was Olivia.  She narrowly escapes being forced to marry a man she doesn’t love and flees to Idaho where she begins a new and happy life.

Remington Walker wants revenge on Northrop for what he did to his father.  So he takes a great deal of money from Northrop to find where his daughter has been hiding for six years.  He could never have imagined that upon finding her, he would fall in love with her.  

I thought this story was just pure, blissful entertainment.  You won’t be disappointed.

Happy reading!

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