Month: May 2017

Return to Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand

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return to HH

Pages: 352

Publisher: Kensington

Published: May 30, 2017

 

A delightful return to visit with Anna and Felty at Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin.

Anna and Felty are joined by their grandson, Reuben as he flees his hometown of Sugarcreek, Ohio after being jilted by his fiancé for his best friend. Soon to follow is Fern, his best friend’s little sister. Whatever is he going to do to make her see that he cannot forgive the two people he loved the most? Will Anna be able to work her magic on these two with her knitting or has she finally met her match?

From book one I have absolutely loved the wisdom that Anna and Felty share with the young’uns. My favorite passage in this book is: “The measure of a man isn’t how popular he is with friends, but how he treats those who have nothing to give him.” A lesson I think we all can be reminded of time and time again.

I appreciate that Beckstrand doesn’t feel the need for bible verses every other page. She gets the point across of living a Christian life through your actions to others and how you view the world.

Jennifer Beckstrand has done a wonderful job in making the characters come alive in the heart of the reader. You find yourself cheering, being angry and even crying when her characters do in the book. I am looking forward to another visit to Huckleberry Hill in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book for my own honest opinion.

 

 

 

Uniformly Dead (A Stitch in Time Mystery) by Greta McKennan

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uniformly dead

Pages: 206

Publisher: Kensington Books

Published: May 16, 2017

A wonderful page-turning debut cozy mystery by Grate McKennan.
The book starts with Daria dealing with a difficult Civil War reenactor who turns her already topsy-turvy life into more chaos. At the same she is dealing with a horrid mother of the bride on an antique wedding dress and the return of her long-lost brother. An innocent trip to the local Civil War museum turns into a theft and eventual murder. Will Daria survive long enough to clear her brother’s name?
I was hooked from the first sentence. Ms. McKennan uses imagery very well without getting bogged down by to using too many words to describe what is happening in the scene. I even learned what a Farb was in the historical reenacting world.
Daria is a well-rounded likeable character with gumption. She felt very real to me. A little gun-shy in the love department after a disastrous four relationship with a jerk. I think most of us know how that feels. Her renter, Aileen, is a hoot. We all need an Aileen in our corner.
Uniformly Dead is full of action from page one to the end. I could not flip my Kindle pages fast enough. I am already looking forward to the second book in the Stitch in Time series. I can’t wait to see where we go next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC of the book for my own. honest opinion in the form of a review.

Killer Characters (A Books by the Bay Mystery by Ellery Adams

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killer characters
Pages: 282 (Kindle Edition)
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Published: May 2, 2017
As we join Olivia, Chief Rawlings and the rest of the Bayside Book Writers for their final murder to solve it turns personal. Laurel has been arrested for the murder of her husband’s lover. Did she do it? Can Laurel’s marriage be fixed? Will it destroy the Bayside Book Writers? For these answers you need to stop what you are doing and read this book immediately.
Tissue warning: my emotions were everywhere during this book and I found myself reaching for the tissues several times but none more so than the ending. Ellery Adams did a perfect job in making you feel the character’s emotions deep in your soul. I am still reeling from the ending but it was the perfect way to end the series.
If you have not read the series I suggest getting them all for vacation and spending the entire vacation in Oyster Bay, you will not be disappointed. The growth of Olivia as a caring individual who learns to open her own heart up to the impossible is hope for all mankind. Tragedy and grief affects us, some when we are little, some not until we are old, and some more times than it should but we can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and learn to live a good life.

The Farmers Market Mishap by Wanda and Jean Brunstetter

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the farmers market

Pages: 208

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Published: June 1, 2017

You always know you will enjoy what you are reading if the book is written by Wanda E. Brunstetter. One reason is she uses real places as the settings for her books. I’ve been lucky enough to have visited Topeka, Shipshewana and surrounding Amish communities in Northern Indiana and it draws me into the story more. It is a very friendly group of Amish communities. Brunstetter does a great job in conveying their friendliness.
This is the second book to feature the twins Thelma and Elma. The focus is more on Elma and her journey to finding last love. The first book had me in stitches at times and this book had some funny dialogue but I found it a bit more serious.
The Brunstetters are pros when it comes to using descriptive words without being overwhelming. I can picture Elma as if she was a real person. When an author succeeds in doing so I am a devoted fan.
Personally I don’t think you have to read The Lopsided Christmas Cake before reading The Farmers Market Mishap but you might appreciate Elma and Delbert’s friendship more if you do. I hope to see another book in the future featuring the twins Elma and Thelma.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC to read and review with my honest opinion.

You always know you will enjoy what you are reading if the book is written by Wanda E. Brunstetter. One reason is she uses real places as the settings for her books. I’ve been lucky enough to have visited Topeka, Shipshewana and surrounding Amish communities in Northern Indiana and it draws me into the story more. It is a very friendly group of Amish communities. Brunstetter does a great job in conveying their friendliness.
This is the second book to feature the twins Thelma and Elma. The focus is more on Elma and her journey to finding last love. The first book had me in stitches at times and this book had some funny dialogue but I found it a bit more serious.
The Brunstetters are pros when it comes to using descriptive words without being overwhelming. I can picture Elma as if she was a real person. When an author succeeds in doing so I am a devoted fan.
Personally I don’t think you have to read The Lopsided Christmas Cake before reading The Farmers Market Mishap but you might appreciate Elma and Delbert’s friendship more if you do. I hope to see another book in the future featuring the twins Elma and Thelma.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC to read and review with my honest opinion.

The Beloved Hope Chest by Amy Clipston

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the beloved hope chest

Pages: 320

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: May 9, 2017

Join Mattie, the mom of the three Fisher sisters from The Forgotten Recipe, The Courtship Basket and The Cherished Quilt as she tells her story of losing a husband and son.

You will not have a dry eye while reading this book. Amy Clipston has outdone herself with this series and especially the last book. I took my time reading, The Beloved Hope Chest, as I knew it would be my last first time visit with the Fishers. Yes, I plan on re-reading this series again as it was that good.

Faith abounds in the love story of Leroy and Mattie Fisher. Christian Faith, faith in each other and faith in true love. Through this book we learn we have to trust that God knows our path before we do as he is the one who set us for it. As the wall hanging in the book states: “Happiness is like a butterfly. Don’t go chasing it.” God will make sure everything happens in the time it is to happen. Some of the happiest times are after the worst times.

You can read any of the four books as stand alones but I recommend reading in order so you can get the build up and excitement for The Beloved Hope Chest. Grab some tissues and plenty of free time. You will fight yourself to put this wonderful book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zondervan for providing an ARC for my own, honest opinion.