Author: kentuckybooklover

Silvia’s Rose by Jerry S. Eicher (Peace in the Valley #1)

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silvias rose

Pages: 352

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Published: August 1, 2017

Do you trust God enough to direct you toward your soul mate? Do you trust God enough to lead you to another great love after you’ve been widowed? These are the great questions that Arlene, Joseph, Isaiah and Esther must answer.

Esther and her daughter move to the Amish district where Isaiah is a minister. Esther must trust that Isaiah is the husband she longs for and the dad that her daughter needs. Will a disagreement over flowers derail their love?

Joseph moves to the district with his son after his wife died from cancer. Arlene has her heart on saving him and his son from starvation and a dirty house by making Joseph fall in love with her. Can their love bloom through the harshness of Arlene’s words about his love of roses?

I’ve not read much of Jerry S. Eicher so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I enjoyed this book. The writing is easy to read and the plot moves between the two romances seamlessly. This is a clean romance for any teen or adult.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for a free ARC copy for my own honest review.

The Nearness of You by Dorothy Garlock

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nearness of you

Pages: 384

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Published: July 11, 2017

A thoroughly enjoyable book set in the 1930s and 1950s. Dorothy Garlock has a writing style that I can only describe as classical beauty. As the reader you fall into the story and become one with the characters.

The main character, Lily, finds herself at a crossroads in life. Should she stay in Hooper’s Crossing and stay the librarian or move to NYC with her best friend? As she is making her decision she befriends a Life photographer during the famous fall festival and finds herself falling in love. Will he be the reason she leaves?

I have never been disappointed with a Dorothy Garlock book and you make it about a small town librarian and I’m hooked.

Whether this is your first Garlock book or your 20th you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC for my own honest review in return.

Naomi’s Hope by Jan Drexler

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naomis hope

Pages: 384

Publisher: Revell

Published: June 6, 2017

I would have given 3.5 stars if the option was available. The reason for 3/3.5 stars is the book started out very slowly for me. The blurb made the book sound so good I kept at it but it did not pick up for me until a little over a quarter of the way through it. The last forty percent of the book was very good.

A few years before the book starts Naomi adopted a young boy, Davey, her and her family found hiding in his family’s chimney after a tornado destroyed the property and killed his family. They have since moved to LaGrange, Indiana with other Amish families to start a new settlement. Davey befriends the new neighbor, Cap, and has his heart set on making him his new friend and dad. As Davey works on his plan, a few scrapes and almost near tragedies almost derail the plan. Will Naomi and Cap fall in love to create the family Davey so desperately desires?

As I mentioned before the book had its slow spots but it is a book I would recommend to others. The history woven into the story is very interesting. I also found it interesting as I have visited the modern day LaGrange, Indiana to see the Amish and I found it fascinating to learn about how it started.

This is the third book in a series. I have not read the first two but have put them on my list of books to read.

I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

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lifeguard

Pages: 320

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Published: July 11, 2017

The perfect read for the busy woman on the go. The chapters are short enough to read while waiting for the doctor, picking up kids from sports and waiting in the grocery store line. Beware, you will laugh out loud probably at the most inappropriate moments. Between Lisa and Francesca every woman will find something they relate to in their stories.

My favorite line in the book: “…when we all know that the one and only aphrodisiac is a man volunteering to build you some bookshelves.” Finally, someone who gets me. Build me some bookshelves and I will love you forever. Come to think of it, I think that is how my husband got me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to read. This review is based on my own honest opinion.

 

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

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the identicals

Pages: 432

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Published: June 13,2017

I fell in love with Elin Hilderbrand through her Winter series and am working my way through the rest of her books. Her love of Nantucket shines through her writing and because of that I want to visit every summer. What better way that her books. Put on your favorite flip flops with your beach hat, grab a drink, and sit in the sun. You won’t be disappointed.

Harper and Tabitha are identical twins who have lived on separate islands, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard since they were 18. For the last fourteen years they haven’t spoken or acknowledged one another. Tragic circumstances have caused them to speak and for the summer they decide to switch lives. Will they find themselves and back to one another this summer?

I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to read by flashlight as my hubby slept just so I could learn what happened next.

If you are looking for a beach read that is not set in the south this is the book for you.

Home for the Summer by Holly Chamberlin

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home for the summer

Pages: 352

Publisher: Kensington

Published: June 27,2017

A heartwarming tale of loss, love and finding yourself. Holly Chamberlin has written a story that speaks of true life.

Bella and her mom, Frieda, are staying the summer in Maine with her maternal grandmother, Ruby, to heal after a devastating loss. All three women are affected differently but learn how to heal as a family. Will Bella find herself as a young lady or will she lose herself to grief and pity? Will Frieda be able to move forward in loving another? Will Ruby learn from the growth of her daughter and granddaughter to allow herself to love completely?

Holly Chamberlin touches on so many topics that affect our world and she does so with a loving hand. If you like your reading to feel more real than fiction this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC for my review based on my own honest opinion.

 

Town in a Wild Moose Chase (A Candy Holliday Murder Mystery #3) by B.B. Haywood

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wild moose chase

Pages: 322

Publisher: Berkley

Published: February 7, 2012

Cape Willington, Maine in the middle of winter is as interesting as it is in the summer. Candy finds herself in the middle of another mystery in the first 20 pages of the book.

Candy is working at home when the local hermit stumbles onto Blueberry Acres with a head injury claiming there is a body in the woods. As she tries to get him help, he vanishes without a trace and so does the body. Can Candy find the hermit and the body and solve the case or will she be too busy trying to solve her relationship status with Ben, her boss and boyfriend? Does his mysterious actions have anything to do with the missing body or is he involved in something he shouldn’t be?

The Candy Holliday Murder Mystery series has captured my attention from the beginning because there is something different about it. I cannot quite put my finger on it except that it works. There is romance but only a subtle hint which I like. If I want a lot of romance I will read a romance novel. Candy is not an overly strong female protagonist. She is your hometown sweetheart that goes the extra mile to help others out.

I am very interested to see how this series will grow especially after the last few pages of this book. The cliffhanger is very intriguing.

Light of Dawn (The Remnant Series #3) by Vannetta Chapman

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light of dawn.jpg

Pages: 354

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Published: June 20,2017

Calling all fans of dystopian fiction, you must read this series by Christian fiction author Vannetta Chapman. You will not be able to stop once you open book one until you have read all three plus the prequel novella.

In book three, Shelby, Max, Bianca and Patrick answer the Texas governor ‘s call to find the Federal Government that is believed to be in Kansas to see what is being done to rebuild the USA after the solar flare. Will they survive the journey?Who will they meet on the way? Most importantly will they solidify their faith in God?

These books opened my eyes in so many ways. They got me thinking, what would I do in this situation? Could I survive? How strong is my faith in knowing God knows my path in life and I just trust if he takes me to it I will come through it.

I already plan on buying this series for a couple of friends and sharing the excitement I experienced while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for an ARC to read and provide a review based on my own honest opinion.

Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble (#14) by Ann B. Ross

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miss julia stirs up trouble

Pages: 272

Publisher: Viking

Published: April 9, 2013

Bless her heart, Miss Julia has done it again! Trying to help Hazel Marie out with the twins after James, Hazel Marie’s live in help, falls down the stairs and injures himself Miss Julia decides it is time to teach Hazel Marie how to cook. If you are a fan of Miss Julia you know where it is going. Witches in windstorms, strange women riding in cars with Mr Pickens, African lotteries and a whirlwind of a Granny. Hold onto to your plates because you are in for a wild ride in Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble.

Anytime I need a pick me up in my reading I head to the Miss Julia series. I know I’m guaranteed to get out of my poor me spirits. Usually by the 14th book in a series I’m getting a little burned out. Ann B. Ross knows how to keep the energy going in this series.

A great read for a weekend getaway.

 

Beach House for Rent (Beach House #4) by Mary Alice Monroe

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beach house for rent

Pages: 417

Publisher: Gallery Books

Published: 6/20/17

Let’s start off with me saying Mary Alice Monroe is my favorite voice in Southern contemporary literature. Her words make magic before your eyes. You find yourself sitting on the porch of the perfect beach house experiencing the story not just reading it.

In Beach House for Rent, Cara has decided to rent Primrose Cottage in order to make ends meet for her and Brett. We join them roughly five years after Swimming Lessons ends. This is where Heather enters, she is the renter. She comes to SC to work on her stamp commission for the USPS and to work on her fear of leaving the house. A horrible tragedy befalls Cara and she finds she must return to the beach house to find herself again.

Be warned, book four in the Beach House series is a heart tugger several times. Tissues were my best friend. You will fall in love with all the characters, new and old, and find you have made new friends.

I only have one complaint and it is personal. I wanted to see Toy more and have updates on how she and Little Louie were doing not just a couple of paragraphs towards the end of the book. You is as much The Beach House as Emma, Flo and Cara.

The question I’ve been asked the most do you have to read in order with this series. Here is the order I read them in (not the official order they are to be)

1. Beach House
2. Swimming Lessons
3. Beach House for Rent
4. Beach House Memories

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC copy for my own honest opinion.