Fiction

Belle by Sarah Price

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belle

Pages: 320

Publisher: Kensington

Published: October 31, 2017

Belle is an Amish retelling of the classic story of Beauty and the Beast and it lives up to its expectations.

Belle Beiler lives with her dad and two older sisters on their farm in Echo Creek. Her father is a dreamer who loves to invent things from new tools to outdoor grills. When an adventure to a neighboring town goes awry, he must tell his girls that he is broke and soon they will lose their farm. Their neighbor Adam, who is known as The Beast due to a horrific childhood accident, has offered to buy the farm. Belle hates to see her family have to uproot and move so she offers to be Adam’s housekeeper on one condition. He must let her family stay in the house. Does The Beast accept this offer or does he have a more permanent solution?

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories and I enjoy reading different takes on it. This was a clean read with many great messages. The message that spoke the most to me is towards the end when the bishop talks about “Just one speck of dust can blind an eye.” The sermon he gives makes the reader think about their own life and how they treat others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced copy in exchange for a review in my own words.

Sarah Price does a great job in retelling classics. Below is a list of her classic retelling works:
1. Second Chances (Jane Austen’s Persuasion)
2. Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility)
3. Mount Hope (Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park)
4. Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
5. Ella (Cinderella) – to be released

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

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these healing hills.jpg

Pages: 368

Publisher: Revell

Published: September 5, 2017

A perfect historical novel to read at the start of the fall season. Educational in you learn about the Frontier Nursing program in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains. A clean read with a bit of romance.

Francine has decided to continue her nursing and learn about catching babies by moving to the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. She also hopes this will help heal her heart as her intended has written that he has fallen for a girl overseas while fighting in Europe during WWII. As Fran learns the ways of the mountains she also learns about herself. Despite the warnings from her mentor/teacher she finds herself loving more than just nursing.

This book took ahold of my heart from the beginning and has yet to let go. I could read a series of books on Granny Em alone. We all need a Granny Em in our lives.

Ann H. Gabhart has written a beautiful tale set in a place that speaks of beauty and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for a copy to read in exchange for an honest review in my own words.

Dead of Winter: A Lily Dale Mystery by Wendy Corsi Staub

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dead of winter

Pages: 288

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: November 7,2017

I have been a fan of Wendy Corsi Staub for as long as I can remember and a Dead of Winter did not disappoint.

Dead of Winter is the third book in the adult Lily Dale Mystery series. I have not read the other two so at the beginning I was a little lost in trying to figure out who belonged to whom and who could do what but once I got that down pat the book took off. Bella, moved to Lily Dale with her son after her husband died. Lily Dale is a town centered around the world of mediums. Bella has a hard time believing in the world of mediums. On a cold, dark night as she is looking out her window at the lake, she sees a mysterious light and a few minutes later hears what thinks is a human scream. The next morning she finds a body wrapped in a tarp washed upon the shore in her backyard. Is the body a local? Who killed this person? Should she worry that the killer is still lurking around? Can Bella solve the crime before tragedy affects her family once again?

This was a toe-curling, gripping read. I am already looking for the first two books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for a review in my own words.

A Pain Less Ordinary by L.V. Pires

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a pain less ordinary

Pages: 239

Publisher: Pangram YA

Published: September 12,2017

A heartbreaking read. That is the only way I can describe this book. I am so glad to have read it. I started reading this book at 4am and rarely put it down until I was finished. Being a substitute teacher it made me think about some of the students I see on a regular basis and how you truly never know what is going on at home.

Becca is a high school student trying to pass her classes while raising her baby sister and trying to keep her family together. During a moment of anger she tells her mom about her step-father’s cheating and things spiral out of control quickly. Follow Becca as she tries to put her family back together again and learns how strong she really is.

You will cry, scream at the injustice of the CPS system and the cruelty kids can inflict on one another. I would definitely use this book in my high school classroom in hopes it would teach kids to have compassion and to build each other up instead of tearing each other down out of spite and meanness.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review based on my words.

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber

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merry and bright

Pages: 272

Publisher: Random House/Ballantine

Published: October 3, 2017

A sweet Christmas tale filled with romance, compassion and beauty.

Merry (Mary) has spent the last year working as a temp entering data for a local Boeing contractor and has not focused on her love life. For her birthday, her mom and brother decide to sign up her up on a dating website using the family dog as her picture. During the get to know you process she falls for a fellow dog lover, Jay. They agree to meet at a local coffee shop and when she shows up she realizes Jay is her rude, grouchy boss Jayson. She leaves without him seeing her. Will they continue to talk on Mix and Mingle or will Merry shut it down before giving it a chance?

I liked that Merry’s brother was “special” with Downs Syndrome. Macomber treated his character with respect. His character was a perfect fit for this romantic Christmas story.

Merry and Bright is the perfect book that can be read over a cold, snowy weekend with the Christmas tree lights twinkling as you read. It is a clean romance book suitably for teenagers and above.

Fans of Debbie Macomber looking for a sweet, romantic Christmas story will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for an advance copy for a review based on my own honest opinion.

The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain

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the stolen marriage

Pages: 384

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Published: October 3, 2017

Tess DeMello has only known the world of Little Italy and the love of one man, her next door neighbor, Vincent. They plan on getting married, living in Little Italy, raising a large family, while working together, he a doctor and her a nurse. While she is finishing nursing school, Vincent volunteers as a doctor at a polio hospital in Chicago. After a tense disagreement with Vincent, Tess decides to go to Washington D.C. with her best friend for a weekend of fun. While in D.C. Tess makes a decision that will alter her life forever. Will Tess and Vincent find there way back to each other or is the sin too great?

I could not put this book down. I was reading it every free moment I had available. I found it very thought-provoking and educational. Diane Chamberlain covers the time of 1944/1945 in an extremely educational but entertaining fashion. While our men are overseas in the Pacific fighting WWII, the families back home are fighting the polio epidemic that is taking anyone, but especially the younger generation, the children. What is causing this crippling, life-taking disease? As researchers are working toward a cure, people are working together in ways like never before to save lives. Especially in Hickory, North Carolina. In 54 hours a polio hospital was built and running. Without regard to race, socioeconomic background or religion. A town came together with one goal in mind: saving lives. I was impressed that this was true and am interested to read more about this “miracle town”.

Chamberlain also tackles the taboo subject of that time, interracial love. In the South, one could not marry outside their race without facing fines and jail time. Trials were even held to decide how serious the offense.

The Stolen Marriage is one of the novels you will be happy you read and will want to share with all the readers in your life.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for a review based on my own honest opinion.

 

The Proving by Beverly Lewis

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the proving

Pages: 354

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Published: September 5, 2017

Imagine a quaint little Amish B&B surrounded by beautiful butterflies and you have pictured Butterfly Meadows. Amanda Sue, Mandy as her family and friends call her, has been called back to her former Amish life to run the B&B after her mother suffered a stroke and died. The stipulation is that she must run the B&B for twelve months successfully. Mandy finds it hard to be so close to her twin sister and husband, the man Mandy thought she was going to marry. Can Mandy succeed? Will Mandy forgive her sister for the wrong she thought was done to her?

I know whenever I pick up a Beverly Lewis book I will have a sense of calm and peace as I am reading and The Proving was no exception. I enjoyed seeing Mandy grow as an adult and watching her learn the ways of her mom. Learning to pray over the guests and help them find the comfort of a quiet life to ease their troubled lives.

I think we could all learn to pray more and pray quietly. Lewis shows us where a prayerful life could lead us. It could lead us to the most unexpected but perfect place in our life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for an ARC in exchange for a review based on my own honest opinion.

The Space Between Words by Michèle Phoenix

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the space betwwen words

Pages: 336

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: September 5, 2017

It takes a lot for a book to set me back on my heels and go speechless. This book did exactly that in a way that I’m still finding it hard to put my thoughts into words.

Jessica has flown from Denver to France to visit her roommate Patrick. Their plan is to tour the countryside looking for antiques. A change in plans and a snap decision alter their lives forever. When Jessica finds an old wooden box with a secret compartment filled with a mysterious letter she finds herself exploring memories she would rather forget.

Knowing the story has true events told in a fictional manner makes the story resonate more with you as the reader. You find yourself cringing with fright and wiping away salty tears of anguish as Jessica navigates her way back to a sense of normalcy.

Take a moment and read The Space Between Words and see if you don’t fall in love with Jessica like I did. You may just find your new heroine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC to read in exchange for my honest opinion in my own words.

Seeing Red by Sandra Brown

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seeing red

Pages: 432

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Published: August 15, 2017

What a story. I am still flying from all the plot twists. It has been a few years since I have read a romantic suspense from Sandra Brown and what a book to start reading her again. Excellent plot, lots of good suspense and perfect romance.

Kerra was one of the survivors of a hotel bombing when she was five years old and in the years since she has become a respected, top-notch TV reporter. On the twenty fifth anniversary of the bombing she wants to interview the Major, the guy who saved her and let the world know she is the little girl in the infamous photograph. In doing so, she unknowingly upsets the person behind the bombing and his “posse”. Will the Major’s son, Trapper, be able to overcome the rift between him and his dad in order to save the Major and Kerra before it is too late?

The passion between Trapper and Kerra is burn up the sheets hot from the beginning. If you are not a fan of graphic sex scenes in a books then this may not be the book for you. People will be “Seeing Red” as you read, red as in the blush of your cheeks.

Hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen as you are in for a fast paced roller coaster. Once you start you will not want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my own honest review.

If the Creek Don’t Rise by Leah Weiss

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if the creek dont rise

Pages: 322

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Published: August 22, 2017

It’s the 1970s in Appalachia, specifically Baines Creek, and Sadie Blue is coming into young adulthood the hard way. At seventeen she is pregnant and married to a no good drunk. Through the local healer, Birdie, and the new teacher will Sadie be able to learn how to save herself?

I thoroughly enjoyed this new voice in fiction. Leah Weiss writes with a beauty of a culture that is misunderstood but one that we all could learn from if we opened our hearts and eyes. She writes with a first person voice from several characters point of view. The main character being Sadie Blue who you cheer on as she struggles. Weiss uses the Appalachian vernacular that without would not make the story as moving and powerful.

A part of me would like to see a sequel letting us know how Sadie Blue’s fate plays out but at the same time I like the idea of the author leaving it up to my imagination.

I would recommend this book to any fan of fiction. If you like to read Silas House then you will like debut author, Leah Weiss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review in my own words.