Livvie's Song (River of Hope #1) - Sharlene MacLaren

I've read a couple of books by this author in the past.  While she probably isn't one of my very favorites, her books have been enjoyable.  This one isn't really something that I would usually pick up, but between the author and the setting, I decided to give it a chance.

Livvie runs a restaurant in Wabash, Indiana.  Her husband died in a tragic accident in front of the restaurant about a year ago.  Her cook is getting ready to leave to join his family near Chicago and she has to make sure that the restaurant stays open so she can raise her two boys.

Will has just gotten out of prison for burglary.  He hops a freight car and heads for a place he's only heard about.  The place has its own song, so it must be a great place, right? Once he arrives, he needs to find a job and a place to live.  He doesn't plan on telling anyone about his past if he can help it, but he's given his life to God and decides that he won't keep it a secret.

Personally, I got about 10% in before I decided to put it down.  I wasn't interested in the characters at all at that point.  Maybe it got better later on, but I had to force myself to make it to 10%.  It's not my usual time period, but I think I might have picked it up because of the setting.  I used to live in Indiana and it may have drawn me in.  I thought that it was a slow start and it just wasn't for me.

Long Trail Home (Texas Trail #3) - Vickie McDonough

This is the third book in this series.  It is also my first time reading this particular author. For more information on this series, see my post on Book 1, Lone Star Trail.

In this installment, we read the story of Riley Morgan.  He's coming back from the war between the states and is coming home to horrible news.  His family has been killed by Indians and he finds out that his fiance has decided not to wait for him and has married someone else.

Annie had a rough childhood.  Her father taught her to be a pickpocket and it was the way they lived.  When Annie is abandoned by her father, she ends up at a school for the blind. Unfortunately, she isn't able to live there unless she is blind, so the lies begin.  After years of making everyone believe that she is blind, her world is turned upside down when Laura, the owner of the school, hires Riley to do some work around the school.

As Annie tries to hide her sight from Riley, she comes to find out that he is a good man and someone she could fall in love with.  The secret between them could cause everything they have to come crashing down.

As with the other two I have read in the series, I enjoyed this book.  The characters were pleasant and I liked them.  This book, as well as the others I have read, are easily read in order or alone.  Little details here and there link the books together, but there is nothing there that merits reading them in order.  The only complaint I have is I really did not like the cover for some reason.

I'm planning on continuing watching out for the rest of the series.  Recently I was also able to pick up the fifth, Cowgirl Trail.  I'll keep my eyes open for the other two.

Lady of Milkweed Manor - Julie Klassen

This was one of the books on my watch list.  I was excited when it dropped in price, I have read four other books by this author and enjoyed them all.

Charlotte is an unwed, pregnant woman that has been cast out by her family.  She ends up at a home for unwed mothers where she comes to see a side of society that she hadn't known existed.  She also meets up with Daniel, a friend of hers from when she was younger.

Daniel is a doctor now and working at the home for unwed mothers that means so much to his father.  Seeing Charlotte brings of memories of his past where he once imagined that she could love him.  Her father put a stop to any such thoughts.  Daniel was not good enough.

Daniel's wife is dealing with some pregnancy related mania and is being kept at the home for unwed mothers with Charlotte and the others.  It's reminded me of Jane Eyre the way that my sympathies ended up hoping that something happened to the wife so Daniel and Charlotte could be together.  I felt guilty about it, but there you are.

There's also the breastfeeding.  It is everywhere in this book.  While I breastfed my children, I really had no desire to read a book about the topic.  Chalk it up to the prude in me.

I have to say that out of all of this author's books, I honestly didn't like this one.  At the end of Part I, I put the book down and didn't pick it back up again for 3 days.  I wasn't sure I wanted to go on, but I hoped that it would get better.  It didn't.  The happy ending that I require in the books I read was kind of there, but it was a no win situation and I wasn't sure how I felt at the end of the book.

Overall, I do plan on keeping track of this author in the future.  I'll just keep a closer eye on the summaries of the books before I watch it.  It was a well written book, but just not for me.

A Bid for Love (Love Series #1, Cassi and Jared) - Rachel Ann Nunes

I picked this book up when I was getting a little low on books to read on my Kindle.  It was free and looked like it might be interesting.

Cassi works for an art gallery and is headed to an auction to acquire a really ugly Buddha statue for her boss.  Her boss really wants this statue and his instructions strike Cassi as suspicious.  While she is preparing for the auction, she runs into Jared and isn't really looking her best.

Jared also works at a gallery and is under similar instructions from his boss, except that he is to acquire the statue no matter what it takes.  He is captivated by Cassi, wondering if she is more than what she appears.

A mysterious note before the auction makes Cassi believe that Jared may be using scare tactics to keep people, especially her, from bidding on the statue.  When it comes up for sale, Cassi has to leave during the bidding to help her friend.  While Jared wins the statue, his problems are just beginning.

Hiding out from people that seem intent on getting the statue for themselves, Jared and Cassi team up to find out what could possibly be that important about it.  Working together shows them both something they have been missing.  Love.

I thought that this was a nice little book.  It was entertaining and a quick read for me. There are more in this series.  Apparently, their happily ever after hasn't really happened yet, but I'm not planning on following the series.  Maybe because it's a contemporary romance, I just can't say for sure.  I'm a historical girl at heart and it takes a lot to get me interested in contemporary.  There are only a few authors that have gotten my devotion over the years.  It was a good book, but there just wasn't anything in there that caused me to want to continue the story past this point.  Good Book!

Captive Trail (Texas Trail #2) - Susan Page Davis

After finishing the first book in this series, Lone Star Trail, I was able to pick up this second book for $0.99.  This book is the first that I have read by this author.  I have seen her name pop up in the past and wondered about trying one of her books.  This was the perfect opportunity.  For more about this peculiar series with six titles and three authors, see the review for Lone Star Trail.

Taabe has been with the Comanche for 12 years.  She is finally presented with an opportunity to escape and takes it.  Most captives eventually give up or forget their old life, but not Taabe.  She flees on a horse and makes it pretty far before her horse steps in a hole and throws her to the ground.  She is hurt but manages to make it to the road before collapsing.

Ned is a stagecoach driver and is worried at first that the bundle in the road is meant to be an ambush.  His passengers, a few nuns, decide that the risk is worth it to help the poor soul lying in the road.  Feeling a strange connection to the girl, Ned is determined to help her find her family, but he also grows attached to her.

As Taabe becomes more adept at communicating, the nuns and Ned come to learn more about her past.  Taabe knows that the man she has rejected will come after her.  She has seen his cruelty in tracking down runaways before.  She trusts Ned, but still fears the Comanche coming after her.

The more she learns, the more she remembers about who she was.  She holds back a particular secret about her life with the Comanche for a long time.  She worries that Ned will not be as nice to her and she relies on his friendship.  These two fall in love, but finding Taabe's family may disrupt any future they could have with each other.

Taabe is Billie from book 1, the girl that was abducted by the Comanche in the prologue. True to the premise of the series, this book can be read alone with no issues.  You find Jud in this book, but it's not necessary to read these in order.  I have also picked up the third one, Long Trail Home, for $0.99.  This will be another new author for me, but I look forward to continuing the series.  Good Book!

Lone Star Trail (Texas Trail #1) - Darlene Franklin

This book was free for a time and it looked like something I would like to read.  This is a new author for me and I was unsure what to expect.

Wande and her family have traveled to Texas from Germany to claim land in the New Germany, a land flowing with milk and honey.  Wande is looking forward to being reunited with her fiance, who she hasn't heard from in a while.  Unfortunately, upon arrival, it seems like all they seem to encounter is hardship, heartache and sickness.  When they get close to Victoria, their wagon overturns and they are left to rely on the kindness they can find.

Jud is a descendant of the man who first bred the Morgan horse.  He has been in charge of the ranch since his father died and is dismayed at the amount of Germans that seem to be taking over his beloved Texas.  His first instinct is to leave the Germans on the side of the road, but thanks to his mother and sister, they end up living at his house for a time.

As time goes by, Wande and her family become important to the Morgan family.  An accident gives Wande a job inside the house helping with chores and her brother helps out with the horses.  Their little sister, Alvie, is a reminder of Jud's sister, Billie, who was taken by Indians when she was young.  The presence of Alvie helps to heal Jud's heart.

Jud eventually gets past his prejudice of the Germans enough to see that the people in this German family are good people and can be good friends if he would just let them.  He finds himself seeing Wande as more of a potential bride than an intruder in his Texas.

I enjoyed this book.  It was a complete story with the epilogue to wrap up all the characters in the book.  It wasn't all that original, but overall a nice little book with a happy ending.

I did a little research on this series and it's an interesting one.  It involves six novels written by three different authors.  It spans four generations of the Morgan family between 1845-1896.  Each book is supposedly written so it can be read alone.  I looked and the next one in the series, Captive Trail, was only $0.99.  It is written by Susan Page Davis, another new author for me, but I decided to snatch it up.  Apparently, this one is about Billie, Jud's sister.  I'm anxious to see how it all ties together.

The rest of the series is currently on my watch list.  The four other books in the series are: Long Trail Home, A Ranger's Trail, Cowgirl Trail and End of the Trail.  I'll keep an eye out for them.  Regardless of whether or not I end up reading/enjoying the rest of the series, this one definitely gets my Good Book! review.

Tidewater Inn (Hope Beach #1) - Colleen Coble

I was amazed when this book popped up for $1.99 and snatched it up before it popped right back up in price!  If you've read any of my reviews for this author, you know she's one of my favorites.

Libby loves history and is in the business of preserving historical buildings with her friend, Nicole.  They have been given the task of checking out some places on the Outer Banks. Nicole has been checking things out alone and breaks the news that an attorney has been looking for Libby.  Her father lived there and left her an inheritance.  He also left a family. The news is shocking to Libby, but not nearly as shocking as watching her friend get kidnapped before her eyes on a beach webcam.

Alec works for the Coast Guard and has been asked to help with the search.  He's lived on the island most of his life and loves it there.  The sheriff happens to be Alec's cousin and he's asked Alec to keep an eye on Libby.  He believes that she may be capable of getting rid of Nicole.  Libby believes that she's going to have to take the investigation in her own hands, not only to find Nicole but also to clear her own name.  Alec gives her the benefit of the doubt and tries to help her whenever he can.

Her new "family" is less than welcoming and Libby has a lot on her plate.  Between dealing with her new inheritance, her new siblings, the kidnapping of her friend and being accused of being involved, Libby really could use a friend.  The feelings that grow between Alec and Libby are dealt with in a generally realistic way.  They can't be falling all over each other with tragedies and kidnappings happening around them.

This was Coble at her best.  It had romance, intrigue and a villain that I thought I had figured out.  We catch up with Bree, Kade and Davy from the Rock Harbor series.  They are visiting the island and I thought it was a great idea to incorporate them into the story. You would not need to read that series to understand anything in this one.

The next book in the Hope Beach series comes out next summer, Rosemary Cottage.  I'm not sure that I agree with the author's decision to release books in different series all jumbled together.  I would think that for the sake of the loyal readers, it would be better to finish out one series before getting all involved in another one, but I suppose that is just personal preference on my part.  Nevertheless, this one gets my Good Book! review!

Courting Morrow Little - Laura Frantz

In the past, I had picked up The Frontiersman's Daughter, also by this author, but was unable to get through it.  I picked this one up.  I hate to say it, but the cover sucked me in.

Morrow has had a tough childhood.  When the Shawnee attacked her home, her mother and young sister were killed and her brother disappeared.  Now it's just Morrow and her father.  She has been off to visit her aunt.  It was only meant to be a month, but it has turned into a two year visit due to the war.

Upon her return to Kentucky, Morrow finds that some things have changed.  Her father is now sickly and her friends seem to view her somewhat differently.  Some things have stayed the same though.  The Shawnee boy that Morrow's father helped save and his father are still coming to the cabin at times, frightening Morrow.

Now that Morrow is 18, she is being pursued by some men at the fort.  A particular major seems like he's not going to give up.  Morrow finds out some information about his past atrocities and has no interest in him, but the man doesn't take a hint.  Another man in town is interested but doesn't want to get in the major's way.  And then there is Red Shirt, the Shawnee boy that has grown into a handsome man.

Here I am again reading one of those Revolutionary War era books.  I don't read many that I enjoy at all and this one was no exception.  I didn't have any issues getting through it, but the romance part of the story, to me, was over about halfway through.  We don't stop at a marriage in this book.  We have more to conquer before we get anything that resembles a happily ever after.  Knowing anything about history, you realize that eventually this isn't going to be a happily ever after.

I really need to just give up on this era.  I need my happily ever afters, and I don't think that I'm going to get them in these books.  The book was well written and the characters easy to sympathize with, I just didn't enjoy it overall.  This is just not my kind of book.

Becoming Lucy (Winds Across the Prairie #1) - Martha Rogers

This book popped up for less than $2.  This is a new author for me and I thought it worth the money to give her a chance since it seemed like her books popped up on my recommendations a lot.

Lucinda has just lost her family.  She is 17 and decided that it would be best for her to move in with her aunt and uncle until she turns 18 and comes into her inheritance.  She also would like to get away from her uncle, who feels like that money should be his.

From the moment she arrives in Oklahoma, her gaze is drawn to Jake, a man working on her uncle's ranch.  He is handsome, but he's not a Christian, so Lucinda's aunt and uncle talk to her about guarding her heart.  Even though they look on Jake as a son, they wouldn't want to have to send him away to protect Lucinda's heart.

Jake has a dreadful secret that he has kept from everyone.  Lucinda's uncle has given him a Bible and an open invitation to talk to him about God, but Jake isn't so sure.  He comes to love Lucinda, but knows that with the secret between them, there can't be any future.

Coming to Christ, Jake realizes that he needs to clear his conscience and face the consequences of what he's done.  He wants Lucinda to wait for him, but he's not sure that he'll be coming back.  It's a long ride to Texas and there is no telegraph in the small town that Lucinda lives near.

While she waits, Lucinda's aunt and uncle await word of Jake, but they wonder if maybe they should encourage Luke, a young man from town who has his eye on Lucinda.  There is also some nastiness from the townsfolk when they find out about what Jake has done and they blame the family.

I found it to be an enjoyable enough book, but there was something about the flow of it that bothered me.  We read about the uncle willing to do anything to get Lucinda out of the way, but the attempts on her life were incredibly far apart.  And the final showdown was just weird.  The timing and the way it was written was almost like it was crammed in there.  I also found the pressure to consider moving on from Jake after only two months and no news to be unrealistic.  I also had two chapter 28s, not the author's fault.

All in all, it was worth the money.  There are 4 books in the series and also a prequel and a Christmas book. I don't plan on watching for any of them, but if they popped up for free, I might pick them up.  I wanted to like it a lot more than I did.  Decent book.

Demon: A Memoir - Tosca Lee

This was an unusual buy for me.  When it comes to intense Christian suspense, I normally stick to Ted Dekker.  Seeing this book by Tosca Lee up for $2.99 was a temptation I couldn't pass up.  She is co-writing The Book of Mortals series with Dekker, so I had hopes for more of the edgy thought-provoking writing that I had read in Forbidden (Mortal is still a little too pricey for me right now).  I was not disappointed.

Clay is a recently divorced book editor that is approached by Lucian, a demon.  Lucian wants Clay to write and publish his story.  Clay is wary at first, but when Lucian tells him that it is also his story, Clay is curious to know what that means.  His attention to the story becomes an obsession that causes him to look on things in our world in a different way.

Lucian tells the story of the fall of Lucifer, the creation and the birth and life of Jesus from the perspective of the demons.  Once angels themselves, suddenly they are dammed. They also are second-rate to these mud men that God has made.  They see God's love for these creations that ignore and disobey God over and over and the demons hate them.  They only did one thing wrong and they are damned.  The mud men make many mistakes and are forgiven over and over.

The attention to detail in this book is incredible.  I read it in two sittings.  The demon changes form every time he meets with Clay.  The recollections of the events from the Bible were so well written I could well imagine that I could see them the way that Clay had. The ending was one that had me impressed well after I put the book down.

If you read this book, be sure to read past the last page.  The "interesting facts" were a very cool addition and I enjoyed reading them.  There is also an explanation by the author why she wrote the book and what she used as references.  This isn't a diet book that you can read while doing other tasks.  This book makes you think and if you aren't paying attention, you might miss an important detail.  And remember: You have a choice to make. Great Book!

To Whisper Her Name (Belle Meade Plantation #1) - Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a great author, but her books rarely drop in price.  I try to keep an eye out to see if I can look out for new books and I was surprised when I saw that I could pre-order this for $4.99.  I snatched it up and waited patiently for the release date, especially since I have been running low on Kindle books.

Olivia is going to live with her "aunt" who was a close friend of her mother's.  Olivia's husband has just been murdered for being a crook and traitor to the south.  He was hardly a loving, caring husband to Olivia, but she is now paying the price for his actions.  She has been rejected by Nashville society and is now on her way to Belle Meade Plantation.

When we meet Ridley Cooper, he is fighting in the Civil War.  Being from South Carolina, his family expected him to fight for the south, but Ridley's conscience wouldn't allow that. He comes across a man from the Belle Meade plantation that is hiding some of the horses from the Belle Meade Plantation.  Ridley allows the man to take the horses, but is captured by Confederate soldiers as he leaves the mountain.

Olivia and Ridley meet when the carriage that Olivia is riding to the plantation is overturned.  She is saved and now is trapped in the carriage.  Terrified of horses, her scream draws the attention of Ridley and they become friends.  Ridley is there to learn how to train the horses from the man he met on the mountain.  He is sworn to secrecy, because if the General finds out that Ridley fought for the north, both Ridley's and the trainer's life could be in danger.

Olivia and Ridley fall in love, but he is determined to head to the Colorado Territory.  He has land waiting for him and he has a set amount of time to improve the land.  Olivia is just as determined to stay in Tennessee.  The secret that lies between them make the situation impossible.  Ridley can't betray the trainer, but he doesn't like holding the secret from Olivia.

In the end, I did enjoy this book, but it seemed to be a little longer than these types of books usually are.  I thought there were details in there that didn't need to be there, but the story was great.  The history was interesting and I love horses, so all those details didn't bother me at all.  I can't find evidence of more books for this series.  The author has another series she's writing, the Belmont Mansion novels, and the next one of those is supposed to come out in fall of 2013.  On the author's website, it labels To Whisper Her Name as one of the Belle Meade novels, so there is the possibility of more in the future.  I give this my Good Book! review.