Loving Libby - Robin Lee Hatcher

I've read many books by this author and I can always count on a good read.  I was watching this one and picked it up when it dropped in price.

Libby ran away from her father when he tried to force her into a loveless marriage.  She thinks that she's finally found a safe have at Blue Springs, but times have been hard for her since her "aunt" died.  A neighbor wants her to sell and will do just about anything to push her away.  Suspecting the cad is lurking around her barn, she takes a rifle and shoots the man.  Unfortunately, it isn't her neighbor at all.  It's a stranger and she fears she may have killed him.

Remington has come to find the daughter of a wealthy man.  His main goal is vengeance for his father's death, but Libby piques his interest.  What could have forced this young woman to abandon every comfort to raise sheep in the middle of nowhere?  Since he's witnessed first-hand the ruthless nature of the neighbor, he feels the urge to protect Libby.  His main purpose fades as he falls in love with her, but he's afraid to reveal his secrets for fear of losing her.

Her father is a cruel man and will never give up looking for her.  No one defies his wishes. When Remington's secret is revealed, it's done in such a way that Libby questions everything she knows about him.

This was a good story.  I had no idea how this was going to turn out with a happy ending, but it was there in the end.  It was in a confusing way, but it was there.  I didn't understand the end where Remington is helped out by a friend and I felt like there were some questions left unanswered regarding Libby's father.  I don't want to say too much, since I don't like giving away too much about the story and these things happen at the end.  Overall, it was a good book, a quick, easy read and I liked it very much.  Good Book!

Raider's Heart (Backwoods Brides #1) - Marcia Gruver

This is actually the first book I've read by this author.  I'm not quite sure why I had this entire series on my watch list, because I normally wouldn't do that without at least reading something by the author first.  I took a chance and bought this series when each book dropped in price to $1.99.  This is the first book in the series.  The other two are called Bandit's Hope and Hunter's Prize.

Dawsey lives in a nice house in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Her life isn't as nice as her house.  Her father has been in a strange daze for as long as she can remember.  All he does is sit by the window with a strange golden lamp.  Dawsey tends his needs, and late one night it changes her life forever.

Hooper comes from a family of people who do what they think is necessary to live.  His father tells the story of the golden lamp and it becomes something of a family legend. When Hooper is sent to pick up his young cousin who's going to live with them, he finds out that the lamp is real.  He just has to see it for himself and that's when he runs into Dawsey. Her shouts cause him to snatch her up and take her back to his family's home.

Bringing her to the swamp may have been on impulse, but looking at Dawsey in the light of day reveals the family secret that Hooper's sister, Ellie, is actually Dawsey's twin sister. Hooper's father felt justified in taking the child since he left one behind.  He had no idea that anguish it caused Dawsey's family.

While Dawsey is held against her will, she plans her escape.  Her chance comes, but she doesn't have the skills to make it away on her own.  When she's rescued, something shifts in the way she sees this family.  She starts to fall for Hooper, but his violence scares her and she's not sure she wants to pursue her feelings.

This was a very unusual book, and I've never really read anything like it.  I did enjoy reading it and was glad I picked it up.  I was confused for a while about Hooper's background and why he felt justified in his criminal activities.  I think it could have been a little better explained in the beginning, but it was a nice, quick read overall and I look forward to reading the next book.  It's about Tiller, the young cousin, who appears in this book.  I'm not sure how much connection there will be between the books, but I'll know more after I read the next one.  Good Book!

A.D. 30 - Ted Dekker

If you've ever seen one of my Ted Dekker reviews, you'll know that he's probably my favorite author.  The depth he's able to infuse into his stories is a true gift.

In this book, we read the story of Maviah, a member of the Kalb tribe.  Her world has been turned upside down and she has been tasked with appealing to Rome to restore her father’s throne.  With only two faithful companions, she sets off across the desert to find the help she seeks.

Unfortunately, things don't really improve in her situation.  One of her companions, Judah, is determined to find the Anointed One that the stars have proclaimed.  He convinces her to seek him out.  Herod's wife comes along and they discover that Yeshua is more than a mere man.

Seeking her destiny is hard for Maviah and she has many obstacles to overcome.  Reading of her growth as a person and her struggles to conquer her fears brought out many truths that Dekker is great at incorporating into his stories.

Be warned that this is not a standalone novel.  You're left with something of a cliffhanger at the end.  The next one is A.D. 33.  It appears to be out October 2015, but if you read this one, you're going to want to know what happens next.

While I enjoyed this book, I found the first half to drag on a bit.  The second half was much better, though.  Most of the words spoken by Yeshua in the book are from the Bible and there's a reference in the back to tell you where the verses are.  This type of book isn't normally my style, but I did enjoy it.  I give it four stars because of the slow beginning.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from FaithWords/Center Street through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Matter of Character (Sisters of Bethlehem Springs #3) - Robin Lee Hatcher

This is the third book in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series.  The first two were A Vote of Confidence and Fit to be Tied.  I waited a long time for the price on this one to drop. The other two were really good and I looked forward to finishing out the series with the story of Daphne.

Joshua has come to Bethlehem Springs to find D. B. Morgan.  The author writes dime novels that portray his grandfather in a less than favorable light.  No one else besides Joshua seems to care, but it matters very much to him.  His grandfather was very important to him.  He'll do whatever it takes to find the truth.

Daphne just happens to be the author Joshua is looking for, but she never meant to hurt anyone.  Her stories of the man came from an honest source and she wants to believe that she's right.  The problem is, even if she's right, she's come to like Joshua a great deal and doesn't want to see him hurt.  Once she finally reveals the secret of her writing to her family, she comes clean to Joshua knowing that he may not like her much after that.

Finding the truth together will be painful for Joshua at first, but he'll learn to see that God's love covers any sins.  He'll also see that Daphne is a gifted writer and should share her talent.  He's falling in love with her, but there's the matter of the woman he's been intended to marry since childhood.  The longer Joshua spends in Bethlehem Springs, the less he wants to return to St. Louis.

This was a great ending to the series.  You'll still see Gwen, Morgan, Cleo and Woody, but their stories aren't really mentioned here, so you can safely read these out of order. Good Book!

Shadowed by Grace: A Story of Monuments Men - Cara C. Putnam

I haven't read much by this author.  In the past, I read A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island and liked it pretty well.  This is a much different type of story.  I'm drawn to this type of WWII book, so I snatched it up and dove in.

In WWII, a group of men are on an unusual mission.  They try to find the art and monuments important to a country and endeavor to protect them.  Scott is one of these men.

He's come to Italy to try and make a difference.  He left behind a job as curator of a museum and a fiance who just didn't understand his passion.  He meets Rachel, a photographer, and becomes intrigued.  As he spends more time with her, it's obvious that she's hiding something and the key is a sketchbook that Scott thinks shouldn't be in her possession.

Rachel's mother is sick.  Tuberculosis is a nasty disease and her mother has been fading fast. Her only hope appears to be finding a father who knows nothing of her and getting the money she needs for her mother's care from him.  She takes a job taking photographs in Italy with the hopes that she can identify who her father is and enlist his help to save her mother.  Spending time with Scott leads her to trust him, but can she trust him with her deepest secrets?

I liked this book.  I think the author did a good job balancing the horrors of war and the beauty of art and nature.  It's not all sunshine and roses, war isn't like that, so be prepared for a little heartache.  You can tell the author did a great deal of research, the characters and their experiences are so real.  Good Book!

At Bluebonnet Lake (Texas Crossroads #1) - Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot is an author that I enjoy reading.  In the past, I’ve reviewed Summer of Promise and Waiting for Spring.  This book is a little different, though.  This book is contemporary and the others were historical.  I’m not normally a fan of contemporary, but I really enjoy this author and wanted to give it a chance.

Kate is in advertising and working toward becoming a partner.  When her grandmother asks her to take a month away from work to vacation in Texas with her, she can’t refuse.  Her grandmother is her only family, after all.  Rainbow’s End doesn’t end up being a high-class resort by any means and Kate is skeptical this month will be everything her grandmother hopes for.

Greg was drawn to Rainbow’s End because of an advertisement, but he’s shocked at the state of it as well.  He ends up helping out around the place and enjoys it.  He’s a billionaire, but he doesn’t want anyone to know.  Once they find out, people seem to view him differently, and he wants someone to appreciate who he really is, not what he can buy for them.  He’s searching for God’s plan for his life and seems to be hitting a dead end.

When Greg and Kate work together, amazing things happen.  They seem to be unstoppable, but Kate plans on going back to New York.  Kate’s grandmother also seems to be finding love in Texas but fears what it will do to Kate.

This is one of those stories where you know what the perfect solution would be for the characters, but they have to go through some trials to come to the same conclusion.  I really enjoyed reading about how these two were so lost when they tried to work alone and how things fell into place when they were together.  I thought the descriptions were well done, and by the end of the story, I wished I could go to Rainbow’s End!

Next up in this series is In Firefly Valley, but it’s not due out until May 2015.  It’s the story of Marisa and Blake.  These two people are mentioned in this book, but you never meet them.  That gives me the impression that this is going to be one of those series where you might be okay reading them out of order.  I normally don’t read contemporary, but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of this series.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Unbridled Bride (Mail-Order Matches) - Leah Atwood

I was looking for something on the shorter side to read and decided to take a peek at what amazon had to offer.  We signed up for a Prime membership last month, and that includes being able to borrow books.  After scrolling through a few pages, I found this short story and decided to give it a shot.  I've never read anything by this author before, so I was interested to see what I thought.

Winnie has been forced to leave her beloved Wyoming, but not before vowing she'll do whatever it takes to get back there someday.  That opportunity arises when she agrees to marry a man who runs a cattle ranch.  She's looking to guard her heart and be more of another hand around the ranch, but her husband wants a wife.

Lyle is confused by Winnie's behavior and I was as well for most of the book.  It wasn't a horrible story, but for only being 53 pages, it felt like more.  Except for the dialogue between the characters, the paragraphs were consistently long, making me feel like I was trudging through the book instead of flowing along with the story.  I wished there had been more interaction between Lyle and Winnie.

This book is part of a series that involves five books at present that includes The Not Quite Mail-Order Bride, A Man to be Proud of, The Mail-Order Bride's Quilt, The Ultimatum Bride, and The Unbridled Bride.  I believe any of these can be read alone.  These are short stories, the shortest having only 26 pages and the longest 76.  Overall, it was a decent story, but I wish there had been more depth to it.

A Lady in the Making (Prairie Dreams #3) - Susan Page Davis

This is the third book in this series.  The first two books are The Lady's Maid and Lady Anne's Quest.

Millie has mended her ways.  If you've read the second book, you'll know that she was one of the villains for most of the book.  She's refused to help her brother in his criminal schemes and is determined to get a fresh start with some family.  On her way there, she comes across none other than the honorable David Stone, the man she deceived in Oregon.

David is on his way to England so that he can take over his obligations as the Earl of Stoneford.  The last person he wants to come across is Charlotte/Millie Evans.  She wants him to see that she's changed, but he's learned his lesson and doesn't want anything to do with her.  His obligations as a gentleman, however, demand that he make sure she's okay.  When an accident delays his journey, he has a lot of time to reflect on how he feels about Millie and whether or not he believes she's really changed.

We find out very early on who's really been behind the attempts on David's life.  That person has heard the outcome of the attempt in Oregon and now has to come up with a different plan. The threat isn't quite as ominous this time, and you get the feeling it's not quite as important to the story.

I did enjoy this book, but it wasn't my favorite of the series.  I found myself getting a little annoyed at David's character with the way he seemed to treat Millie like a servant even after they'd become friends.  I was also somewhat disappointed with the end.  There wasn't a 100% resolution of justice for the attempts on David's life, and I found myself wondering why it wasn't a big deal anymore.  I think there was enough evidence that at least one of them could have considered the culprit at least in passing.

Anyway, even though it wasn't my favorite, it was still a pretty good book.  If you get the chance to read them, you'll get a more complete story if you read them in order.  Good Book!

Lady Anne's Quest (Prairie Dreams #2) - Susan Page Davis

This is the second book in the Prairie Dreams series.  The first one is called The Lady's Maid and the third is A Lady in the Making.

This book picks up right where the last one left off.  Anne is close to finding her uncle.  When she comes across someone calling themselves David Stone, she quickly figures out that he's not telling the truth.  There's a rumor that her uncle is checking out some mining land, and she sets out to find him.  She's come too far to quit now.

Dan fell in love with Anne on the wagon train, but she doesn't give him any hope.  He figures if he accompanies her to find her uncle, he'll have one more chance.  When he finds out she's the daughter of an earl, he feels like his chances are even slimmer.

The threat to Anne's uncle is still impacting her journey.  There's even more players that want to prevent her from reaching him.  The new ones aren't after him for the same reason, but they're still delaying Anne's reunion with her uncle.

While I enjoyed this book, I wish there had been a little more depth to Anne's feelings as they changed toward Dan.  I felt more connected with Dan's character than with Anne's.  There were a lot of typos in this version, but I didn't have any problems reading the story.  Since this book picks up where the last one left off, I was glad that I'd already read The Lady's Maid.  I'm not saying it's impossible to enjoy the series as stand alone books or read them out of order, but the mystery surrounding the uncle is a continuous thread and will continue into the next book.

The third book, A Lady in the Making, seems to revolve around Millie and David.  Millie's not a very likable character for most of this book, but she seems to honestly want to mend her ways toward the end.  I have this book waiting for me on my Kindle, and I'll be getting to it soon to finish out this series.  Good Book!

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (Whispers on the Moors #3) - Sarah E. Ladd

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall is the third book in the Whispers on the Moors series.  The first two books, The Heiress ofWinterwood and The Headmistress of Rosemere were good books that I enjoyed.  I looked forward to this book as well.

Cecily has fallen in love with the wrong man.  He’s the son of a nobleman and she’s just the blacksmith’s daughter.  When her father finds out about the affair, he takes her to a boarding school and leaves her there.  After five years, Cecily has no idea where her father or her twin sister is.  She takes the position of companion to an ill older woman and hopes that she’ll eventually be able to locate her sister.

Nathaniel is the steward of Willowgrove Hall and does his best.  Nothing is good enough for the lady of the house and he longs for the day when he can come into his inheritance and leave Willowgrove and his past behind him.  When he finds Cecily wandering the land in the rain, he isn’t sure what to make of her.  Finding out she’s to be the new companion to the mistress of the house, he vows to keep his distance.  His heart doesn’t agree.

These two think the best course is to keep their secrets buried.  No one will accept them if they knew the truth, would they?  As they get closer, they’re going to have to make peace with the past if they want to be together.

This was a good book, but it isn’t my favorite of the series.  It doesn’t have much that ties it to the other books in the series, making it okay to read them alone or out of order.  I’m curious to see more from this author.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Advent Bride (The 12 Brides of Christmas #1) - Mary Connealy

This novella is part of a series called The 12 Brides of Christmas.  One story a week by various authors will be released until December 22.

Melanie has her hands full with little Simon.  When she approaches his father about the boy's behavior, he challenges her to find a way to "manage" him.  Melanie isn't sure what to do until she finds a mysterious puzzle box hidden in the attic where she lives.  Now, she's not only bonding with the boy but his father as well.

Since this is a novella, I don't want to reveal too much, but this is a cute book and an easy read.  It was a nice balance of character development and story packed into a neat little package.  I love Christmas and this is a nice way to get in the spirit.  Good Story!

If you’d like more information on the series as a whole, check out the website HERE

.The 12 Brides of Christmas

1. The Advent Bride - Mary Connealy

2. The Nutcracker Bride - Margaret Brownley

3. The Evergreen Bride - Pam Hillman

4. The Gift-Wrapped Bride - Maureen Lang

5. The Yuletide Bride - Michelle Ule

6. The Gingerbread Bride - Amy Lillard

7. The Nativity Bride - Miralee Ferrell

8. The Christmas Tree Bride - Susan Page Davis

9. The Festive Bride - Diana Brandmeyer

10. The Christmas Star Bride - Amanda Cabot

11. The Snowbound Bride - Davalynn Spencer

12. The Fruitcake Bride - Vickie McDonough

* I received a copy of this novella from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Out of the Storm (Beacons of Hope Novella) - Jody Hedlund

I really enjoyed reading this author's Michigan Brides series and was excited to see that she's writing more.  This novella is a start to the Beacons of Hope series and it's about lighthouses.

Isabelle lives with her father at the lighthouse.  On a stormy night, they pull the body of a man out of the raging waves and nurse him back to health.  Henry comes from a wealthy family and is anxious, at first, to get back to his luxurious life.  As he gets to know Isabelle, he finds himself not as homesick and enjoying the time he spends with her.  Although Isabelle wants to experience love, she has a secret that could shatter her dreams.

Since this is a novella, I won't say too much about the story line, but it was interesting and I enjoyed it.  There was a bit more of the passionate side toward the end, but it didn't bother me too much.  Around 60% of the entire thing is the novella, the rest is an excerpt from the first book in the series, Love Unexpected.  It's due to come out November 25, 2014.  The names are different, so this is a nice, little stand alone story and a bright spot in my day.  Good Novella!

The Lady's Maid (Prairie Dreams #1) - Susan Page Davis

This is the first book in the Prairie Dreams series.  The other two are called Lady Anne's Quest and A Lady in the Making.

Elise and Anne have come from England to find Lady Anne's uncle.  He's the key to figuring out her family's fate regarding an earldom and no one has heard from him in years.  Now that her future is uncertain, Anne decides to head to America in search of her uncle, David.  Their search leads them to join a wagon train headed for Oregon.

Elise has been serving Anne's family for decades and she's been sweet on David since before he left.  She's committed to seeing this journey though with her mistress, even though they are now traveling as friends.  They're going to have to adapt quickly if they want to survive on the trail.  Elise particularly wants to prove herself to a certain man who didn't think they should be with their wagon train to begin with.

Eb is the scout for the wagon train and it doesn't take him long to admire Elise's spunk and determination.  It's the first time in a long time that a woman has caught his eye, but he's in denial.  When mysterious things begin happening to the ladies from England, he's first on the scene to help them out.  Something about their quest to find Anne's uncle is causing trouble to follow them, and they need to figure out what's going on.

I did enjoy this book.  Elise was a great character with her loyalty and stubborn nature.  While Anne is the dainty lady at the beginning, she toughens up during the trip and I liked her much better toward the end.  I wish Eb had been a bit deeper of a character, but he had his moments later on and I was pleased overall.  At the end of this book, we have unresolved issues regarding Anne's uncle, hence the second book, Lady Anne's Quest.

I can't say for sure whether you need to read these in order.  I have the rest of the series on my Kindle, so I'll be able to give a better opinion after the second one.  Good Book!

The Miner's Lady (Land of Shining Water #3) - Tracie Peterson

This is the third book in the Land of Shining Water series.  The first two books were called The Icecutter's Daughter and The Quarryman's Bride.

Chantel is part of the Panetta family.  When her sister tells her that she's fallen in love with a Calarco, we have a Romeo and Juliet situation.  The two families have been enemies for years and there seems to be no way this situation can have a happy ending.  When Chantel is recruited to run interference between the couple and Calarco's brother, Chantel begins to have feelings for Dante Calarco.

Dante wants to respect his father's wishes and obey him, but as time passes, he sees that his brother really cares about this woman and is devoted to her.  As he gets to know the Panetta family better, he starts to think that maybe it is time for the two families to set aside their differences and move on, but nothing seems to get through to his father.  It seems like Dante is going to have to choose between what he believes to be right and obeying his father.

I really liked the characters in this one.  I didn't start out liking Dante much, but as he grew and his opinions changed, I found him to be one of my favorite characters.  Chantel was the troublemaker and peacekeeper at the same time, which made her a fun character.  There was some sadness in this one, but it didn't ruin the book for me.

This was a really well written story with deep characters and a flowing story line.  This book isn't related to the other books in the series, so it's safe to read them out of order.  They're all set in Minnesota, but that's where the connections end.  It's a good series and I recommend it. Good Book!