Where Willows Grow (Heart of the Prairie #10) - Kim Vogel Sawyer

This was my last book in this series that I needed to read.  I did pick and choose to some degree and enjoyed most of them.  The ones I skipped are about the Mennonites, and personally I am not overly fond of that genre of fiction.  The complete list is:
1. Waiting for Summer's Return
2. Where the Heart Leads
3. A Promise for Spring
4. Fields of Grace
5. A Hopeful Heart
6. Courting Miss Amsel
7. A Whisper of Peace
8. Song of My Heart
9. A Home in Drayton Valley
10. Where Willows Grow.

Harley has been working hard to keep his farm going through a never-ending drought. Desperate to provide for his family, he decides to sell the mules and take a job elsewhere in Kansas building a castle.  He loves his wife but sees her growing discontent with her lot in life and wants to prove himself to her.  They are both stubborn and argue before he leaves.

While he is gone, both of them have a change of heart regarding the way they left things and want to make amends.  Unfortunately, the neighbor that Harley asked to help his wife out has been hopelessly in love with her since they were children.  Seeing this as an opportunity to gain what he wants, Jack goes to any measure he finds necessary to keep the two of them apart.

I did like this book, although I was irritated with Anna Mae at the beginning of the book. She is upset that Harley is leaving and didn't consult her.  Instead of trying to talk about the problem, she acts like a spoiled child and gives him the silent treatment.  Other than that, they both come to realize that it is best to make sure you don't leave things unsaid. Anna especially learns this lesson when a man from another town brings news of the castle project.  And all I can say about Jack is he is a bad, bad man!

The concept of the castle was unusual and I had the feeling that it was based on fact.  I looked it up online and there is a castle in Lindsborg, Kansas.  The place is called Coronado Heights Park.  I waited to find out a little bit about it at the end, but all I saw were dedications from the author.  I enjoy when authors incorporate truth like this, I just wish there had been a bit about it at the end of the book.  Likable characters, good story line - Good Book!

The Tutor's Daughter - Julie Klassen

I've come to look forward to reading books written by Julie Klassen.  So far, I've been able to read The Silent Governess, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, and Lady of Milkweed Manor. I really liked all of those so it was an easy choice to pick this one up.

Emma helps her father who runs a school teaching young men.  Since her mother died, Emma has noticed his declining devotion to his work.  Hoping to get some business, she writes to a family that had sent two of their sons, one a trouble-maker and the other a friendly young man, to encourage the family to entrust their other two sons.  Instead of sending their sons, the family invites Emma and her father to reside at the house and teach the boys.  Thinking the change of scenery might be beneficial for her father's spirits, they agree to make the journey.  They aren't at the house long before strange things begin to happen to Emma.

Henry regrets his pestering of the tutor's daughter and notices how she's grown up. Unfortunately, it seems like his stepmother would never approve and his younger brother, Philip, appears to have his eyes on Emma anyway.  Henry is wrapped up in family secrets and knowing that strange things are happening to Emma causes him additional worry.

This story has the gothic elements of Jane Eyre with the midnight mysteries in Emma's room and other parts of the house, but it also has the two brothers fighting for Emma's heart.  One brother seems to be more substance than she thought and the other has all the appearance of substance but doesn't quite live up to it.  As with her other books, I really enjoyed this book.  Next up is The Dancing Master, due out in December.  I'm already tracking it!  Good Book!

Outlaw - Ted Dekker

If you've read any of my reviews of Ted Dekker novels in the past, you'll know that he is my favorite author.  There isn't much that he's written that I didn't enjoy and after reading the four sections to Eyes Wide Open, (Identity, Mirrors, Unseen and Seer) I was looking forward to the next part of The Outlaw Chronicles.

Outlaw begins int he 1960's with a violent storm.  Julian and her infant son are fighting for their lives on board a sailboat until the ship breaks apart.  After the captain dies and the boat sinks, men in a small boat approach Julian and take her out of the water, but it's not necessarily to save her.  Without her child and alone in a world that she can't relate to, she does her best to stay alive.

The things she has to do cause her to doubt God and rail against Him.  As times goes on, she learns that the events of the day of the shipwreck are not exactly the way she believes them to be.  She is made aware of a fact that will turn her life upside down once again, leaving her without bearable options.  Once her eyes are opened, she becomes part of a greater story than she imagined.  I won't go into detail about the second half of the book - I don't want to add spoilers!

The amazing thing about Ted Dekker's books is that there are so many levels to them. You have the story itself, which is always a window to another world, be it real or imagined.  There's also the deeper meanings that Dekker seamlessly adds to his books that can cause the reader to rethink the way they look at the world.  After I finished this book, I went back and read the end of Seer, the end of Eyes Wide Open, and refreshed my memory in regards to Outlaw.

The reason I love Ted Dekker's books so much is that it doesn't matter what the topic is, he has such a great style that he can make it interesting.  I would never dream of picking up a book about a tribe in New Guinea had it been written by any other writer.  He’s just that good.  This book is related to Eyes Wide Open, another great book, but it isn’t necessary to read them in order.  I recommend them both without hesitation.  Great Book!

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

Against the Tide - Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden has become one of the authors that I look forward to reading.  When I pick up one of her books, I know that I'm going to be reading something that is a unique story with great characters.  In the past, I have seen that in The Lady of Bolton Hill, The Rose of Winslow Street, and Into the Whirlwind.  All great books and I was anxious to read this one.

Lydia spent part of her childhood on a boat and the rest of it in an orphanage.  Her knack for languages has landed her a job at the Navy Yard translating things from around the world.  She loves her job and enjoys that everything in her life seems to be in order.  All that changes when she faces losing her home.  She needs to come up with some extra money fast.

Bane likes to mess with Lydia's neat and tidy world.  If he was in a position to be attracted to a woman, it would be Lydia.  Not only does his past prevent him but also the present course of his life.  He was deeply involved in the opium trade and since he became a Christian, he now is on a mission to bring down the trade that he helped establish.  He also has determined to get back at the man who made him into who he used to be.  Since that man is always after Bane, he can't endanger Lydia by letting her into his world.

As with her other books, I was impressed.  I loved the characters and the originality of the story.  The historical notes at the end opened my eyes to some of the ways the opium trade affected so many lives, especially children.  I don't see anything else on the horizon from Camden, but I'll definitely be on the look-out.  Good Book!

A Promise to Love (Michigan Northwoods #3) - Serena B. Miller

As far as I can tell, this is the first time I have read this author.  On amazon, this book is listed as book #3, but I can't find evidence of what series it is referring to.  I did, however, make the connection that this book follows The Measure of Katie Calloway.  It seems that the characters in that book make an appearance in this book, but after realizing who they were, their role in this book is small enough that reading this out of order isn't a big deal.

In this book, Ingrid has come from Sweden to meet her twin brother, Hans, and make a new life in Michigan.  When her brother doesn't write, Ingrid begins to think that something has happened to him and now has to make her own way.  Unfortunately, she has ended up in the employ of a spoiled woman who abuses Ingrid and punishes her repeatedly. Fed up, Ingrid leaves and is now looking for another way to provide for herself.

Joshua Hunter's wife has just died mysteriously.  His in-laws are blaming him for her death, claiming that he must have poisoned her.  At the inquest, he is absolved of responsibility of his wife's death, but the in-laws push the case that he is unable to provide for the children.  The judge agrees, but Ingrid has seen kindness in Joshua and offers to be a mother to the children.  Feeling like this is the only way he can keep his children, he agrees to a marriage.  As time passes, Joshua tries to tell himself that he will never love anyone again, but time and unknown details might just change his mind.

I really enjoyed this book and ate it up.  I found Ingrid to be a great character and her plan for bringing Bertie back home, based on true events, was amusing.  The amount of research and true events that was weaved into the story was great and I'm happy to say that I've found myself a new author.  I've got The Measure of Katie Calloway already waiting on my Kindle.  Had I known it came before this one, I would have read it first.  Also, the author has written some Amish novels, which I'm not a fan of, but has released another book, Under the Blackberry Moon, just today.  It's on my watch list and I look forward to reading more.  Good Book!

Bourne (River of Time 3.1) & Tributary (River of Time 3.2) - Lisa T. Bergren

These two are novellas that are meant to be read after the River of Time series: Waterfall, Cascade and Torrent.  Make sure you have read this series BEFORE you dive into these novellas - you'll have no clue what's going on if you don't.

In Bourne, we pick up where Torrent left off.  Men are wounded from battle and there is a new threat to the Betarrinis and those they have come to love.  Lia still doesn't quite feel like she belongs but knows she won't be going back.

Tributary was my favorite story of the two.  Alessandra has gotten a head wound while out hunting.  Lia and Gabi know that they have no choice but to take her back to their castello even though it is obvious that this girl has come from their enemies.  As Alessandra heals, she comes to realize that everything she believes is not as black and white as she first thought.

I really loved this series and these two novellas.  Finding some closure for Lia, Luca and Rodolfo was nice although not everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow.  It has been over two years since I read the River of Time series, but there were enough reminders to help me remember what had been going on - great job by the author on that one!  You still have those moments where the "teen" aspect of the book shines through in the language.  For me, it sort of broke up the flow but it wasn't bad enough to change my opinion of the stories.

These are available separately, but I recommend you buy them together for two reasons. The first is that it is cheaper to buy them together.  They are $2.99 separately and $3.99 together.  For some, the difference is minimal, but when you buy/read as many books as I do, every little bit helps.  The second reason is that both stories are definitely worth reading and you'd be missing out by only reading one.  Great Series!  Great Novellas!

A Home in Drayton Valley (Heart of the Prairie #9) - Kim Vogel Sawyer

I've been reading through this series, picking out the ones I thought sounded interesting. The ones I've read so far are Waiting for Summer's Return, A Promise for Spring, A Hopeful Heart, Courting Miss Amsel and Song of My Heart.

Tarsie is a young, independent woman who is trying to make ends meet.  Her best friend, Mary, has been sick for quite some time and when Tarsie finds a book telling about the ideal place to live: Drayton Valley, Kansas.  She wants to get Mary out of the unhealthy air in New York and get to the cleaner air in Kansas.  It will also get Mary's children to a better place to grow up and Mary's husband, Joss, away from liquor.

Joss grew up with a father who was always angry and drank all the time.  He loves Mary and is devastated when he realizes how sick she really is.  He starts to wonder if she will even get to see Kansas.  As she's dying, Mary asks Tarsie to take care of her children but also Joss.  Tarsie's not so sure she can do it, but she vows to try.

This was an interesting read, but I must say it was a little depressing at times.  Tarsie does her best to show God's love to Joss, but he treats her with indifference and plans to leave first chance he gets.  The way he treats his children is the way he was treated even though he vowed not to become like his father.  At the end of the day, it was a good book about how anyone can turn their life around and I enjoyed it. I've got one more to read from this series, Where Willows Grow, and I look forward to reading it soon.  Good Book!