The Bake Shop by Amy Clipston

This is your typical Amish love story. But, it was a very slow start. About the first half of the book was like reading someone's diary, someone that led a very routine life. But, it did pick up after the halfway point and got quite a bit more interesting.

The characters were fairly well developed, especially the father of Christiana. Christiana and Jeff were also well developed, the supporting characters were just that, no more and no less.

This was a clean, non-offensive read. Once you got past the halfway point the story flowed well.

I was given this book through Netgalley and this review is freely given and my own, honest opinion. I chose to read and review this book as I've read other books by Amy Clipston. This is not her best book but not awful, either. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Collusion of Lies by Tom Threadgill

First, this book was published by Revell so I expected it to be an actual Christian fiction. While it was a clean read, for the most part, I would not call it Christian in any way. In fact, there were 2 times when sexual activity was hinted at between unmarried people. This was sad and not needed. The other thing that made it not a Christian book in my eyes is that there was only reference to God in ways that anyone would say things like "Thank God".

My overall opinion of the book though was it was interesting and held my interest throughout. The editing was very well done, especially considering I was given an ARC. I was disappointed that one thing was left unanswered but I cannot say what as it would give away too much of the story. Tom Threadgill did a nice job of introducing his characters and giving them life. They were very believable. He is also a good storyteller, building tensions and giving answers in a timely manner.

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you like a good mystery, you will enjoy this book. LibraryThing gave me this book, but the review and opinions are totally mine and not required.
https://mybooksiread.blogspot.com/2019/12/collusion-of-lies-by-tom-threadgill.html

The Butterfly Recluse

I wasn't going to choose to read and review this book but I changed my mind and I am glad I did. The characters are quite well developed and the story flowed well. There was an unexpected turn in the story making it more interesting.

She brought out how it feels to be lonely and depressed without making you feel depressed at all.

The editing was well done and that makes a big difference to me.

I recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klasse

This book is a bit different than the other books I've read by Julie Klassen. This is a murder mystery. It is also a historical fiction with a bit of romance thrown in. I did enjoy the book. The characters were very well developed and the story flowed well. I do admit I was suspicious of whom the actual murder was about 3/4 of the way through. But, that did not detract from the story in any way.

The ebook I received was an ARC and it did have a few errors both grammatical and spelling. A couple of times this caused me to have to re-read the sentence and figure it out but hopefully that will all have been addressed at final editing.

I would recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5-star rating. This review is my own opinion and freely given. I was given an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley.

The Rebel Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #10) by Shannon McNear

This book review is my own, honest opinion and not required, freely given. I received an ARC through Netgalley.

I have not read any books by Shannon McNear before but I did mostly enjoy this book. This is a Christian novel, but not preachy in any way. A very moral, clean book. The characters were quite well developed though not deeply. The background and history were very well portrayed in this book. Both the North and South were fairly portrayed in this book. The reasons that the war was fought were well portrayed also. You could tell the author invested a lot of time and effort in showing true, historical events.

Now, for what I did not care for. At times, the story dragged and was slow. The sentences were not always written in the clearest manner.  The sentence layout at times was quite confusing. Also, I hope that this book will get a final review for editing as there were enough errors to warrant another review. Poor editing makes reading a book less enjoyable and this is how I felt reading this book. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because of these issues. I would maybe recommend this book depending on the person. If you enjoy historical fiction it is a good read even with my complaints against the book.

The Englisch Daughter by Cindy Woodsmall, Erin Woodsmall

This review is freely given and not required even though I received a free ARC through Netgalley.com.

I have not read a book by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall before but I truly enjoyed this book. It is a Christian book with the main characters from the Amish faith. It is different than most of the "Amish" books I've read before as it doesn't deal so strongly with their practices. It did mention being shunned and some other forms of discipline but it wasn't based on these things.

There were four main characters in this book and they were quite well developed. You learned "what made them tick". The minor characters were understandable also.

The story flowed well and kept my interest. I was glad they put in an epilogue at the end. It was written so that a second book could happen but is not needed. The editing was well done, a couple of minor things but nothing to distract a reader.

Overall I would give this book a 4 out of 5-star rating. I will look forward to reading more from these authors

Isaiah's Legacy by Mesu Andrews

I have enjoyed every book that I've read by Mesu Andrews and this is no exception. At first, I was not sure I was going to like the book but after just a few pages, I could barely put it down. It draws you into the Biblical times of the reign of King Manassah. The main characters were very well developed and felt like people you might actually know.
The story flowed very well and covered a lot of history. Even with all the historical facts in the story, it did not feel like a history lesson, it made for a very interesting look at the era. But, even though it wasn't a lesson if you didn't learn something you were just skim-reading. The scenes unfolded in a very vivid way most of the time.
The editing was well done also. Poor editing can ruin an otherwise great book. I only remember two very small errors that did not detract at all.
I enjoyed the book which I received through Netgalley. I am not required to give any review at all, especially not a good review. This review is freely given and my own opinion. I give the book a 5 out of 5-star rating. I would recommend this book to my friends. I read an ARC ebook.

Stitches in Time by Suzanne Woods Fisher

This is not the first book I've read by Suzanne Woods Fisher and I hope it is not my last. I truly enjoyed reading Stitches in Time. It was towards the end of the book that the title made sense but that didn't detract from the book at all. This book is the second in the series The Deacon's Family. I did not read the first book and I wish I had but since many of the characters came from other series I'm not sure that would have helped. The characters were listed in the front of the book but they didn't help me understand things any better.

I do not give a synopsis in my review as that is found elsewhere and I figure you are reading this to know my opinion on the book. I liked the book. It is a typical Amish type book but very well written. Editing errors in a book can ruin it for me but there were no major errors and I don't remember minor issues either. The characters were well developed. I especially liked innocent Molly. The book bounces back and forth between two groups of people that do come together at times. There are two storylines going on also. At first, this was disconcerting but after a little but it did not bother me at all.

I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. It seemed to leave quite a few things unsettled but hopefully, these issues will be resolved in coming books.

I requested this book so I could read it and give my own, honest opinion. This opinion is my own and not required to be positive. I give this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. I will also post my review where this book is sold.

The Roll of the Drums by Jan Drexler

This is not your typical Amish love story. This is set during the Civil War and puts a new spin on the tried and true love story.

I liked reading the book and the author, though new to me, did a great job. The characters were well described and it felt like they were people you could meet and like. They felt real. The story flowed very well and did not bog down at all. In fact, I was kind of sad when it ended. There was a bit of the war in the book and it showed how Amish believe and act around war/violence. 

This is the second book in the series The Amish of Weaver's Creek. I did not read the first book but that did not matter at all. This is a good, stand-alone novel. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The editing was well done and that is important to me.

I requested to read this book through the Revell Reads program. This review is freely given and my own, honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Valerie's Verdict by Hallee Bridgeman

I read this book as a member of the launch team. I enjoy reading Hallee Bridgeman, she does a great job and this book is not an exception to that. It is a good read and you will enjoy it.

The main characters were very well developed and came alive. They could be your neighbor or friend. The supporting characters were well done too, just not as in-depth as they were the minor players. The story flowed well. It drew you in immediately. It did not first give you a long, drawn-out scenario but put you right into the story with a lot of action and drama.

This is a love story, but also a book that looks at a couple of hard, social issues: abuse and inter-racial relationships. Both issues were addressed well and show the good and the bad.

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because I felt it was a bit slow in a couple of areas but I truly enjoyed the book. I think you will like it also if you are looking for a modern-day romance. It is a Christian book and shows how a Christian should act but is not preachy at all.

I was given an ARC and this review is freely given and not required, it is my honest opinion.

Alone for the Holidays by Vivien Mayfair

So, my normal reading is Christian based. This book, in most eyes, would be clean but there are a couple of places where it is a bit suggestive. That is my least favorite thing about this book. The editing was good but a few errors of extra words as if a sentence had been edited but not all the words removed.

The characters were fairly well written, after all, how deep can you go in a story less than 100 pages long? It was cute and mostly light-hearted. Not really believable, but a fun read. It moved along well but the ending was a bit off, like she just wanted to finish the book so she quit writing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Gray Chamber: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Grace Hitchcock

This is the second book I've read by Grace Hitchcock. It is her second book in the True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime. I read and enjoyed her first book, The White City, and this book is just as enjoyable. Her writing is very realistic to the point I had to stop reading and resume later as I got so caught up in the story.

I don't like to give a synopsis as you can read that elsewhere. I want to give you my opinion of a book. I give this book a 5 out of 5 rating. I truly enjoyed this story. It was well written and sadly, true to how things happened back then.

The main characters were very believable, you loved the good ones and despised the bad. The way some were treated tore at my heart. The editing was also well done. Poor editing can ruin an otherwise great book. The story flowed well and at times kept me on the edge of my seat.

I requested to read and review this book through Netgalley. I am not required to leave a review and if I do, it is not required to be a positive review. This review is my own and my honest opinion. When this book is published I will post this review on sites such as Amazon, B&N, Booksamillion, etc.

Shadow of the Dagger (CIA Operatives Book One) by Anne Greene

I like to read books by Anne Greene. So far, all of the books I've read have been novellas, short and sweet. This is a big move from her regular books. This is a regular length novel and packed full of excitement and adventure. This kept me glued to the pages.

The pace is fast, a real page-turner.  The characters are well developed and believable.

This is also a Christian book, no swearing or sex. It isn't a pushy type of Christian book, just faith shown in the main characters.

The editing was well done, mostly. There were about 4 errors that stuck out to me. The one that stuck out the most was the way a sentence was written saying she had her hair covered but it ended up sounding more like she was covered in hair.  Editing can make or break a good book for me. I still like this book.

Do I recommend this book, yes? I was gifted this book by the author. I am not required to leave a review and am doing so because I want to.

A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott

This is a well written Christian historical romance. The story is about settling the west and trying to cross or circumvent the Grand Canyon. The main characters are Meg and Ben and the love story part is pretty well the standard plot. She's independent and he's in love. There was also a bit of mystery in the book, that's what I sort of figured out early but not the details. The minor characters are also well developed. Some are fun, some serious, and of course, the bad guy.

I suspected the ending fairly early but that did not detract from the book. It was interesting the way it played out. The descriptions of the scenery were exceptionally well done. You can almost see the Grand Canyon. Like my grandson said, reading a book is like watching a movie in your mind and this was a very scenic movie!

This is the first in a series The American Wonders Collection. The book had a lot of interesting historical facts. The Christian aspect of the book was also well done. It showed how faith plays out in everyday life. A few Bible verses were quoted but it was not preachy in any way. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

The editing was very well done. I mention this as poor editing can really detract from enjoying a very nice book.

I was thankful to be chosen to read and review this book. I was not required to give a positive review and this is my own opinion and freely given. Give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

A Song of Joy by Lauraine Snelling

This is the fourth book in the series Under Northern Skies. I did not realize this was a series book when I requested it through Netgalley. Even though it was the last of a series, it was still a good standalone book. It would have been more interesting if I had read the first three books, but it was still interesting.

I have always enjoyed books by Lauraine Snelling and this did not disappoint. It was slow in some spots, a lot of description at times but this did not detract from the story. The characters were well developed and the plot was an easy read. It had a little bit of suspense when Nilda was being investigated but not a true suspense novel. It is more a love story, sweet and simple.

The editing was well done. That can make or break a book in my opinion. I hate having to re-read things to figure out the wrong words or punctuation.

This is a Christian book though not preachy. It does show the importance of depending on God. It is mostly a clean, no sexual content, love story. I freely give my review it is my own opinion and not forced in any way. I recommend this book and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Books I've Read: One Final Breath by Lynn H Blackburn

Books I've Read: One Final Breath by Lynn H Blackburn: This book is the third and final book in the Dive Team Investigations series. I was given the opportunity to read this book through Libraryt...

One Final Breath by Lynn H Blackburn

This book is the third and final book in the Dive Team Investigations series. I was given the opportunity to read this book through Librarything.com. The book I received and read was an advanced reader's copy. I am not required to give a review of any kind but I chose to do so and this is my honest opinion.

I have not read any of the other books in the series and that was ok. It probably would have been a little better if I had read them, but it did not take away from this book at all.

Ms. Blackburn did a wonderful job of bringing her characters to life. The story kept my interest throughout and it flowed well. The plot was interesting, part mystery and part romance.  The ending was as expected but not disappointing, you didn't know exactly how it would play out and that was good.

As stated, this was an advanced reader copy so I hope the editing was improved. It wasn't really bad throughout the book but most noticeable in the last 60 or so pages. An example is a word should have been "broke" but was written "broken" and it stuck out. Another one that annoyed me was in spoken conversation. I tried to overlook it as people do/would speak that way, but the grammar was totally wrong. I guess I'm the "grammar police" type person, but a poorly edited book will ruin the whole book for me. Also, I repeat, the editing was not awful, just needs more attention in the copy I read.

All that said, if you like a good Christian book that is not preachy, you will enjoy this. The Christian part was written showing how Christians behave in certain situations and how prayer plays a huge role in a Christian's life. If you like romance, you will enjoy this and you will also enjoy it if you like crime-drama mysteries. I would recommend this book to my friends and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

A Perfect Silhouette by Judith Miller

I requested and received this book through NetGalley and Baker Publishing. I am not forced to leave a review either positive or negative. This review is freely given and my own opinion.

I enjoy reading books by Judith Miller and I enjoyed this book also. When I started the book, I thought I had previously read it but knew that couldn't be true. I had read a book that involved the millworkers in that region and time period in a different book years ago. The only similarity was the description, a very accurate description, of the mills and working/living conditions.

The main characters in this book were well thought out and well-executed.individuals. The storyline was pretty believable also. It is, of course, a fiction book but well done. It is also a Christian fiction and that aspect is also well done. It shows God and a Christian life without being preachy.

I do not like reading books that need a lot of editing. Even though this was an advanced reader copy, the editing was well done. Not perfect but almost so. The story was well thought out and flowed smoothly. I was sorry when it ended. I would have liked it to go on a bit more to show what happened to Mellie and her sister.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone wanting to read historical fiction.

King's Shadow by Angela Hunt

This is the 4th book in a series, The Silent Years. I did not read any of the previous books and that really didn't matter. It can be a standalone book very easily. It is a fictionalized history story, but quite true to actual events. It is also a Christian fiction but not overly "Christian" or preachy, less than most of Angela Hunt's books, but still, God is displayed in Zara's life. Zara is the handmaid to Salome.

The characters are very well written and quite believable. The story seems very true to history and at times is quite gruesome as Herod could be very cruel.

The story goes back and forth between Salome and Zara and tells the story from two different perspectives. One, Salome the princess/king's sister, the other, Zara a Jewish handmaid.

I enjoyed the book. Towards the end, I was afraid I would not want to read the ending but I was pleasantly surprised. If you enjoy Biblical or historical fiction you will enjoy this book. Angela Hunt is a gifted author and I enjoy reading her books. This is no exception. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

I requested and was granted this book through Netgalley to read and review. I was not required to give the review and the review is totally my honest opinion.

Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

    I love books by Jen Turano and this is no exception. Her books are well written and light-hearted, laugh out loud, fun.
     The main characters were well developed and interesting. They were interesting and kept the flow going well.
     This is a Christian book but not preachy at all, in fact, it is a little lighter in this area than her other books.
     The one thing I did find wrong was that it was not as well-edited as her other books, but I was given an advanced reader's copy and hopefully, the final book will have the errors taken care of.
     I highly recommend this book. I give it 5 out of 5 stars, even with the errors.

Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano

This was an advanced reader copy so I am hoping that it will receive another editing. There were a few errors that stuck out but did not detract from the story or reading much, though a bit. The layout on my Kindle was also annoying as the first letter of every chapter was out of place and partially covered words.

But, I totally enjoyed the story. It was well written and flowed very well. The main characters were very well developed. The story was partial romance and partial mystery set in the 1800s. This is also a Christian book. It is not at all preachy but shows how ignoring God can/will affect your life.

The story wasn't actually believable nor was it totally unbelievable and that was part of the joy of reading it.

I have never read a book by Joanna Davidson Politano before, but I look forward to reading more from her.

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars, deducting one star for editing which I hope will be corrected.

Until The Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette

I really enjoyed this book. I have not read any books by Connilyn Cossette, but this will not be the last book of hers that I read.

The characters were believable and well described. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. The setting was also believable and interesting.

This was an advanced reader copy that I got through Netgalley so the editing was not perfect but was done well enough that it did not detract from my enjoyment.

This is set in the time and area Isreal after the Jewish people were given the promised land, after the death of Joshua. It felt like it was a bit of a combination of a few of the parables in the New Testament, but it was very interesting.

I give this book a 5-star rating and would recommend this to my friends.

Yours Truly, Thomas by Racchel Fordham

     I requested and was granted an advanced copy of this book to read and review. The review is my honest opinion of the book.
     My first impression is that even though the book is listed as a Christian book, there is very little in it to verify that. God is mentioned a couple of times and the Bible is mentioned a couple of times, but other than that, not so much. There were so many missed opportunities. But, all in all, it was a good, clean book.
     The main characters were quite well developed and you felt like maybe you had met them. The other characters were mainly just "bit players".
     The story flowed well and the plot was unique. I liked that the letters were interspersed throughout. Only a couple of times did the letters make it seem too repetitive. The plot progressed too fast to make it a believable story, but it's not meant to be, it's fiction. The book held my interest throughout.
     It is hard to know if the editing will be fixed or not, but for an advanced reader copy, it was pretty good. I did notice a few errors, but not so many that it interfered with my enjoyment.
     Would I recommend this book to my friends, yes? I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
   

Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson book review

This book review is my own opinion. I was given an advanced reader copy through Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishing. I do not give a synopsis of the book, I only give my own opinion.

I assumed that this was a Christian novel because it was published by Thomas Nelson. I assumed wrong. It was a clean novel, but in total God was mentioned, in passing, twice. The first time was one-third of the way into the book, the second was two thirds. So, if you're thinking it will have something to do with God or Christianity, you are wrong.

Now, as for my opinion of the book, it was very well written. The main characters quite well developed. It was a mystery type of story and it kept my interest throughout. As in most good mysteries, the tension was slowly built up until the end and a nice climax was reached. The story flowed well and the ending was good, it did not disappoint me.

There were a few areas that needed editing for spacing and such. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed before the book is published. The editing wasn't so bad that it detracted from my enjoyment at all.

I would recommend this book to my friends. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. One star being deducted as it was NOT a Christian fiction book. There were many missed opportunities in that area.

The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken

I requested, through Netgalley and Barbour Books, to read and review The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken. I was given an advanced reader ebook to do this. My opinions are my own and not required.

I have read the previous books in this series and enjoyed them. Each one by a different author. I was hoping I would feel the same about this book, but I do not. The concept is intriguing and has a lot of promise, but this book fell flat. It started strong but soon weakened to a slow, slightly boring read. I was totally confused on the main male characters relationship with his uncle. I never really knew if it was his biological uncle or just a kind person. Braham's, the nephew's, background was told but not in a clear manner and not one that made any sense. I don't see a real family treating one another as this was.

The main female character was a bit more interesting but still fell flat. She seemed to be the only one that reflected a Christian personality and that wasn't very strong. They all attended church but that seemed to be the main thing that made this a Christian book and it was disappointing.

This book had a lot of potential and the history would have been interesting. I am sorry the history part was so weak also.

I have not read any other book by Angie Dicken so I cannot comment or compare. I am not sure I will read more if they are like this one. I also hope that the editing is done better before going to market as there was a lot to be desired in that area.

I will not recommend this book to my friends. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Books I've Read: All Manner Of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

Books I've Read: All Manner Of Things by Susie Finkbeiner:     I like to read books by Susie Finkbeiner and this book did not disappoint. She writes Christian fiction in a very non-preachy way. This ...

All Manner Of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

    I like to read books by Susie Finkbeiner and this book did not disappoint. She writes Christian fiction in a very non-preachy way. This book is set in the later 1960s and covers some of the social/political things going on at that time.
     Susie weaves the lives of Annie and her family in a way that is truly believable. Her characters come to life in a way that you feel like you know them.
     I truly enjoyed reading this book but I was a little disappointed in the ending. It was done in such a way it is possible to have a second book but it is not listed as a series. Also, the title really did not fit, in my opinion.   
    The book I received through RevelReads advanced readers program was an advanced readers' copy so it is hard to comment on how the final edition will be edited. The advanced readers' copy was well done but not perfect. This review is my own opinion and freely given.

The Pink Bonnet: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Liz Tolsma

     I requested to read and review The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma through Netgalley and Barbour Books. I had read the first in the series and was interested in reading more. This is a series of historical crimes in America. Each book, so far, is a different author. I have never read anything by Liz Tolsma, but I enjoyed the story. I give the book a 5 star out of a 5-star review.
     The book is classified as historical fiction. It is based on a true story or event. In my opinion, it is loosely Christian. It is a nice, clean book. The main character does pray and at the end, it was more evident it was a Christian book. It is not preachy in any way. Even if you don't want Christian and like historical, you will enjoy this book.
     The book is well written and the editing was well done. It was an advanced reader copy and the conversion to Kindle was a bit off, but I think this will be addressed. The characters are well developed and you get a feeling of what it would be like to meet them. The story flowed well and in some areas, the suspense was built up nicely.
     The ending was not what I expected but had to be that way to stay true to history. I recommend this book.

The Heart of a King by Jill Eileen Smith

I received this book as part of the Revell Reads blog tour. I chose to be a part of this and my review is my own opinion.

I truly enjoyed this book. Jill Eileen Smith does research into the Bible and history and it shows. This is a fictional book based on her research and opinion of what King Solomon might have been like and what his life may have been like as an adult.

The characters are very believable and the background of the story is well written. You feel like you could be reading an autobiography, it is that realistic in my opinion.

The story flowed well and it was very well edited. The grammar and punctuation were done well and it did not detract from the book at all. That is a very important element, in my opinion on my enjoyment of a book.

I give this book 5 stars out of 5. I would recommend it to my friends.

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky is a very interesting book. I requested to read and review this book through Netgalley.com. I give it 4 stars out of 5. The reason I only give it 4 stars is I felt it could have ended better, even though it is the first book in a new series.  Another reason for a missing star is that at times it got too rambling and things were repeated especially towards the end of the book.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. It is a Christan, historical fiction book. It is not a preachy book, but it does show people using their beliefs in a nice way. I was drawn to this book as my great grandfather was put in an orphanage in England by his father in the late 1800s after the death of his mother.

This book looks at how orphanages worked in the late 1800s until the early 1900s. It is not a preachy kind of book and it is not condemning nor praising how the system worked.

The main characters were fairly well developed and believable. The story was also believable. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Even though this was an advanced reader copy, the editing was very well done. I appreciate that in a book.

I would recommend this book to my friends.

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter

I asked to read and review this book through Netgalley.com and Thomas Nelson publishing. I liked the book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I give it 4 and not 5 stars because the storyline is not very different and that the characters were fairly well developed but not great. The characters were believable though, which helped. The editing was pretty good but it's hard to tell with an advanced reader copy how it will end up.

I have not read books by Denise Hunter before but I will probably read more. The storyline was a typical boy-next-door romance and that part was pretty average. The family dynamics was a bit unique and kept my interest. This is a Christian book and you could see the faith of the main character, Maddy, growing throughout the story. The story was not a heavy read and I read the book in a fairly short amount of time. It would be a good book for a vacation or a day at the beach or such.

Wooing Cadie McCaffery

I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. I was very pleased to read and review this book. I usually read historical fiction and this was a nice change for me. The book is a light-hearted Christian romance. It is not preachy at all, in fact, the main characters show human weakness in the book and how they deal with sin is discussed but not preachy. It shows you can/do sin and God forgives.

The book was written going back and forth between Cadie and Will. Sometimes Cadie was speaking and sometimes it was about Will. This did not distract me from the story. It flowed well and the characters were well written and defined. The secondary characters were also believable.

Sometimes the story was almost funny, but sometimes you felt bad for them also. But mostly, it was light-hearted.

Since I had an advanced reader copy, I will only say I hope they do another editing before they send it to press. It's not terrible, but there were a few errors that need to be corrected. Overall, I give this 5 stars out of 5.

Surrender The Sea by MaryLu Tyndall

Surrender The Sea by MaryLu Tyndall is the book I received in the Bookfun.org February giveaway. I was very thankful to receive this book and really enjoyed reading it. It is a Christian book, but not preachy. It shows the importance of having faith.

The book was well written and the main characters were well developed and easy to understand. The book kept me interested throughout. It was a little bit of adventure, a little romance and a whole lot exciting. But, the one thing I did not like was the ending. I will not spoil the book, but I will say I felt it did not do a good job of wrapping things up.

As far as the readability/editing is concerned, it was a good job but left a little to be desired. It was not perfect but did not detract much from my enjoyment of the book.


I would rate this book a 4 out of 5. I didn't give it a 5 because of the combination of imperfect editing and not wrapping up the full story. I would recommend this book to my friends.

The Artful Match by Jennifer Delamere

The Artful Match by Jennifer Delamere, from Bethany House Publishing, is a book I requested through NetGalley to read and review. The book was an advanced reader's copy and because of this I will not deduct for poor editing but I will mention that the editing in the book I read was in need of better editing.

The book is the third in a series and I read one book previously. Reading the previous book was not necessary to understand this book. In fact, at first, I thought I was re-reading a book, but that was very short lived. I enjoyed the previous book and I enjoyed this one just as much. It is a historical fiction set in England in the late 1800s. It is also a Christian book, clean and not offensive, but not pushy.

The characters are well developed and mostly believable. The story flowed well. The ending tied up the three books well. The story was somewhat believable but since it is fiction and a fun book to read not totally believable.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by Jennifer Delamere. I would recommend this book to my friends. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. I did receive a free, advanced reader's copy and the review was not required and is my own opinion. I do not give a synopsis of the book as you can find that when you purchase the book, I just give you my opinion and state if I would recommend it or not.

The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen

The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen is a book I requested from Bethany House Publishers, through Netgalley, to read and review. I chose to do this and this opinion is my own. I give this 4 stars out of 5.

I enjoyed all the previous books I've read written by Julie Klassen and this is the same. The book was an enjoyable trip back in time. The reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars instead of 5 stars is two-fold. The first reason is a great deal my preferences in that I do not like the many references to previous books in the series. I knew this was the 3rd book in the series but didn't know how much more enjoyable this would have been if I'd read the previous books. Many authors write series and each book is its own story but this book wasn't exactly like that. It could have been and did get better as the story progressed but still too dependant on previous books. The second reason is that it was in need of more editing. It wasn't horrible but there were a handful of times that the error was, to me, quite obvious and distracting.

Overall, this was well written and the story flowed very well. The characters were very well developed and it felt like you had a good grasp on their personalities and if you would or would not like them in real life. This is a Christian book but not pushy or preachy. It is more dependant on the characters showing how they try to depend on God. If you like a good, clean, historical fiction you will enjoy this book. I would recommend it to my friends.

Ladies of Intrigue by Michelle Griep

     Barbour Books through NetGalley allowed me to read and review this ebook, a compilation of the novellas. The opinions are my own and not required. The book is Ladies of Intrigue by Michelle Griep.
     I do not give a synopsis of a book in my reviews, you can read that in a lot of other places. I do give my honest opinion. In my opinion, this is a 3-star book. the reasons are below.
     The main reason I give only 3 stars is that the first novella was very disorienting. I felt like I was plopped into the middle of a book, that the beginning and ending were missing. There was no reason given why the heroin's father had moved to the location of the story. The ending wasn't done well either, it just stopped. The other two novellas were better in explaining things, the stories seemed more complete.
     This is a Christian book and that was very well done. It is not pushy but does show how a Christian lives. The characters were well developed also for a novella. Other than the first story, the plot flowed well also. The editing was fairly well done as well. 

Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens

      Barbour Publishing, via Netgalley.com, granted my request to read and review this book. The review is my own opinion and not required.
     I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. The good, is that the story was very interesting and kept my attention throughout. The characters were quite well developed. The story flowed well.
     The reasons I did not give 5 stars on a book I did enjoy are these: minus one star for editing. It needs more editing. The biggest gaffe, in my opinion, was when the color of the dress changed within a few sentences. The second, and biggest reason is that this is listed as a Christian book, loosely based on the book of Ruth in the Bible. That claim is a big stretch of the imagination. Another thing that bothered me was the use of a British swear word.
     Again, the story was interesting. I did enjoy reading it on it's own merit, but as far as being a Christian book, it missed the mark by quite a bit. The only hints of being Christian were that they attended church and the Mother-in-law prayed. So much more could have been included and that was disappointing. Would I read it again, maybe but I have so many new books I just don't know.

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

I was excited when Netgalley approved me to read this book. The review is not required, but given anyway.

I have enjoyed every book I've read by Tracie Peterson. I have not read Kimberley Woodhouse before this. When I first started the book, I was afraid I was not going to enjoy it but kept on anyway. Well, I am so thankful I did. The story(I do not do a synopsis, you can read those when buying) is set in the 1920s in Alaska. It is Christian, but not preachy. By Christian, I mean it shows how a Christian should act and react to things in their lives. It is also part suspense/mystery and part romance. This is part of a series, but I did not read any of the previous books. It didn't seem to matter, but maybe I would have enjoyed this more if I had read others first.

I did not like the ending but it would spoil the story to say why other than I felt some things could have been cleared up but were not. The editing was pretty good. It did not detract from my enjoyment at all.

I like this book and give it 4 stars out of 5.

Without Love by Anne Garboczi Evans

I just finished reading this book. I was not disappointed. I have read 2 previous books in this series and this one is just as good.
The storyline is very unique and it flows well. The characters are well developed and believable. The editing was good but needed more work, it was nowhere near perfect but not so bad as to make it unenjoyable.
The story is set in ancient Rome and there are words from that time/area but there is also a reference in the back of the book to give the meaning of the words. I do feel it would be better to have this reference at the beginning, especially when reading an ebook.

It is Christian historical fiction but not at all preachy. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

This is the first book I've read by Sarah Sundin but I sure hope it is not the last. The book is set in England during World War II. It is both a historical novel and a love story. I did not read the first book in this series but it did not hinder my understanding or enjoyment at all.

The story is very well written and flows well. It kept my interest and I hated to see it end. It is a Christian story but not preachy at all. The characters were well developed and most of them were likable. The editing was done superbly.

I do not give a synopsis of the story as you can read that elsewhere. I just want to give you my honest opinion of the book. If you like historical fiction you will enjoy this story. A bit of history, a bit of love story and a hint of mystery all combine to make for a truly enjoyable read.

I was given the opportunity to read and review this book through Revell Reads. The opinions are my own and honestly given. I rate this 5 stars out of 5 stars.

The White City by Grace Hitchcock

I was pleased to be able to read and review this book through Netgalley. This is Grace Hitchcock's first novel and it is wonderful. I will not give a synopsis in this review, you can read that elsewhere. I will give you my personal opinion.
I really enjoyed this book. It is based on true events but is a wholly fictional book. It is part love story and part mystery. It flows well and kept my interest through the book. It was a book that you want to not put down. The characters were well developed and interesting. It is a Christian book but not at all preachy. It does show what it means to have faith in God.
I did not enjoy the quotes at the beginning of each chapter but just didn't read them after the first few. I also wish the ending was a bit different but that's just me. The author did give the real ending in an after story pages. When I read that, it explained why the ending was as it is.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I do recommend this if you like historical, Christian fiction and/or love stories and mysteries.

The Seamstress by Allison Pittman

   This is the first book I've read by Allison Pittman. The story was interesting but somehow it felt heavy. It switched back and forth between two cousins and what they were going through. The time period is just before and during the French Revolution. It was an Advanced Reader's Copy so the editing wasn't perfect but still well done.
     What I liked about the book was that it was well written and the story was interesting. What I did not like was the use of the French words/terms. I speak English and sometimes the words/phrases were re-stated in English but many times they were not. If you are writing in English and want to add foreign words and phrases make sure they are re-stated in English so your readers can follow along.
     I give this book three out of five stars mostly because of the French words/phrases. This is a Christian book and it is not overly preachy but does deliver the Gospel message in a nice way. I requested to read and review this book through Netgalley. The opinions are my own and freely given.

The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo

This is another book in The Daughter's of the Mayflower series. I have read some of the books, but not the one previous to this. It didn't really matter but would have made the book a bit more entertaining if I had. I recommend reading them in order.

The characters were quite well developed and easy to understand. The plot was original and had history along with the fiction. It was an advanced reader's copy and not the final edit so there were errors but not a lot. There were not enough to dim the enjoyment I had in reading this book.

I have enjoyed all the books I have read written by Kathleen Y'Barbo and this is the same. I did enjoy it very much.

I asked for a review copy from Netgalley and was granted one. The review is voluntary and my own opinion. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano

I just love Jen Turano's books and this was no exception. Jen is able to write so you feel like you are watching what is going on and not just reading. As my grandson once said, "It's like a movie in your head". She brings her characters to life and in an upbeat sort of way.

This book is Christian fiction and both descriptives fit. The book is not preachy but brings God's plan together, especially at the end. It is good, clean fiction.

Even though I read an advanced reader's copy, the editing was very well done. There were very few errors and the final edition should be error-free, at this rate.

I requested a copy of this book to read and review through Netgalley and was granted the opportunity to do so. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Recipe For A Husband by Anne Greene

I just finished reading this book.  It is definitely by Anne Greene. A very unique storyline. It is a novella so it is a quick read. I liked it so much I would have finished in one sitting but ran out of time. The characters are quite well developed for the length. The story flows well. And, being a Christian story, it shows God and His grace without being preachy. I definitely recommend this book for a fun, easy read. You will enjoy. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. I did receive this book free from the author but was not required to leave a review, I chose to do that on my own.

We Hope For Better Things by Erin Bartles

I requested a review copy of the book through Revell Reads and was granted it. I am writing this review on my own. All opinions are mine.

The book is very unusual and is divided among three main characters and how their lives are similar and yet different. It also deals with racism then and now. It is partially a historical fiction novel and partly modern times. The story goes from one era to another quite well.

The characters were well developed and you felt like they were real people. The story captured my attention from the very beginning and it was one that I didn't want to put down. The editing was also very well done. It is important to me to have it flow well and the grammar and punctuation be correct.

But, and this will take away one star leaving it as 4 out of 5, the story is supposed to be a Christian novel. Not one of the main characters was a Christian or at least a practicing Christian. In the whole book, I would guess, only two or three minor characters would truly be Christian. It did not show anyone's faith but more the lack of faith. It did not address these issues but left them. I enjoyed the book, but I would not recommend it to an unsaved person because if I were unsaved and read this, I would not see any benefit in becoming a Christian. If it were sold solely as a novel, not a Christian novel, I would have not problem recommending it to an unsaved person. Read as a Christian, it was a disappointment that so many opportunities were missed.

All in all, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to a limited number of my friends. I give this 4 stars out of 5.

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck

I asked, through netgalley.com, to read and review this book. I was granted an ebook to do that and this is my own review.

I do not give a synopsis of the book, you can read that on the cover, etc. I will tell you what I thought about the book. First, it was an interesting concept, but not executed in the best manner. I enjoyed reading the book but it was not the kind that you "can't put down". It jumped back and forth between one group in the late 50s and early 60s to another group in the early 2000s. That was ok, but there were some things I felt could have been left out.

The characters were quite well developed and were interesting in general. The story in part was believable but other parts were hard to believe.

What brought my rating down was the need for more editing. There were several times that the words were wrong or mixed up. It is harder for me to enjoy a book that has so many errors. I double checked and it did not say it was an advanced readers copy. If it had not been finalized I probably wouldn't mention this.

Overall, I give it 3 stars out of 5. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a novel. It is a Christian book, but not at all preachy. It does have some Bible verses but the characters in the book are not all Christians. It is a good, clean read.