Morning Star (Maidels of Morning Star #1) by Charlotte Hubbard (Goodreads Author)

I really enjoyed this book, Morning Star (Maidels of Morning Star #1) by Charlotte Hubbard.

The story was original and it flowed well. The characters were very well developed Some were very likable and others not so much.
The editing was well done also. I noticed a couple of minor errors but nothing that detracted from the book or my enjoyment of it.
I liked that this book actually took a look at some of the beliefs of the Amish in a critical way. It was a book that went a bit deeper into their beliefs. I do not believe as they do and this was very refreshing for me. I will not disclose the outcome of this deeper look but I appreciated the author's bringing it to light.
This book is listed as a Christian genre book. It is a very clean and easy read.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The review is totally my opinion.

Devyn's Dilemma (Thousand Islands Gilded #2) by Susan G. Mathis

  I was given a free copy of this book to read and review. The review is my own, freely given.

This book is the second in the series, Thousand Islands Gilded, but is a good stand-alone also. I did not read the first book and it had no effect on my enjoyment of this book.

This is a Christian book, but by no means is it preachy. It shows how living by faith is the best.
Devyn is the main character, of course, and this book tells her story from her point of view. She thinks back to when she was 10 years old and the problems she had and how they affect her life now. It tells of her fears and how she deals with them.
It is also a love story and a bit of mystery, nicely told.
There are a few main characters and all are nicely developed. Even the minor characters are well done.
The editing of this book was also well done. The biggest problem I had was that a few times there were words used that I did not recognize and the dictionary on my Kindle could not define them. That was slightly annoying but did not make a big impact on my enjoyment.
This was an easy read and I'm sure anyone that enjoys clean, faith-based, historical novels will enjoy this book. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham

This is Rachel Fordham's third novel. It is the second one I have read. I really liked the first one, and this one is no exception. She is a very good writer. 

This novel focuses on the hard choices one has to make.  It is set in the late 1800's in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory. There are two, well developed and thought out, main characters with 3 semi-major characters and then the background characters. The most major character is Agnes. The book revolves around her choices both those made in the past and those she is being forced to make.

The other main character is her life-long friend, James. He also has choices to make.

The three semi-major characters are Hannah, Minnie, and Sam. They really help build and fill out the story.

This is a Christian story, but it is not too much a Christian story. There is not a church they attend and not a lot is mentioned about their beliefs. It does mention that they read the Bible and pray. So, if you want more faith-based books you may be disappointed. If you want a good, clean, slightly faith-based, and not preachy book, this is one you won't be sorry you chose.

The story is one where you feel you know the ending, but the development is so good you really aren't sure if you are right or not. The story keeps you guessing until the very end.

I think you will be very happy if you choose to read this. It is for people that want a good, clean, historical fiction novel that keeps your attention throughout. I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review through Revell Blogger Program. The review is fully my own opinion and is freely given.

Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander has a wonderful way of bringing the characters in this book to life. Each of the main characters was fully developed and believable, transporting the reader to a different place and time. The supporting characters were well done also.

The story is heavily based on fact and I think that helps bring the story to life. It is fiction but very well done. It is also a Christian book and that is done well too. It shows how important your faith is without being preachy. It also points out some errors in a certain, unnamed, religion.

The book I read was an ARC and even so, the editing was quite well done. The biggest problem was that some of the words were missing the space between but otherwise, it was good. I did notice one or two other errors, but nothing that detracted from reading.

I have never read a book by Tamera Alexander but I hope this is not the last book of hers I read. I would recommend this book to my friends and I give it a 4 out of 5 star rating meaning I like it a lot. Very few books get the 5 star rating and most get 3 stars. I hope this helps you know how I feel about this book and if you choose to read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

I have always enjoyed the books I've read by Susie Finkbeiner and this book is no exception. The story is easy going and on the bland side, but that is not a criticism but that it is not action-packed.  It shows what a regular family is like when bad things happen. The main character, Betty, goes through a couple of really bad experiences in a very short time and this story shows how she deals with the situations and how her family helps her.
The story is set in the early 1960s, in lower Michigan. I can relate to these descriptions as I live near the areas described. I understand the background and surroundings.
This is a Christian book, but it is not preachy in any way. It shows how a Christian woman uses her faith to get through rough times. It also shows how weak our faith can be at times.
Towards the end of the book, there were a couple of historical happenings that were incorporated that I felt could have been left out. I felt like they were added to lengthen the timeline of the story but were not really needed. This is my biggest criticism of the book.
The editing was very well done. This is very important to me as poor editing can ruin an otherwise good book.
This review is my own, personal opinion and I received this book through the Revel Reads Blogger program. A positive review is not required. I give this book a 3 out of 5-star rating.

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.