"silence in the dark" by patricia bradley

Kidnapping, drug cartels, and gun runners are just a few of the dangers Bailey encounters when she agrees to accompany her student Maria to the United States.

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Bailey Adams is running for her life . . . again.

When Bailey Adams left Logan Point two years ago she thought she was getting away from her problems. Running into her ex-fiancé Danny Maxwell was not part of the plan--neither was being chased through the city by the local drug cartel, the Calatrava. Now despite her best efforts, Danny is her only chance of escaping the people chasing her and getting back to Logan Point safely. Can Bailey find the strength to face what's coming? And in the midst of the chaos, can she keep herself from falling in love with her rescuer all over again?

With lean, fast-paced prose that will keep you turning the pages, Patricia Bradley pens a superb story of suspense and second chances.

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Patricia Bradley's Logan Point series is best classified as suspense with a touch of romance. Each novel contains romance, but the suspense is really the driving force. This is especially true of Silence in the Dark, where the romance between Bailey and her former fiancé Danny is a foregone conclusion, but the suspense thread is full of unexpected twists and turns.

A word of caution: while Silence in the Dark can be read as a stand alone title, it does closely connect with the previous books in the series, tying up some loose ends they left behind. I've read the previous books, and I still was confused by some of the connections, simply because the plots weren't fresh in my mind. So I'd recommend going through this whole series in one fell swoop—then you'll be able to clearly make connections and fully understand the big picture. (And with book one free for Kindle as of this post's publication, you have nothing to lose!)

Even if you haven't read the other books, you'll still enjoy Silence in the Dark. Though it did take me a while to get into the story, once I did, I couldn't read quickly enough! I especially enjoyed the story surrounding Angel, a man who stepped in to help Bailey, Maria, and Danny after Bailey and Maria were nearly kidnapped.

I highly recommend Silence in the Dark—and the whole Logan Point series—to fans of romantic suspense. 4 stars.

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Read my reviews of the Logan Point novels A Promise to Protect (4 stars) and Gone Without a Trace (4-1/2 stars).

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Patricia Bradley is the author of Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, Gone without a Trace, and Silence in the Dark. Bradley has been a finalist for the Genesis Award, winner of a Daphne du Maurier Award, and winner of a Touched by Love Award. Bradley is a published short story writer and cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, and makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"every bride has her day" by janice thompson

The blog has been very quiet recently while I finished up the yearbook. (Ah, the life of a yearbook advisor!) Fortunately, I submitted it last Friday--a whole four days early!--so I'm back, and I'll have several reviews posting this week! First up is the third book in Janice Thompson's delightful Brides with Style series, Every Bride Has Her Day.

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Katie's determined to make it down the aisle this time--but it may be easier said than done

Katie Fisher is ecstatic. Pro basketball star Brady James has proposed, and she can't wait to start planning their life together. But it's hard to focus on her own happily ever after when her calendar is filling up with celebrations for friends and family. Beyond that, it seems everyone around her has an opinion--and a strong one at that--on what Katie's special day should look like. Will she ever manage to settle all of the details for her storybook wedding? Or will her overzealous friends and relations make a mess of everything?

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In Every Bride Has Her Day, Katie and Brady are headed toward their wedding day ... but everyone in Katie's life seems to know what that day should look like, and Katie's having a hard time standing up for herself. At first, I feared the theme of the book would be Katie letting everyone walk all over her while she tried to plan her big day (I recently read a book like this, and it drove me crazy); fortunately, that was not the case. Katie rather quickly--and with the help of Brady and her grandmother Queenie--stood up for herself and told everyone what she expected for her wedding. That's not to say it was smooth sailing to the altar, but the focus quickly moved from everyone trying to plan Katie's wedding to something else: romance.

In the first two books in this series (which you really should read before reading Every Bride Has Her Day), Thompson set up several secondary romances, and in this book, every single one (plus some others) took several steps forward. I especially loved seeing where love took Katie's aunt Alva, and it was nice to watch Brady's mother Nadia get another chance at love.

While I enjoyed most of the romances, this does lead to the one thing I didn't like about the book: everyone (and I do mean everyone) either got their happily ever after or was headed well on their way to one. I know, I know: romance novels aren't meant to be realistic, and we always want them to end happily. But much is made of Jane, a bridal shop employee who is really struggling with the fact that everyone else is either married, engaged, or in a relationship headed toward marriage. Through her characters, Thompson gives some really good advice to women like me who are still waiting for that happily ever after. Jane takes this advice to heart and comes to terms with her singleness. And then ... almost immediately after she lets go of her bitterness about being single, she meets a man. Maybe it's the cynical singleton in me, but I would have appreciated her story much more if a man hadn't dropped into her lap nearly immediately after she realized it was OK to be single.

Aside from that one thing, though, I loved Every Bride Has Her Day. It's full of both humor (usually having to do with Katie's dad) and heartwarming moments that made me tear up. This whole series has been great, and Every Bride Has Her Day is a wonderful way to wrap it up. 4 stars.

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Read my reviews of Thompson's Brides with Style novels Every Bride Needs a Groom (4 stars) and Every Girl Gets Confused (4 stars), her wedding stories A Bouquet of Love (4 stars) and Never a Bridesmaid (4-1/2 stars) and her Titanic romance Queen of the Waves (4-1/2 stars).

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Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the hugely popular Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series, as well as Picture Perfect, The Icing on the Cake, and The Dream Dress. She lives in Texas. Learn more at www.janiceathompson.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"someone like you" by victoria bylin

A second chance at first love. A new faith. A manipulative ex. A business that's taking off. Julia Dare's life looks nothing like she'd once imagined, but it could end up being sweeter than she'd dreamed possible.

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Single mom Julia Dare has a lot on her plate.

A brand new Christian, Julia is busy trying to run her own business, spend time with her widowed mother, and raise her young son, Max, despite his father's less-than-ideal influence on him. When a big account from her event-planning business sends her to the Caliente Springs resort, she's shocked to come face-to-face with Zeke Monroe, the resort's general manager and her college sweetheart.

With his faith in tatters, Zeke Monroe is determined to keep the historic Caliente Springs resort running despite financial difficulties. But when Julia walks back into his life, he can't ignore the feelings she stirs up. As they work together on an important client's dream wedding, the fate of the resort soon depends on their success. When Zeke and Julia are pushed to their limits both personally and professionally, will their history put up walls between them or bring them together?

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Someone Like You is a story of reconnection, of lost and found faith. In college, Julia was an unbeliever who wanted nothing to do with God and didn't believe in lasting love. Zeke was the Christian missionary kid who fell in love with her and compromised his beliefs to be with her. Six years later, their paths cross again, only this time, Julia is a new Christian with a young son and frustrating ex, and Zeke, still feeling like a failure over past mistakes, isn't quite sure what happened to his faith. As they reconnect, it's quickly apparent that the sparks are still there, but this time it's Julia who is hesitant to become involved with someone whose faith isn't what it should be.

While Someone Like You is a compelling story with a sweet romance, the aspect that really stands out is the characters. Every character, from Julia and Zeke to the smallest supporting character, feels like a real person. This is especially true of Julia's ex-boyfriend Hunter. Hunter is clearly a terrible person, and he could easily slip into an over-the-top, melodramatic bad guy role. Instead, he is a manipulative narcissist who probably resembles someone you know in real life.

Someone Like You also contains a secondary romance involving Julia's mom, and it's so sweet. I love reading about older characters falling in love!

The only thing I didn't absolutely love about the novel was the resolution with Hunter. It didn't strike me as wholly believable, whereas everything else seemed like it could happen in real life.

That's a minor quibble, though; overall, I loved Someone Like You. I've been hearing about Bylin's writing for a few years now, but this is the first of her novels that I've read. I can guarantee it won't be the last! 4-1/2 stars.

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Victoria Bylin writes contemporary and historical romances known for their realistic, relatable characters. Her work has finaled in contests such as the Carol Awards, the RITAs, and the RT Reviewers' Choice Award. A native of California, she and her husband now make their home in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Enter Victoria Bylin's 5-Book Giveaway!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the beautiful pretender" by melanie dickerson

Fans of Beauty and the Beast and The Bachelor will love Melanie Dickerson's latest fairy tale romance, The Beautiful Pretender!

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What happens when a margrave realizes he's fallen in love with a servant?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave's bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse---far deadlier---consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost? 

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Melanie Dickerson's The Beautiful Pretender has just about everything you could want in a romance: flawed yet likable main characters, forbidden love, a touch of danger, and a happily ever after.

Avelina, lady's maid to the Earl of Plimmwald's daughter Dorothea, must take Dorothea's place when the Margrave of Thornbeck, Reinhart Stolten, invites noble ladies to spend two weeks at his castle. He plans to choose a bride at the end of the period, and Avelina knows that choice cannot be her, but she needs to impress the Margrave enough for him to look favorably upon Plimmwald. This becomes more difficult than she imagined when she finds herself drawn to the Margrave ... and he seems drawn to her, too.

Avelina and Reinhart's romance is so sweet! I pulled for their happily ever after from the very beginning, but I also appreciated that the story continued after they fell in love. In fact, some of my favorite portions of the novel came after Reinhart had chosen his bride. Another wonderful aspect of this novel is the friendship between Avelina and Magdalen, one of the potential brides. I don't know if Dickerson plans to continue this series, but I would love to revisit Magdalen in a future novel.

The Beautiful Pretender is not just a simple love story—it also drives home several important points: every life is precious, each person has innate worth and deserves respect, and prejudice is a cancer that tears people apart. And it does all this wrapped up in a beautiful, captivating plot.

I've read and enjoyed a few of Melanie Dickerson's other books, but The Beautiful Pretender is by far my favorite. I highly recommend it! 5 stars.

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Read my reviews of Dickerson's The Golden Braid (5 stars) and The Princess Spy (5 stars).

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Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.


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Inheriting the new title of margrave means Reinhart has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise? Find out in the new medieval fairy tale, The Beautiful Pretender, by Melanie Dickerson. Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

Join Melanie in celebrating the release of The Beautiful Pretender by entering to win her Once Upon a Kindle giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Beautiful Pretender
• A Kindle Fire tablet
• A $25 Amazon gift card
• The choice between a Funko POP Disney Beauty or Beast doll

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie's blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"kisses on a paper airplane" by sarah vance-tompkins

Kisses on a Paper Airplane
by Sarah Vance-Tompkins
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 14th, 2016
Inkspell Publishing 

I'm usually hesitant to pick up a YA novel from an unknown author. So many times, YA is peppered with sex, foul language, and paranormal topics I'm not comfortable with. But when I read the description for Sarah Vance-Tompkins' Kisses on a Paper Airplane, I couldn't resist giving the book a shot. It just sounded adorable!

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Drama student Hannah Evans isn't kissing any frogs on her path to find Prince Charming. She's determined to share the perfect first kiss -- with the perfect boy --in the perfect place -- or she's not kissing anyone at all. When Hannah meets a cute ginger-haired boy in first class lounge in the London airport, she knows he's 'The One.' 

Pop star Theo Callahan is on the road to get as far away as possible from his back-stabbing best friend, and his supermodel girlfriend who broke his heart. Until one shy smile from Hannah has him rethinking all of his travel plans. Theo is smitten, but he's worried she's just a groupie in search of the ultimate selfie. 

Can Theo learn to trust Hannah in time to share one perfect first kiss, or will Hannah be forced to kiss a frog?

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What teenage girl hasn't dreamed about meeting a famous boy and having him fall for her? (Really, it can't be just me!) Those dreams come true for Hannah—with a twist—in Kisses on a Paper Airplane.

Though it's incredibly short (I read it in under an hour), Kisses on a Paper Airplane is simply adorable. Most of the action takes place in airports, as Hannah and "T" (as Theo introduces himself to the girl who clearly has no idea of his identity) travel from London to Chicago. Their "meet cute" is really cute, and I enjoyed watching them get to know each other.

While it would have benefitted from a bit more length—I would have loved to get to know Hannah's family a bit better, and a few details were left out here and there—the content that is there is really cute. 3 stars.

Content note: A few mild curses are in the novel. There's also one kissing scene that gets pretty passionate. It's mild compared to many things, but I'd still be uncomfortable giving this book to a young teen.

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Sarah Vance-Tompkins was born in a small town in northern Michigan. She spent every summer exploring the sugar sand beaches near Sleeping Bear National Park. She left her heart behind when she moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. She received an MFA in Film Production and went on to work in feature film development in Hollywood. She has worked as a reporter for a weekly entertainment trade publication, and been paid to write obituaries, press releases, the directions for use on personal lubricant bottles, and breathless descriptions of engagement rings for an online jewelry store. She lives in a small town north of Los Angeles with her husband and three cats.

Author Links:
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free for review via YA Bound Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"after the final dandelion" by brooke williams

Brooke Williams' based-on-The-Bachelor romantic comedy series concludes with After the Final Dandelion.

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After Renee Lockhart appeared on the local TV dating show "Accept this Dandelion" and found the love of her life, she thought she was done with TV. But when she hears that the entire city has bets on how soon she and her fiancé will break up, she is determined to show that their love is meant to last. When Mike, the KETO producer, approaches her about airing the wedding live, she jumps at the chance. Once she is set up with a famous wedding coordinator, plans take a turn for the worse and the simple wedding they wanted becomes the event of the year. 

In the meantime, Eva Merida is dealing with her own life changing opportunity. Though she’s in love with her boyfriend, who she met on the second season of the dating show, she can’t turn down the chance to investigate a Hollywood TV show when offered a position. When she runs into an old flame, she questions the stability of her current relationship. 

Will Renee be able to prove her love for Ben to the city before her wedding falls apart? Who will Eva choose on her own emotional roller coaster? Hilarity ensues as the wedding of the decade melts into the disaster of the year. Because everyone knows weeds take over every garden…

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Just as in Bachelor world we have "After the Final Rose" to check in on the *cough* happy *cough* couple, After the Final Dandelion is a check-in with the couples from the first two books in Brooke Williams' dandelion series: Ben & Renee from Accept this Dandelion and Eva & Brian from Dandelions on the Road. Much of the novel centers around the preparations for Renee and Ben's to-be-televised wedding. While Renee is initially hesitant to allow her wedding to be televised, she becomes convinced once she learns that people all over the city have placed bets on how long her relationship with Ben will last. Somehow, Renee believes that if everyone watches her get married, the public's doubts about her relationship will disappear. She even gives her wedding planner free reign over nearly every single detail—so the wedding becomes a complete spectacle and not at all representative of Renee and Ben.

While the novel is full of Williams' trademark humor, I struggled to enjoy portions of the book simply because I was so frustrated with Renee. I could understand her giving the wedding planner carte blanche when it came to the wedding decisions (because Renee really just wanted to be married to Ben—she didn't care so much about the details), but I couldn't understand her reasoning that a televised wedding would prove to the world that she and Ben would last—especially a televised wedding that in no way represented who she and Ben were as individuals or as a couple. Every time wedding planner Lavender presented a new, outrageous idea, Renee reminded herself that it was all worth it to prove that she and Ben were meant to be. But in what world does a televised wedding mean lasting love?

That said, I did care about Renee and Ben's journey to the altar, and the wedding was hands down the funniest and most enjoyable part of the novel. I also enjoyed finding out what happened next with Eva and Brian. I wouldn't say that the two are a match made in heaven (at least in my mind), but I did appreciate the resolution to their story.

I wish I could wholeheartedly recommend this novel, and while I think you should read it if you enjoyed the first two books in the series, it just didn't have the same spark as Accept This Dandelion. It was enjoyable, but it also wasn't as memorable as the books that preceded it. 3 stars.

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Read my reviews of Accept This Dandelion (4 stars) and Dandelions on the Road (3-1/2 stars), Wrong Place, Right Time (3-1/2 stars), and Mamarazzi (4 stars).

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Brooke Williams writes in a sleep-deprived state while her daughters nap. Her romantic comedy is best read in the same state. Brooke has twelve years of radio in her background, both behind the scenes and on the air. She was also a television traffic reporter for a short time despite the fact that she could care less about hair and make-up. Today, Brooke stays at home with her daughters and works as a freelance writer for a variety of companies. Brooke is also the author of " Mamarazzi," "Accept this Dandelion," "Dandelions on the Road," “Wrong Place, Right Time,” “Someone Always Loved You,” and “Beyond the Bars.” She even has children's books on the market, such as "Shower in the Rain" and looks forward to releasing “Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut” in June 2016 with Wee Creek Press. Brooke and her husband Sean have been married since 2002 and have two beautiful daughters, Kaelyn (6) and Sadie (2).

Connect with Brooke:
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"her one and only" by becky wade

I don't think words can adequately express just how excited I've been for Her One and Only! Ever since I fell in love with Becky Wade's My Stubborn Heart (which Timehop recently informed me was exactly four years ago), I've eagerly anticipated her subsequent releases. Her One and Only marks the final book in the Porter Family series, and it was everything I'd hoped for and more.

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After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans. But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt–none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she’s determined to find Gray’s stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives — and their hearts — to one another.

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I like to go into Becky Wade's books blind. I trust that they're going to be good, and I want to discover everything about them for myself, so I largely ignore book descriptions. I began reading Her One and Only knowing it would be about youngest Porter sibling Dru, and she would be a bodyguard. Period. So what I discovered as I read surprised me in a very good way.

Her One and Only is romantic suspense!

It's definitely more "romance" than "suspense," but the suspense is there, and it's done well. In fact, if Wade wanted to write a romantic suspense series, I wouldn't complain. The suspense surrounds Gray's stalker, and I changed my mind about the stalker's identity about five times ... never arriving on the correct person. (In fact, if I was a betting woman, I would have placed money on the stalker being a certain character—and I would have lost it all.) However, once everything was revealed, it all made sense, which isn't always a given with romantic suspense.

Of course, Her One and Only contains Wade's trademark toe-curling romance, too. I loved watching Dru and Gray fight their attraction and eventually fall for each other. While all the Porter romances have been great, I think Dru & Gray's is second only to Ty & Celia's from Meant to Be Mine—and that's saying something, as Meant to Be Mine is one of my all-time favorite books!

The other thing that I loved about Her One and Only is that it brought closure to Meg & Bo's story from Undeniably Yours, the first Porter novel. While they seemed to get their happily ever after in Undeniably Yours, glimpses we saw of them in the second and third novels showed some struggles. When Meg's story picked up in Her One and Only (which is told from Dru's, Gray's, and Meg's perspectives), I gasped and then cheered. And then I was nervous for Meg through the whole novel, as her happy ending was not a given. (Is this intentionally vague? Yes. You'll understand when you read the book.)

The whole Porter Family series has been wonderful, and Her One and Only was a delight to read. While I'm sorry to see this series end, this was a great way to go out! 5 stars.

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Read my reviews of the Porter Family Series: Undeniably Yours (5 stars), Meant to Be Mine (5 stars), and A Love Like Ours (5 stars); My Stubborn Heart (5 stars); and Love in the Details (5 stars).

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Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and now lives in Dallas. A favorite among readers of Christian contemporary romance, Becky has won a Carol Award, an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and an INSPY Award. 

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Meet Dru Porter, former Marine, expert markswoman, and black belt—who also happens to be assigned as a bodyguard to star NFL tight end Gray Fowler. Don't miss the final Porter family novel by Becky Wade, Her One and Only. Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, and Dru is determined to find his stalker. Every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives—and their hearts—to one another.

Join Becky in celebrating the release of Her One and Only by entering to win her Porter prize pack and $100 cash card giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Her One and Only
• A $100 cash card
• Follow Your Heart tote bag
• 24 oz Tervis Wonder Woman Tumbler
• The Blind Side DVD
• Necklace with star charm
• Porter Family navy jersey

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 31st. The winner will be announced June 1st on the Litfuse blog.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free for review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"the quieting" by suzanne woods fisher

You probably know by now that I am no fan of Amish fiction. The instant I see a cover with a bonnet on it, I know that's a book I don't want to read.

However, there's one notable exception: I read everything Suzanne Woods Fisher writes. I don't know what it is about her writing—maybe it's the fact that most of her books at least loosely tie together, kind of like Karen Kingsbury's Baxter series did—but I cannot get enough of it! I love the people of Stoney Ridge, and I'm always eager to check back in with them.

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It was a well-laid plan--but it wasn't her plan . . . 

It's all her grandmother's fault. For the last few months, Abigail Stoltzfus has helped her father with his genealogical research, hoping that breaking through a client's brick wall would also break his melancholy. But now her intrusive grandmother has set her sights on marrying off Abigail and insists she come to Stoney Ridge, where there is a plethora of eligible bachelors.  

Except that Mammi is mistaken. There are no eligible bachelors in Stoney Ridge, barring one, and he's all wrong. Dane Glick has the wrong last name and the wrong relatives—including the bishop who is at odds over a church matter with Abigail's uncle, minister David Stoltzfus.  

As the conflict grows, setting family against family, it's becoming clear that the path to a solution may lead to a Quieting--a removal of a church leader. But for which one? And when Abigail stumbles onto a curious connection during her genealogical research, it could help David solve one problem—but will it create another?

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The Quieting, book two in Fisher's The Bishop's Family series, picks up right where The Imposter (book one) left off (so yes, you really should read The Imposter first). Widowed minister David Stoltzfus knows that Stoney Ridge's bishop, Freeman Glick, rigged things so that he would become bishop, but David isn't sure what steps to take next. Complicating matters is the arrival of unexpected guests—David's mother and his nieces—whose goal is to "help" David with his children and business.

The Quieting focuses on three people: David, his son Jesse, and his niece Abigail. Of the three stories, I especially enjoyed Abigail's. She is an unusual candidate for a love story, with her tendency toward bluntness and her obliviousness to social cues. (She actually reminded me of a college friend who, like Abigail, did find her "happily ever after." Maybe I should try being more blunt!) I thought her romance with Dane was quite sweet, and it was also comical.

Besides the romance, The Quieting also provides a fascinating look into the way Amish churches deal with ministerial problems—of course those problems exist, but they're not something usually spotlighted in Amish fiction.

Now that I've finished The Quieting, I'm very eager to continue the series, which is shaping up to be my favorite of Fisher's so far! 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Fisher's The Bishop's Family series: The Imposter (5 stars); Inn at Eagle Hill series: The Letters (3-1/2 stars), The Calling (5 stars), The Rescue (novella: 4-1/2 stars), The Revealing (5 stars); her Stoney Ridge Seasons series: The Haven (4-1/2 stars), The Lesson (4-1/2 stars); her Christmas books: A Lancaster County Christmas and Christmas at Rose Hill Farm (4-1/2 stars), and her Amish Beginnings novel: Anna's Crossing (4-1/2 stars).

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Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author whose most recent novels include Anna's Crossing and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the blue castle" by l.m. montgomery

For my April book for the Modern Mrs. Darcy 2016 Reading Challenge, I decided to read The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. Prior to this, the only Montgomery books I had read were the Anne of Green Gables series. When I learned about The Blue Castle last year, I immediately bought it (it was only 99 cents on Kindle), and every time I saw it on my Kindle I thought, "I should read it," but I never got around to it.

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Valancy Stirling is unmarried at 29. Frustrated by her loveless state and stifled by her moralistic family, for years she has been escaping into an imaginary life in her Blue Castle in Spain. Then unexpected news shocks her into asserting her independence and striking out against society’s conventions. Her old fantasies seem irrelevant now - but dreams of the Blue Castle are not forgotten as she refocuses her energies on living her life on her own terms. 

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The Blue Castle is the story of Valancy Stirling, a woman who lives with her mother and a cousin. She has a very large extended family, led by her Uncle Benjamin, and the Stirlings are prone to grudges and snobbery—their Anne counterparts would be the Pringles. Actually, Valancy reminds me of Pauline Harris from Anne of Avonlea (the movie), who was based upon Pauline Gibson from Anne of Windy Poplars. Like Pauline, Valancy was a lesser member of a judgmental family, she was single to the point of being an old maid, and she cared for a very demanding mother.

Anne connections aside, The Blue Castle is a very intriguing novel. Valancy's story really begins after she visits a doctor on her 29th birthday (unbeknownst to anyone in her family) due to some disturbing health problems. The doctor is called away on an emergency immediately following her examination, but he writes her a letter telling her she has a fatal heart problem and will die within the year. At this point, Valancy decides she's had enough of being "Doss" (her family's condescending nickname for her) and wants to truly live. She takes a job caring for an ill school friend and gets to know Barney Snaith, the local recluse and subject of many rumors. As time goes on, romance blossoms ... sort of.

This really is an unusual romance, as it's more about Valancy finding herself than about her finding true love, and the interactions between Valancy and Barney are seldom romantic. I definitely wasn't dying for Valancy and Barney to declare their love, but I was very interested in where the story would take them. While there are a couple twists that I saw coming a mile away, one took me completely by surprise—and made me laugh out loud!

I must confess that the writing sometimes bothered me. While the whole book is written in third person, mainly from Valancy's perspective, at times the reader would suddenly jump into Uncle Benjamin or another random character's head, and I found that shift to be jarring. Now I'm curious to know if this perspective shift happened in the Anne books—it's been so long since I've read them that I have no idea!

While I wouldn't say The Blue Castle is on the level of Anne of Green Gables, I am glad that I read it—and I would really enjoy seeing it made into a film. 4 stars.

A version of this review originally appeared on Coffee & Conversation.

Buy the book.

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Lucy Maude Montgomery (1874-1942) was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, the setting for Anne of Green Gables. She left to attend college, but returned to Prince Edward Island to teach. In 1911, she married the Reverend Ewan MacDonald. Anne of Green Gables, the first in a series of "Anne" books by Montgomery, was published in 1908 to immediate success and continues to be a perennial favorite. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it of my own free will. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"breaking free" by jennifer slattery

When her husband's alcohol and gambling addictions spiral out of control, one woman must decide if staying or leaving is best for her family.

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Sometimes it takes losing everything to grab hold of what really matters. Women's ministry leader and Seattle housewife Alice Goddard and her successful graphic-designer husband Trent appear to have it all together. Then their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage? 

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Breaking Free is a gripping look at a marriage on the rocks. It's not easy to read—Trent is incredibly unlikable for 90% of the novel, and sometimes Alice isn't much better—but it provides what seems to be an accurate depiction of addiction. (I say "seems to be" because, only by the grace of God, I don't have first-hand knowledge of addiction. But what is portrayed on the pages of this novel certainly feels realistic.)

Breaking Free is written both from both Alice's and Trent's perspectives. I appreciated this because I found myself easily identifying with Alice (even though her actions were sometimes maddening), so a novel written solely from her perspective would have had me 100% in her camp, cheering for her to wash her hands of Trent. Viewing events from Trent's perspective allowed me to have a better understanding of his desperation, even when I wasn't sympathizing with him. I don't want to give anything away, but Trent's journey became much more compelling as the novel neared its conclusion.

I ached for Alice as she lost everything, and I rejoiced with her when she found the beginnings of a new life. I hated that she didn't feel able to share her struggles with anyone, though it wasn't surprising—so often we feel the need to put on a "perfect" Christian front, and that's the trap that Alice fell into. While I did think that things wrapped up a little too neatly at the end and didn't stay consistent with what we knew of Alice throughout the novel, overall, Breaking Free was a gripping, thought-provoking novel, dealing with weighty issues that are too often swept under the rug. 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Slattery's Intertwined (3 stars) and When Dawn Breaks (4 stars).

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Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Her debut, Beyond I Do, released in August 2014. She also writes Christian Living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud; Internet Cafe Devotions; and Takin' it to the Streets', a ministry serving Omaha Metro's working poor and homeless.

When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, hanging out at the mall with her teenage daughter, enjoying her real-life hero husband, or serving in her church or community.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."