Her Only Wish Book Review

 I was excited to get to read the next book in this series after having the chance to read the first.  The cover was again set in beautiful Pinecraft but it showed a different character so I was excited to find out who this book was going to follow.  I love all of the books that I have read by Shelley Shepard Gray especially the first book in the Season in Pinecraft series.

 

Return to Pinecraft, Florida, for a Sweet Amish Romance

Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She's got a list--a life list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pinecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for lessons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions--beautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She's like no one he's ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, he's met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they'll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life--and love--requires a fair amount of risk.

I was excited to see Betsy return in this book to have another vacation from her small town in Kentucky to stay with her friend Mary Margaret in Pinecraft. Betsy is working on changing her life because she has lived with lifelong medical problems. Betsy has set up a life list of things that she wants to accomplish. She has decided that the first thing that she going to try is learning to play golf.  She has no athletic ability but has decided that she has decided she is determined to learn.  Betsy meets August Troyer who works at the golf course. She was set that during the month in Pinecraft she is going to finish her list but what she learns is even more valuable because she makes many lifelong friends. Betsy is learning a lot along the way but in addition to her list, she is learning more about herself then she ever thought as well as to be independent.  I hope that you check out this book and enjoy it as much as I did but I do highly suggest starting with the first book in the series first.  This was a great follow up book to tell Betsy's story.  I can't even wait to read the next book in the series to follow our last friend through her life changing process.

**I was provided a copy of the book for my review but the review was not required to be positive.

 

Her Heart's Desires Book Review

 I was excited to read another great series by Shelley Shepard Gray.  I thought it looked like a great book just from the lovely cover and I love everything that I have read by this author. I was excited to start another series following different characters in each book as many of her series do. My favorite is to start at the beginning of the series like this which is the first book in the A Season in Pinecraft series.  I have enjoyed reading other Amish fiction that were also set in Pinecraft so I was excited to read this new series.

 

 

 

Mary Margaret Miller needs an escape from her small Amish community. She boards a bus, all alone, for a vacation in Pinecraft, Florida. Meeting Betsy and Lilly on the way, she’s amazed to find two kindred spirits. They become fast friends and determine to have the best two weeks of their lives. For Mary, it starts when she meets Jayson Raber, a handsome and charming carpenter.

Jayson is taken with Mary from the get-go, but he has responsibilities back home in Kentucky—including a girl he’s supposed to marry. And when someone from Mary’s past shows up in Pinecraft, it seems like her perfect vacation is ruined. But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming when she realizes what Jayson has been hiding …

Mary Margaret wants to go on a vacation and get away from her normal life in her small Amish community. She is traveling to Pinecraft, Florida to enjoy the warm weather and a break from her normal life. During the trip, there is a weather delay and she gets to meet Betsy and Lilly during the trip and delay where they have to stay overnight in a hotel. They decide that night that they are all going to change their lives by living their best life while on vacation and leaving their pasts behind them. MAry Margaret meets Jayson while he is in Pinecraft and they become quick friends even though they haven't known each other for very long. Jayson is struggling with the life that he needs to live at home and his responsibility to his sister.  I though that the fight that they have when Mary Margaret discovers the truth.  The end is a surprise and I hope that you read all the way to the end and figure out what is going to happen.  I hope that you enjoy this book and check it out for yourself. The characters were fun and I was really interested to see who would be featured in the next book in the series. Stay turned and you will also find out!!

**I was provided a copy of this book for my review but no positive review was required.

 

Second Time Around Book Review

 I thought that this cover and title sounded very intriguing even before I got to the summary of the book.  I have also read a bunch of different books by this author and I have enjoyed them all.  I can't relate to having an empty nest yet but but I totally think that being overwhelmed by the move and construction is something that I can totally relate to. I tend to prefer the books when I can find something I sympathize with or relate to in the main character. Mallory Farrell was starting over in a new life with what her grandmother left her in her will.

 

 

 

When empty nester Mallory Farrell inherits her grandmother's run-down tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon, it seems the only sensible thing to do is to sell it. But when her former secret crush, Grayson Matthews, wants to buy the property in order to complete his plans to redevelop the funky town's business district into a soulless, cookie-cutter outdoor mall, Mallory digs in her heels and decides to renovate the property herself.

With a lot of hard work and a little bit of help, Mallory makes incredible progress turning the store into an eclectic home décor shop called Romancing the Home--all while trying to ignore the depressing and decrepit apartment she's living in on the second floor. When the shop catches the eye of a popular renovation TV show producer, Mallory is thrilled--until it becomes clear that her apartment is to be part of the segment as well.

She's tempted to abandon her dreams and the town under a cloud of shame. But perhaps there's more to Grayson than meets the eye. Can he swallow his pride, change his plans, and help Mallory romance her own home--and possibly her life?

The story jumped directly into the middle of the big life decision where Mallory was dealing with her grandmothers estate and traveling back to the small town she spent summers at as a child.  I thought it was really interesting to see how Mallory avoided dealing with Grayson based on their history together when she was a child. But she quickly decides to give up her career and house and move to the small town because she has decided that this was exactly what her empty nest life needed.  I am not sure what decision others would make in her place but I thought it was a great story. Mallory has to move all of the stuff out of the shop and quickly finds a great buyer to take all of the things in the shop and starts making big strides to renovate the shop to turn it into the home decor shop that she has envisioned.  All of the fun parts of the story where Mallory is connecting to others in the small town and making her new life is the best part of the story.  The only part that is hard to understand is that she so set on doing things herself and being miserable because things aren't going well.  Although I am sure we can all relate to wanting it to be independent, it is a great improved story when she starts to trust and rely on others. I hope that you check out this book for yourself and enjoy it as much as I did. It was a great story with great characters.

 

**I was provided a copy of the book for my review but I was not required to provide a positive review. 

A Quilt for Christmas Book Review

 I was excited to get a chance to read another Melody Carson Christmas book. A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson was a great book to add to my Christmas reading pile. I have enjoyed a few of her books in the past and certainly can't turn down a good Christmas book or movie.  My favorite type of book to read because it really has the spirit of the season to get my in the mood for the holiday. I look forward to reading these great piece of the holiday spirit.

 

Christmas should be celebrated with family. But for Vera Swanson, that's not an option this year. Widowed and recently relocated, she is lonely in her condo-for-one—until little Fiona Albright knocks on her door needing help. With her mother seriously ill and her father out of town, Fiona enlists Vera's help, and when she finds out her new neighbor is a quilter, she has a special request—a Christmas quilt for Mama. 

Vera will have to get a ragtag group of women together in order to fulfill the request. Between free-spirited artist Tasha, chatty empty nester Beverly, retired therapist Eleanor, and herself, Vera has hopes that Christmas for the Albright family will be merry, after all—and she may find herself a new family of friends along the way. 

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites you to cuddle up this holiday season with this cozy story of giving, forgiving, and a little bit of romance.

I started off the story thinking that it was going to be sad and was a little worried but as always, there is a quick pick up of hope. I was instantly won over by Fiona Albright who was an adorable little girl that was coming to a neighbor that she didn't even know to ask for help for her mom.  Vera Swanson stepped up to take care of three neighbor children that she didn't even know because their mother was in the hospital and their father was working out of town.  Vera was brought back alive from the short few days with Fiona by starting a project to make her mom a Christmas quilt.  Vera put herself out into the neighborhood and gets to know some people who are interested in learning how to quilt and might be able to help her finish this big project by Christmas in order to bless this family who was new to the area.  It was a fast read that was an emotional story that had you hoping for all of the characters in the story. There were all the members of the Albright family, Vera Swanson and the Quilting ladies and their families.  It was a great mix of characters and all of the interactions brought more information to the surface.  The characters in the quilting group were all very different and they brought out qualities so that you could learn about everyone while making the Christmas quilt but you have to pick up the book for yourself to find out what happens. As with many shorter stories, I sometimes get to the end and wish there was a little more but that might be true with many books. I hope that you check out this book by Melody Carlson and a bunch of her other Christmas stories.

* I was given a copy of this book for my review but all opinions here are honest and my own.

Sunburst Book Review

I have loved all of the books by Susan May Warren that I have read so I was excited to read this one. Sunburst: Book 2 Sky King Ranch by Susan May Warren is the second book in the series and I was so excited to find out what brother this book was going to be about. After reading about Dodge in the first book, I was excited to read about the next brother. The cover looks amazing and seemed like it would be another good flying book. I was ready to get to know all the ins and outs of this interesting family even though the cover clearly isn't set in Alaska.

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she's discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband. She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

This book is about Ranger who is one of the Kingston triplets.  It follows his career as a NAVY Seal. The amazing background story starts to pull you in and make you really want the best for this life long bachelor.  Ranger goes on a mission to save his brother in Nigeria and ends up saving the women that he had fallen for. Noemi Sutton was a mystery women that Ranger met at a hotel while in Seal training.  I was so excited as they got to know each other again even if it was while running away from terrorists who were trying to kill them.  It made it really hard to put down the book to do anything because there was always something happening from trying to get through a check point to getting married in traditional Nigerian wedding.  Through it all, I was hoping for Ranger and Noemi end up together but you have to pick up the book to find out what adventures they have and how it ended.  I thought it was a great story with even better characters. I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series.  I know that you will enjoy it as much as I have.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Sunrise Book Review

 I have enjoyed all of the books by Susan May Warren and I was excited to get to start a new series.  The first book in the series was Sunrise by Susan May Warren. The cover alone looked really fun with the snow covered mountain and the plane.  This is the first book in the Sky King Ranch where you get to know the wonderful Alaska wilderness and the great Ranch where the story is set.

 

Pilot Dodge Kingston has always been the heir to Sky King Ranch. But after a terrible family fight, he left to become a pararescue jumper. A decade later, he's headed home to the destiny that awaits him. 

That's not all that's waiting for Dodge. His childhood best friend and former flame, Echo Yazzie, is a true Alaskan--a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. Most of all, she's living a life Dodge knows could get her killed. One of these days she's going to get lost in the woods again, and his worst fear is that he won't be there to find her.
 
When one of Echo's fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. Plus, there's more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .

Will Dodge be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?

I thought this was a great start to the series.  The book started right in the middle of the action and had you pulling for Dodge right away. Dodge was in the military after a family fight and left home for 10 years.  He only returned after he got a call that his father had an accident.  It was a tough choice to come home but he even decided that he would stay until his father got better and help run the family business.  Of course after returning home, we meet Echo who is the reason Dodge left home.  Echo lives in the wilderness of Alaska training sled dogs and taking care of her father. The beauty of Alaska is wonderful and it makes you feel like you are in the cold and snowy winter. You have to read the book for yourself to find out what happens but I promise that you will love this fast moving story where there is always something going on. It made me want to pick up the next book in the series immediately.  I hope that you check out this book and all the others in the series and enjoy them.

*I received a copy of the book for my review but all opinions here are my own and not positive reviews were required.

The Sweet Life Book Review

 I was excited to check out this new series by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I thought from the picture on the cover that it would be a light summer read so I was surprised by the beginning of the book.  It was about the break up of a relationship that was headed towards marriage and about getting over the death of a loved one.  This was a lot deeper then an ice cream cone on the cover suggested. I think that the lighter ice cream cover suggests a lot more because of the name of the Cape Cod Creamery.

Dawn Dixon can hardly believe she's on a groomless honeymoon on beautiful Cape Cod...with her mother. Sure, Marnie Dixon is good company, but Dawn was supposed to be here with Kevin, the love of her life (or so she thought). 

Marnie Dixon needs some time away from the absolute realness of life as much as her jilted daughter does, and she's not about to let her only child suffer alone - even if Marnie herself had been doing precisely that for the past month. Given the circumstances, maybe it was inevitable that Marnie would do something as rash as buy a run-down ice-cream shop in the town's tightly regulated historic district. After all, everything's better with ice cream. 

Her exasperated daughter knows that she's the one who will have to clean up this mess. Even when her mother's impulsive real estate purchase brings Kevin back into her life, Dawn doesn't get her hopes up. Everyone knows that broken romances stay broken...don't they?  Welcome to a summer of sweet surprises on Cape Cod - a place where dreams just might come true. 

I thought it was an interesting book that started out with a deep sadness.  It was hard to get started on the book because it was sad because Dawn lost her father and broke up with her fiance. Marnie lost her husband and got breast cancer. I knew that starting off on such a negative note meant that anything had to get better.  Both women decide to go on a vacation together (which happens to be the honeymoon that Dawn was supposed to go on). There is a lot of hurt and sadness and they spend most of their time apart doing things that make them both feel better like laying on the beach or walking around the small town they are staying in. Both Marnie and Dawn are on the very slow road to healing and the small Cape Cod town is helping them to do that. Although this isn't a light and uplifting book, it is still a book of hope and rebuilding after something bad happens in your life.  I know that many people use books as an escape from the things that are going on in our lives and if a heavy book is not what you are looking for, I totally understand.  However, I promise that you will want to keep on going to find out what happens in the lives of all those involved in the Cape Cod Creamery.  Marnie and Dawn bring a lot of people into their lives through this story and they all make the story great.  I know that there are a few surprises worth sticking around to find out.  I hope that you check out the book and see for yourself.

**I got a copy of the book for my review but all opinions here are my own. No positive comments were required.

A Season on the Wind Book Review

I picked this book because I love the author and have loved everything that she has written.  When I finally started it, I realized that it wasn't exactly what I expected.  Although I know that Suzanne Woods Fisher does a lot of different books, this book was about birds.  I wasn't very interested in reading about birds but I knew that if I hung it, it would be a great story with great characters. Season on the Wind by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a stand alone book about an Amish town and the people who live there.

Ben Zook had only two loves in his life: books and birds. In a stroke of good fortune, he'd stumbled onto a way to cobble together those two loves into a career, writing books about rare birds. He was as free as a bird--until a chase for a rare White-winged Tern takes him to the one place on earth he planned to never return: his Amish home in Stoney Ridge. Desperate for photographs of the elusive tern, Ben hires a local field guide, Micah Weaver, and boards at Micah's farm, planning to "bag the bird" and leave Stoney Ridge before anyone recognizes him. But he neglected to plan for Micah's sister, Penny.

One long-ago summer, Penny had introduced Ben to birding, even sharing with him a hidden eagle aerie. That was when she knew true love. She'd always hoped he would come back to Stoney Ridge. Back to his Amish roots. Back to her. The only problem? Ben has absolutely no memory of Penny. Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher welcomes her readers to the Amish community at Stoney Ridge in this engaging story of discovering just who the rare birds are in life. 

Whether interested in birds or just in the Amish culture, I hope that you check out this book and enjoy it for yourself. There was lots of interesting information about birds and bird watching. There was even more great characters in the wonderful small town in Stoney Ridge. Ben Zook is immediately the center of all of the attention when Penny recognizes him as former Amish. I couldn't wait to find out why he stood out so much in her memory. I was excited to read the rest of this adventure and you should check it out for yourself.

 ** I was given a copy of this book for my review but all opinions here are my own and a positive review was not required.

A Christmas in the Alps Book Review

 The cover looked amazing and I knew that I had enjoyed the author before so I was excited to read A Christmas in the Alps: A Christmas Novella by Melody Carlson. I love a good Christmas story and one set in the Alps sounded like the perfect first Christmas book of the season. I like being surprised by a book so I took a quick look at the summary to see if it would be something that sounded interesting and promptly forgot what it was about. I was excited to pick up the book and find out if it lived up the cover.

After a time of heartache and loss, Simone Winthrop discovers a tantalizing letter from her French great-grandmother, which seems to suggest that she is heir to a family treasure. Ever practical, Simone assumes the claim is baseless, but her best friend encourages her to find out for sure. Despite her deep-rooted fear of flying, Simone boards a jet to travel to Paris at Christmastime to uncover the truth.

During the long flight, Simone meets the charming Kyle Larsson, who's on his way to France to become an apprentice clockmaker. Though they abruptly part ways, an unexpected rendezvous in the French Alps at Simone's family's clock factory may lead to the discovery of the family treasure . . . and so much more.

For anyone who is wearying of staying home, Melody Carlson invites you to spend Christmas with her in the beautiful French Alps this year. So pull on your mittens, tie your scarf tight, and prepare yourself for a magical mountain holiday.

Simone Winthrop is going through her great grandmothers house after her passing and trying to get all of her things in order but it was so hard since everything seem to hold memories.  Her friend helped her go through some of the things and found a letter that was addressed to Simone but it was sealed and they were both very confused on why that would be in boxes of old things. It was a letter telling Simone that she had to go to France to the small town where her great grandmother grew up and find a treasure. The biggest problem is that Simone is too scared to fly.  Her friend doesn't give her a chance to back out by getting her new clothes, new luggage and going so far as to book the tickets. Simone is under way on the great journey when she meets Kyle in the seat next to her.  He does an amazing job of helping her calm down and make it through the plane ride.  Although there is a layover in Iceland and it turns out that he is getting on a plane to Norway while she is getting back on the plane to France.  Simone gives Kyle her information and hopes to hear from him again.  Simone makes it to France and you really need to pick up the book to find out if she talks to Kyle again and what the treasure is that she finds in her grandmother's hometown. I know I had my ideas what it was going to be from the beginning but I was ready to read and find out.  I hope that you check out this book for yourself to follow the adventure and enjoy this wonderful Christmas story of family and coming back after great loss. I thought it was a great book and I can't wait for the next Christmas story from this fun author!!

**I was provided a copy of the book to review but all opinions here are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

Beyond the Tides Book Review

 I knew the author sounded familiar when I saw this interesting cover and was immediately drawn in to find out what the book was about.  I didn't look her up until after completing the book that I have previously read The Red Door Inn and A Dazzle of Diamonds both written by her.  Beyond the Tides (Prince Edward Island Shores) by Liz Johnson is the first book in a new series about Prince Edward Island and growing up with the island life. I couldn't wait to get started and find out more about it.

 

 

When Meg Whitaker's father decides to sell the family's lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should inherit it instead. Though she's never had any interest in running the small fleet--or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness--she can't stand to see Oliver Ross take over. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.

Oliver isn't proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg--an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, and he's not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.

Meg's father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg must work the business together, and at the end of the season, he'll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought . . . and their dreams aren't what they expected.

I thought this was great book with wonderful characters that made it really hard to put it down.  I started reading it before bed one night just to see what it was about and ended up staying up half the night to see what was going to happen next.  From the relationship between father and daughter and the relationship with the boating community, this book made you wonder what was going to happen next for these characters. I was immediately taken with Meg Whitaker and felt everything she felt through the story. She gave up her dreams to move home when her mother got sick and gave up even more when her father decided to walk away from the business.  She decided that she couldn't let her father sell the company that she has known all her life that was her family legacy.  She quit her job as the high school teacher in the community to go to work on the fishing boat.  The biggest hurdle was that she got seasick so just setting foot in the boat was hard to handle but the worst part is that the person she hated the most was the person that she had to work with every day.  Not only that, if she gave up the family business then he would be the one that got to buy it.  Meg was determined not to let her bitter rival, Oliver Ross, take away her family company. Oliver was equally relatable because he was a nice guy who had a tough time growing up with his father leaving when he was young and his brother leaving more in the past 10 years to pursue his hockey career playing in the NHL. Both had left and never looked back to the small Canadian town of Prince Edward Island.  Oliver's whole life has been working on the boat and he wasn't willing to give it up without a fight even if that meant that he would have to work along side the person that was his biggest regret.  I don't want to ruin the story but there are amazing twists and turns with the great characters of Meg's mom and dad and Oliver's mom and younger brother as well as all the other people in the small town. I know that you will want to pick up this book and be transported to the small ocean town and learn all about what the lobster business means to both Oliver and Meg and everyone else in the small town.

 

**I was given a copy of the book for my review but all opinions here are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

A Lighthouse Point Book Review

 I was excited to read the next book in the Three Sisters Island, At Lighthouse Point (Three Sisters Island) by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I love this author so I was excited to see that there was a new book to read.  I didn't even knew that it was in the series that I had already read but I was excited to get started to find out what the sisters had been up to.  I was a little disappointed at the beginning because there was a lot of whiny behavior but I knew that if I hung in there it would lead to a resolution.  I wasn't disappointed.

 

Blaine Grayson returns to Three Sisters Island with a grand plan--to take Camp Kicking Moose to the next level. Her dream starts to unravel when she discovers Moose Manor's kitchen has been badly remodeled by her sister, Cam, who doesn't know how to cook. Added to that blow is the cold shoulder given by her best friend, Artie Lotosky, now a doctor to the unbridged Maine islands.
 
As old wounds are opened, Blaine starts to wonder if she made a mistake by coming home. Little by little, she must let go of one dream to discover a new one, opening her heart to a purpose and a future she had never imagined. Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the coast of Maine for a story that reminds you to release what doesn't matter and cling to what does: faith, family, and friendships.

I was excited to see Blaine again because I enjoyed meeting her in the previous book.  Blaine went oversees after having a bad experience in her school.  She started over in Paris and decided that she was chasing her dream but she found out that her depression followed her there.  She was in a very dark place and was saved by a new friend who she brought back to meet her family.  Blaine was trying to make a new life after working through her problems.  She went through the program at Cordon Bleu Cooking school and came back to the small island and her family.  Although that wasn't without it's issues.  The family was trying their best to get along but two sisters were pregnant, her best friend was mad at her and her father and grandfather were at odds.  It was a crazy time in the household and the camp was looking to maybe not open because there weren't permits for the things that they fixed.  All of the family needs to pull together or everyone is going to have issues.  You have to pick up the book and find out what happens and who saves the day this time.  After finishing reading this book, I realized that I don't think that I have read the first book in the series!  I guess I will have to look at the library and see if they have the first book to read so that I finish the series.

 

**I received a copy of the book to read for my review but all opinions here are my own and I was not required to 

Moonlight School Book Review

 I thought the cover of this book was interesting and I knew nothing about the story.  I have been working with my son to try to infer a few things from the title and cover of the book to guess about the book.  It looks a lot like someone in the olden days walking with a gas lantern at night.  It reminds me of the Underground Railroad pictures but still looks a little different. I was interested to read the book and enjoy the great story in Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

 

 

Haunted by her sister's mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn't expected: love.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You'll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

 I love this author and was excited to read this new book.  It was a historical book which isn't always my favorite books because it takes me longer to get into the story. The beginning of the book starts with the language that is spoken to try to make things a little easier to understand.  Although I have a hard time just remembering those things so I just use it as a reference in case I don't understand.  Normally there is a enough context to figure it out.  I thought it was a great story once I get into the book and interested that is based on a true story.  I had never heard of anything like this so I thought it was heartwarming and interesting. I know that once you pick up the book that you will be hoping that Lucy, Wyatt and Cora get all of the things that they deserve. I hope that you check it out and enjoy it for yourself. 

**I received a copy of this book to read for my review but all opinions here are my own and I was not required to have a positive review.

All That We Carried Book Review

 I don't know what drew me to All That We Carried by Erin Bartels to begin with but I decided that I wanted to read it.  By the time that it shows up at my house, I didn't remember anything about the book so I decided to start without having any background which is my favorite way to start a book. The cover hinted that it was fall weather with the leaves changing on the trees.  It was off to a quick but confusing start with two sisters and a little bit of a mystery which was answered quickly with information from their past. I was ready to find out what the book would bring even though I had read nothing by the author before.

Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a backcountry hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. Over the years, they grew apart, each coping with the loss in her own way. Olivia plunged herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world--what you see is what you get, and that's all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life-coaching business around her cafeteria-style spirituality--a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy.

Now, at Melanie's insistence (and against Olivia's better judgment), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they'll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.

Michigan Notable Book Award winner Erin Bartels draws from personal experience hiking backcountry trails with her sister to bring you a story about the complexities of grief, faith, and sisterhood.

The sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were very different people and had been separated for about 10 years.  Olivia spent that time at law school and working hard as a lawyer.  She spent a lot of her time busy and wanted to be productive.  Melanie dropped out of college and decided to be a life coach after getting over her difficult past.  She picked up different pieces of religion to form her spiritual basis for life.  They decided that they would go on a hike to try to get over the difficult past together.  Melanie decided on the idea but Olivia took over with her forceful nature.  They both have different ideas on how they want to do it and Olivia has everything planned to the minute while Melanie wants to feel all of the things and make sure not to miss a moment.  The beginning of the book sets you up to hope that both sisters influence each other so that they end up somewhere in the middle between to relaxed and too stressed.  Together they need to get over their shares past to move on but you have to pick up the book to find out if that happens and how.  Although I was entertained, it felt like it was a little slow going book that was harder for me to get into but many character development books are similar.  I hope that you check out this book and enjoy it for yourself.

**I received a copy of the book for my review but I was not required to provide a positive review.

Softly Blow the Bugle Book Review

 I have read a few books by this author so I was excited to check this one out even though I hadn't read any of the other books in the series.  Softly Blows the Bugle (The Amish of Weaver's Creek) was the third book in the series which I didn't know when starting but I have become a little flexible in checking out new series wherever I can start out.  I am sure that the books can stand on their own as books so I decided to jump right in.

 

When Elizabeth Kaufman received the news of her husband's death at the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, she felt only relief. She determined that she would never be at the mercy of any man again, even if it meant she would never have a family of her own. Then Aaron Zook comes home with her brother when the war ends two years later.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Aaron resolves to move West and leave the pain of the past behind him. He never imagined that the Amish way of life his grandfather had rejected long ago would be so enticing. That, and a certain widow he can't get out of his mind.

Yet, even in a simple community, life has a way of getting complicated. Aaron soon finds that while he may have left the battlefield behind, there is another fight he must win--the one for the heart of the woman he loves. Welcome back to the Amish community at Weaver's Creek, where the bonds of family and faith bind up the brokenhearted.

I was excited to start on this book and after reading nothing about it, I was surprised that it was a war novel.  It seemed to be totally opposite of the beliefs of the religion but I was interested to find out what was going on. I quickly learned that the men had not joined the church so I guess this was considered against the religion but I was still surprised and ready to learn more.  Jonas came home from the war to see his family including his sister Elizabeth Kaufman. Elizabeth was instantly looking at Aaron Zook who came home with her brother because there were things about him that reminded her of her late husband who was killed in the war.  Aaron Zook has dealt with a lot of things and met Jonas while he was recovering.  He decided that he would come home with Jonas before heading West to start his new life.  He was set that he was going to overcome his loss of his leg and work hard to make his new life in the West.  I was drawn in and ready to find out what was going to happen next.  I hope that you check out this book and see what happens.  I am sure that starting at the beginning would maybe not start off with as many questions. 

**I did get a copy of the book to read to provide my review but I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions here are my own.

A Dazzle of Diamonds Book Review

I was excited to read Dazzle of Diamonds (Georgia Coast Romance) by Liz Johnson even though it was the third book in the series and I prefer starting at the beginning.  I thought the cover and description had me hooked and ready to find out more.  It was worth starting in the middle of the series so that I could get to read this one.

Penelope Hunter loves her job as the events manager at one of Savannah's premier historic venues--until her ex-fiancé walks into her office with his new bride-to-be. To make matters worse, a scheming social matriarch is intent on seeing Penelope fired, especially if she insists on being seen with Tucker Westbrook.

Since returning from serving two tours in the Middle East, Tucker has built a thriving security company. His work is nearly as stabilizing as his friendship with Penelope, who has been by his side since childhood. But when the lone candidate for county sheriff goads him, Tucker loses his cool and ends up on the ballot--and on the receiving end of a smear campaign claiming the Westbrooks were traitors to the South.

To clear his name, Tucker and Penelope must join forces to find the truth behind a 150-year-old lost treasure. But the more time they spend together, the closer she comes to losing her job--and falling helplessly in love.

Penelope, also called PJ, was working in her dream job as an event planner.  She is trying to make the best times for other people's lives and worried about being fired.  Tucker is her best friend and working on becoming sheriff because he thinks that he can do a better job then the other candidate.  Both PJ and Tucker work together when the smear campaign starts making Tucker's family seem like traitors of the South which is ruining both Penelope's job and Tucker's chances at election.  There is a great mystery that no one in the past has solved but they have the best family history to work to find the answers to whether there are traitors in the past.  During this time, Penelope is dealing with her ex-finance coming into her venue with his new fiance to get married.  While Tucker is dealing with people who want the future sheriff to have a date for all of the campaign events.  They decide that they can pretend to date since they are best friends.  It turns out that makes both of them stop and think and everything changes.  You have to pick up the book to find out for yourself what happens with the treasure hunt, sheriff election, event planner job and most important between Tucker and Penelope.  I thought it was a great setting and amazing characters.  I can totally see this book turning into a movie because it is filled with everything you need to keep you turning pages.  I hope that you check it out and see for yourself!

**I got this book for my review but all opinions here are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

Heart of Hero Book Review

This is the second book of the three book series and I haven't read the first one but I was ready to jump right in.  I had read other books by the author and I was excited to check out this new series that I hadn't read before.  Heart of a Hero (Global Search and Rescue) by Susan May Warren was a book that I got a chance to review.  It was mailed to me right after the libraries opened so I got to put it on my pile of other books to read.

Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. Now he can't get her out of his head, and when he hears she is in the path of a hurricane down in Key West he can't help but jump on a plane to rescue her.

Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Now driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn't been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he's also dangerous, and she's already lost one person she loves. She can't bear it again.

It's not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?

I was excited to jump right in and I can tell you that there were a lot of characters that I wish that I could have started with the first book in the series but once I got into the book I was really excited to get to read the rest of books in this series.  Jake Silver was a Navy SEAL who came out and started working in a search and rescue team.  In the past book which they reference, he was in Alaska and met Dr. Aria Sinclair.  They had a connection but Aria pretended not to know him to avoid the connection when they got home.  This book is an amazing adventure in Key West where Aria goes to a conference to also get  break.  She ends up sick and in her room and she left a message for Jake instead of her friend Jenny. Jake got worried and wasn't sure what to do because there was a storm headed to Key West and it seemed like Aria wasn't herself.  He decided to go down and find her to make sure she was okay.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens because it was an amazing adventure.  I hope that you check out this book and the rest in the series.  Even if you can't get to the first book in the series, I recommend starting with the second book because you won't be disappointed.  I was really pulling for Jake and Aria to be happy and safe.  I know that you will enjoy it as much as I did once you figure out who everyone is!!

**I got a copy of this book to read to review but I was not required to give a positive review.  All opinions here are my own.

On a Coastal Breeze Book Review

I got the opportunity to read the new book by Suzanne Woods Fisher so I jumped on it.  I read the brief description on the back of the book but I can tell you that I was in after seeing the cover of this book.  Doesn't it look like a vacation?  I didn't even really know what it was going to be about but I was ready to jump in and find out.  Obviously I have read other books by this author and I love all of her writing so that was a bonus.  The sad part was of course that this was a second book in the series but I decided to try and I wasn't disappointed because it stands on its own as an independent book and has me wanting to check out the first one.  On a Coastal Breeze (Three Sisters Island) by Suzanne Woods Fisher quickly arrived on my door step and I couldn't wait to pick it up.

For Madison Grayson, life is good. Newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she can't wait to start her practice. Despite the unfortunate shortage of eligible bachelors on the island--they're all too young, too old, or too weird--Maddie feels like she's finally found her sweet spot. Not even one panic attack in the last year. Not one.

And then Ricky O'Shea drops in. Literally. Floating down from the pure blue sky, the one man in the world she hoped never to see again--the one who'd been her archnemesis from kindergarten through her senior dance--parachutes into town, landing on Boon Dock, canopy draping behind him like a superhero. Ricky O'Shea. Now Pastor Rick, the new minister on Three Sisters Island.  Time to panic.  With wit and a bit of whimsy, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Three Sisters Island where family, forgiveness, and a second chance at love await.

I was immediately taken in by the small town and the characters and it felt like you knew them already (even though I hadn't read the first book).  I was pulling for Madison Grayson while she was trying to open her practice and start her life on the small island where her family lives.  It was great to meet all the other members of her family and the town.  Her sister comes back into town to cook at the local restaurant for the summer and help her other sister get married.  Things are always changing with this fun family including their father.  In addition to all of the family things going on, Ricky O'Shea moves back to town to be the new minister.  Maddie has a life long issue with Ricky and wonders why he would come back.  They fight back and forth through the book and it leaves you yelling at the book (just like you would a good movie) because these two have obviously changed and they have a history that just might work toward the future.  There are lots of changes with all three sisters in the book but you have to pick it up to find out what happens because it is a page turner that you will have trouble putting down.  You have to make sure you pick up the book and find out what happens to all of the characters in this great small town.  I hope that you check out this book even if you haven't read the first.  Of course after finishing you might be looking for the first book in this series too! Since there are three sisters, I can only assume that there is also going to be a third book so I will keep my eyes out for that one too!!  I hope that you check out the whole series and let me know how you like it.

**I was provided a copy of the book for my review but all opinions here are my own and a positive review was not required.

The Happy Camper Book Review

I have read other books by this author and decided that this sounded like a fun new addition.  I knew nothing about it but how can you pass up on the cover.  Doesn't it look like so much fun?  Happy Camper by Melody Carlson came in the mail and I was excited to get to start reading it as soon as possible. 

Home is the place to heal, right? At least, that's what Dillon Michaels is hoping as she leaves her disappointing career and nonstarter love life behind to help her grieving and aging grandfather on his small Oregon farm. The only problem? Her eccentric mother beat her there and has taken over Dillon's old room. After a few nights sleeping on a sagging sofa, Dillon is ready to give up, until she receives an unlikely gift--her grandfather's run-down vintage camp trailer, which she quickly resolves to restore with the help of Jordan Atwood, the handsome owner of the local hardware store.

But just when things are finally beginning to run smoothly, Dillon's noncommittal ex-boyfriend shows up with roses . . . and a ring.  Full of quirky characters, family drama, and sweet romance, The Happy Camper will have you scouring Craigslist for your own diamond-in-the-rough camper to restore and haunting your local hardware store for a handy guy to help your dreams come true.

I thought that it was a good book.  Dillon is the main character and she is living the life that she thinks that she thinks she is supposed to be living.  She ends up breaking up with her boyfriend after he is late again for a date and it is the last straw because he didn't even answer any of her calls or texts.  Dillon gets called into work and tells her boss that she can't come.  She ends up quitting her job right over the phone and decides that she is going to change her life all together.  She packs up all her stuff and fills her car with everything she owns and heads back home to where she grows up.  Things are changing quickly but she feels better right away like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders so she is excited to start on the next chapter of her life.  You meet lots of people like her grandfather who is her biggest supporter, her mother who is her most difficult to deal with and all the people from her childhood.  She lives on her grandfathers couch until he gives her an old camper which she remodels and this starts her new life in the small town where she grew up but gives her some independence.  There was a little bit in the middle of the book where it seemed that they were pushing religion in where it wasn't a good fit.  I thought that it would have been better to not be so pushy because it seemed strange and made me stop and wonder if it was a good book.  It quickly got past that part and overall, I thought it was a good book.  I was interested to see what happened to the characters.  It finally got to the part that it was going to be at the resolution and it ended very quickly.  Overall, I thought it was a good read but I don't know if it was as good as other books that she has written.  Check out the book for yourself and let me know what you think!

**A copy of this book was provide for my review but all opinions here are my own

Raising the Challenging Child Book Review

I thought that Raising the Challenging Child: How to Minimize Meltdowns, Reduce Conflict, and Increase Cooperation by Wendy Lyons Sunshine sounded like an interesting book that might have some pointers on different things to do when raising children which is always something that I like to hear.  I thought it would also be helpful for working at preschool too.

What's the worst you've ever faced as a parent? An all-out tantrum at the mall? A son who won't take out his earbuds to listen to you? A daughter who's failing at school and won't do her homework? A teen who constantly breaks curfew? A call from the police? Whatever you're dealing with, Raising the Challenging Child will help.

Building on their work at Chaddock, a nonprofit organization that has worked with some of the most challenging kids in the nation for more than 150 years, the authors empower frustrated parents with practical tips and real-life examples on how to

- minimize behavioral meltdowns
- reduce conflict
- increase cooperation
- promote healthy attachment
- improve family relationships

The strategies they share work both for the child who is going through a difficult phase brought on by life disruption or trauma, and for the child who faces chronic struggles. Parents, teachers, and those who work with children and youth will find positive, practical steps they can start taking today in order to understand and address the baffling behavior of the child under their care.

I like the beginning with the relationship bank because it gives information because it talks about how you need to have a good balance with the yes and nos.  There is some information about calming down which is helpful.  I thought that the book was a little strange because it wasn't really written from one person's perspective but rather constantly quoting staff at a facility but that was the only thing that was a little different. Although the examples were helpful and gave good descriptions of the problems to help illustrate the resolution.  I am not sure it is super helpful for a challenging child but there are a few helpful hints included.  I am all for learning anything that we can from reading interesting books.  I think that it would be more helpful for a first time parent or someone who is looking for a quick solution to the problems that they discuss.  I think that it might also provide ideas that you haven't tried to deal with some problems.  I hope that you get some helpful hints to try and find at least one thing that will help you and your family.

**I got a copy of the book to read for my review but I was not expected to post a positive review.

You Belong with Me Book Review

I got a new book to review from a publisher which has been a long time since I have gotten a book delivered to my mailbox.  I was excited to check out the new book and I just finished reading another book.  You Belong with Me (Restoring Heritage) by Tari Faris was the book inside the envelope that I opened.  Isn't that a pretty cover!!

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn't one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah's mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts--not even her best friend, Luke.

Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.

Hannah is living in the small town where she grew up and working as a realtor but having problems selling the historic homes to people who don't want to maintain the house.  There are many developers looking to change the town and Hannah doesn't want to see that happen.  It makes it very hard on her career and ability to pay the bills.  Hannah finds about a way to save the town with a restoration grant and comes up with a plan to do it.  Her biggest problem is that she lets her emotions get in the way of thinking about things first.  It is the problem that many of us have so it is very relatable.  Luke also grew up in Heritage and is still trying to find his place.  After being a foster kid, he feels like he doesn't belong in the tight knit community.  His best friend is Hannah and he is the first person that helps her with her missions.  At the same time Luke is going through remodeling his house and trying to make peace with his past.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens to Hannah and Luke but I know that you will enjoy the ups and downs in this book.  I thought it was a great read that was hard to put down because I kept reading even when I should have been sleeping.  I hope that everyone picks up this book and checks it out.