A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

1880. That was the year everything changed.

Annalisa wasn’t really sorry when her husband, Hans, was found dead, burning in a brush pile, his face partially melted off. There was no love between the two of them; especially since he’d taken to stealing her hidden egg and butter money to feed his gambling habit. She’d spent so much time trying to save what she could for her and her daughter.

And now the saved money and her husband were gone.

Yet, Annalisa knew it could be worse. She could have a husband like her 17-year-old sister’s husband, who beat her.

The lingering question of accident or murder didn’t need to be addressed. Saving the farm was all that mattered.

Without a husband- well, probably WITH her deadbeat husband, too- she’d never be able to pay back the loan for their land, and she’d lose her home. There was no place for a husband-less woman with a two-year old to go, and she wouldn’t be a burden to her parents.

As was typical in the immigrant, tight-knit community, her Vater would find a solution. As was also typical, that solution came in the form of a cousin from the Old Country.

But the man who came in the interim was not her cousin, and his identity would be far more dangerous not just to himself, but to Annalisa’s heart. The German immigrant community of displaced miners forced to leave and move across the ocean to Michigan had a long memory, along with long grudges.

Carl wasn’t expecting the lifeline he was thrown. It was his only chance to save his head- literally. The one covertly freeing him was the same that sentenced him to death for a crime he didn’t commit- his father.

Carl also wasn’t expecting to stay long in the immigrant community of miners-turned-farmers. He was expecting to be relieved by his manservant’s son, Dirk, who was to marry the pregnant Annalisa and take on Han’s responsibility of farm and family.

Can Carl help save the farm- and his heart- before it’s too late?

~~~~~~~~~~~

This was a complex story that had me cheering “Go, Carl, go!” and giving other direction to the characters, like, “Just tell him already!” and other words of wisdom. :lol:

Seriously, though, the intricacies of this story where not overwhelming, and certain details were based on historical fact. Character development was fantastic, and the climax was one of the best I’ve read in a while.

You have probably figured out that this title was a slam dunk for me, and gets 5 out of 5 stars, no questions asked.

I don’t know that I’ve read any of Jody Hedlund’s other books, but I’m going to do some digging and see if I have, because I thoroughly enjoyed this title.

I received this book for free from Bethany House publishers (www.bethanyhouse.com) for this review.

Read Full Post »

Gone South by Meg Moseley

Tish’s mom is moving. Her remarriage and move to Florida means packing up and moving on- literally. Nonetheless, Tish loves her mother and is happy she’s found happiness after her father’s death. 

The trip south to help her mother move spurs Tish to making a side trip to Alabama, to get a glimpse of an old family home on her father’s side.

Tish’s nosiness results in her own life getting altered…………. can the southern town she’s landed in set aside differences and accept the new Yankee?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The plot sounded good, and it could have been. This book was not quite a dud, but was completely ho-hum. I kept waiting for something of actual consequence to happen.

The premise of willy-nilly moving and buying a new house without a waiting job is absurd. Have you moved lately? Since the housing crash, underwriters have been brutal; asking for all kinds of strange things. There is NO WAY she would have been approved for a mortgage without a job. Her moving would have been more believable had she gotten an inheritance and/or paid cash for the house.

The following story-line of her not being able to get a job because {spoiler alert!} of her last name doesn’t make things better.

Now let’s add to the mix Melanie; wayward child, shunned by her own family and unexpectedly living with Tish, well, it’s just a bit too unbelievable to get sucked into the story line.

Maybe it’s because I’m a Yankee living in the South; maybe the small town I’m living in isn’t small enough; maybe it’s not big enough; or maybe I’m not far enough south, but I just can’t see an entire town holding a grudge against a family that lived there a hundred years ago. I think even the Hatfields and the McCoys have stopped warring with each other at this point…………..

I’ve reviewed another Meg Moseley title and absolutely loved it. This one, though, left me very lukewarm. I was disappointed, honestly. I know she can write better; I wonder if this title was rushed too fast.

Because I like Meg Moseley overall, and because it wasn’t a bad read, I’m giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Rank this Review!

Read Full Post »

Swept Away (Trouble in Texas) by Mary Connealy

Ruthy MacNeil would do near anything to get away from her adopted family; particularly her learing “brother,” Virgil, who Ma and Pa have planned to marry her off to. Ruthy had gotten pretty good at hiding and trying to protect herself from his advances. She’d be happy if she could survive the wagon train intact. Escaping was her plan, but she had to wait for the right time. 

Turns out, she didn’t need to worry about sneaking off. Nope, Pa’s stupidity took care of her ‘escape’ for her. Now, if she could manage to survive the swollen river that took the wagons and the family………….

Luke Stone had some reckoning to do. Pa Stone had been killed and his ranch had been stolen from him. Luke’s sister, Callie, had gone off to Colorado to track down her wayward husband. Last he knew, she was doin’ fine.

Someone had to set the ranch to rights, and that someone was him. If Flint Greer had his way, though, Luke would be well out of the way before he got close enough to be a threat.

But Luke had plans for Greer. And, he had friends. They were Regulators, bound together by surviving Andersonville.

Those plans didn’t include a woman. What was he to do? He couldn’t leave her sopped up on the wagon planks in the turbulent river! As driven as he was, he couldn’t leave a woman to die, especially when she was right on his path home.

Can Luke save his ranch? Can they save Flint’s wife and kids from his barbaric beatings? And what’s he going to do with Ruthy?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Mary Connealy picks right up where she left off, more or less, after the Kincaid brothers got their lives settled. In the final book of the Kincaid Brides series, we met up with Callie, Luke’s sister, as she went after her forgetful husband.

We jump back to Texas as Luke makes his plan to get his ranch back. This is the first book in the series, and I can’t wait to read the subsequent titles.

This book is classic Mary Connealy, through and through. She is one of my favorite authors, so it’s no surprise I’m giving this one 5 out of 5 stars. It has everything in it- a damsel in distress, wrongs to right, gun fights, and classic good vs. evil battles. If you’ve enjoyed her other titles, you’ll love this one!

You might also enjoy Mary Connealy’s website, that has all of her titles.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for this unbiased review.

 

Read Full Post »

Ollie Chandler Collection by Randy Alcorn

This is a collection which includes Deadline, Dominion, and Deception.

Deadline:

Doc, Finney, and Jake. The three amigos. Three peas in a pod. Lifelong friends. Survived Nam together, more or less. Stood up at each other’s weddings. Standing Sunday afternoon football date.

And now there was one, after that fateful Sunday afternoon pizza run. Jake was lucky to have gotten out of the accident alive.

As he tries to go back to his normal routine as a columnist for the Portland Tribune, those four little words change everything………………… “It wasn’t an accident.”

Jake was used to getting mail, but nothing like this. He couldn’t let it go. He had to follow the note. He had to get ahold of his friend, Ollie Chandler.

Dominion:

Clarence Abernathy had gotten acquainted with Detective Ollie Chandler when his friend and fellow Tribune columnist, Jake Woods, worked with Ollie to solve the murders of his two best friends. Jake’s world was shaken to the core when his two best friends died in an accident that should have claimed him, too.

Clarence was a driving force in Jake getting reacquainted with God, thanks to the two men being thrown together on a ‘diversity panel’ for the paper.

When his sister and niece get shot and killed by suspected gang activity, Clarence knows he needs Ollie’s help. Can he find justice for his sister and niece without losing his soul in the process?

Deception:

Ollie is losing his mind. This last murder doesn’t add up. Come to think of it, the last two murders he and his partner investigated seemed too ‘clean;’ too neatly tied up. The puzzle pieces fit together too perfectly.

This latest homicide, though? This one has him in fits. It also has his gum wrapper with his fingerprints- and his rope around the dead man’s neck- at the crime scene. And it’s not just Ollie getting framed.

So many things don’t add up that Ollie can only come to one conclusion: someone in the Homicide department is a killer.

Can Ollie bring the killer to justice before another attempt on his life is successful? If he can’t, where will he go when he dies? Can he change his thinking and finally find faith in God so he can go to heaven when his time is up?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The plots are pretty good. The books would have been good if they had just stuck to the actual plot.

I should have known something was afoot when the beginning acknowledgements gave credit to A.W. Tozer.

Tozer is not easy reading. Actually, his books are some of the most complex I’ve ever read, and while the writing is sound, it’s absolutely not pleasure reading. For me, it’s pretty laborious. Unless I do it in small doses, it puts me to sleep; sending my mind into never-never land. Tozer is one of those authors that even when you are reading out loud, it won’t might not make sense the first or second or third time.

The first two books are written totally in that vein. And I didn’t enjoy them. At. All.

Maybe it’s because I’m already on board and the “case” for God doesn’t need to be made to me. I don’t know.

Add to this that the dead characters were expounding on heaven and hell (although much less hell was being presented) in greater proportion than actual main plot and I was getting frustrated. There were numerous times I actually said out loud, “If I had wanted to read Tozer, I would go back and read *him*!” {fully knowing that my copy of The Knowledge of the Holy is still packed away somewhere…….}

Combine this with the length of this title- no kidding, I had been reading for something like 3 days and I hadn’t even gotten through the first book!- and the fact that Ollie Chandler, whom the series was named after, wasn’t even a MAIN character and didn’t actually show up until something like half-way through the book, well, I was not looking forward to reading the other two titles.

True to form, I got into the second book and felt like it was never going to end, but because I was reviewing it, I needed to slog through it.

Again, Ollie was not a main character, and didn’t really have a whole lot to do with any part of the book. This one focused entirely on race- the fact that Clarence was black and what it’s like to be black in America. We went on a Bible tour via the deceased sister and her angel guide; through the Old Testament to see how the Ethiopians were faithful Christians, which absolutely didn’t translate to the white man’s perception of blacks during slavery.

We learned all about gang violence between the Cripps and the Bloods; the method to the tagging, etc etc.

Strangely, while in the first book Finney was praying for his family and for Jake, there was only a single incidence of Dani praying for Clarence; and she didn’t break away and pray for her own son when he took up arms and shot someone during gang initiation. It felt like the author was too focused in on debunking the perceived myth that only white people were in the Bible to even have continuity in his writing.

In my opinion, this book was entirely too heavy on the race theme and trying to impress that the whites should make restitution for slavery than it was sticking to the plot. Or maybe the rabbit trails were the plot. Either way, while it was informative, it wasn’t an enjoyable read, nor one that made much sense as it applies to actual plot.

I was really relieved to finally get to the last book in the collection, although I was seriously dreading it. If I hadn’t been reviewing these titles, I would probably have stopped in the second book.

Surprisingly, I really liked the last book. This should not be a huge surprise, because Ollie was the main character and was written from his perspective. And, it was funny. I mean, it was laugh-out-loud funny in numerous parts, which was not only refreshing, but a much-welcomed reprieve from the heavy tone of the other two titles.

The crux of this book was Ollie weeding through the evidence of the final murder to not only exonerate himself as a suspect and bring the real killer to justice, but also to save his soul.

Jake made an appearance, since he was a long-time good friend of Ollie’s. Clarence was there, too. Apparently, the newspaper made a deal with the police department to have one of their reporters shadow a murder investigation, right from the start. This included having unprecedented access for their own photographer.

I don’t think I need to say how unrealistic I think this is; you know, compromising a crime scene with civilians and all. And, despite the fact that Clarence was supposed to be in Ollie’s pocket for every single everything having to do with the case, there were several times Ollie could have used Clarence, but Clarence was mysteriously absent.

I really can’t give the first two books anything but 2, but the last book I can say I’d give a 5 to. It was funny; not overly preachy, and the continuity was significantly better. Overall, the collection gets a 3. I would probably give the author another chance should he write another Ollie book, but wouldn’t hesitate to put it down if it goes the route of the fist two titles.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Rank this Review!

Read Full Post »

Fortress of Mist by Sigmund Brouwer

He’d done it. He’d captured Magnus- the kingdom that had the impermeable fortress. On an island, completely surrounded by water, no attack was possible, due to the high walls and narrow drawbridge that protected it.

And yet he- as an orphan- was able to claim his birthright. His dead mother, Sarah, had taught him well.

Could he hang onto his kingdom? Whom could he trust?

His dreams taunted him. Were they real?

“Thomas, there is a great circle of conspiracy. Much larger than you and I…….and there is much at stake. Haven’t you wondered why this castle is set so securely, so far away from the outer world? Why would anyone bother attacking a village here? Yet an impenetrable castle was founded. And by no less a wizard than Merlin.”

Was she real? He’d seen Isabelle die. No, he’d felt her die; right there, in his arms after her skull received a crushing blow.

And yet, here she was, whispering in his ear, in his bedroom. He couldn’t reconcile how anyone had made it past the soldiers outside his bedchamber; much less someone who was dead.

No, he must be dreaming. Yet, he can still feel her kiss lingering on his forehead.

Who is she? Why is she here? Can he trust her? Is she really trying to help him keep Magnus?

Fortress of Mist is book 2 in the Merlin’s Immortals series. I had not read book 1; The Orphan King. If I ever get my “to read” list cleared off, I will definitely go back and get the first book.

Set in 1312 AD, this book has it all- magic, sword play, intrigue, mysterious women, and magic. Two sides are warring for Thomas’ allegiance. One one side are the Druids, with their magic and secret symbols.

On the other side? Thomas doesn’t know. They are nearly as mysterious, and their guidance is also veiled. Thomas doesn’t feel he can trust the one he’s trusted all those years, especially now that she’s revealed her actual face to him. Feeling deceived by her as well, he takes drastic action; despite the depth of his emotion.

I’m learning to really look at the author before I accept a book for review. There have been a few titles that confirmed to me that the author is not one I’m really interested in reading again, so I’m paying more attention to author than I was previously.

Sigmund Brouwer was one author I’ve read I have reviewed before. Because The Canary List was a pretty good book, I thought I’d give this one a shot.

My single complaint is that this book ends pretty abruptly. As in, I was shocked and wondered if I hadn’t gotten the entire download. Then I went online to buy the sequel, only to be bitterly disappointed to learn it’s not been released yet. Boo!

Did you gasp out loud at that last comment? I know I did, once I realized what I’d done. That is the absolute first time I’ve gone to order a sequel of any book I’ve reviewed. I rarely order sequels. To date, there have only been a handful of series I’ve gone and purchased, because it’s hard for me to justify when I have so many unread titles waiting to be cracked open.

One part of me wants to give it 4 out of 5 stars because of the way it ended. That’s just not right; to leave the reader so completely hanging and feeling entirely unresolved.

But. Because this book was SO good, I’m going to relent and give it the 5 out of 5 starts it actually deserves, dirty trick aside. Come to think of it, I’d probably give it 6 or 7 stars {out of 5} because it was that good.

If this era piques your curiosity, run, don’t walk, and get this title!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Rank this Review!

Read Full Post »

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn

With mostly empty pockets and a barely-hanging-on vehicle, Jessica Morgan made her escape. Packing her belongings in the back of her car, she left as quietly as she could; making the journey up the coast from California to Oregon.

As she thinks about the job she’s heading to, she feels lighter already. For the first time in a long time, she is hopeful about the future………… and then disaster in the form of an accident- strikes; sending her over an embankment and into a ditch.

What happens next? Can Jessica survive the hospital stay, get to her job on time, and make a new life for her before her past catches up to her?

I’ll admit- the book description sounded tantalizingly good. The author did a relatively decent job of stringing the mystery along.

Spoiler alert: Stop here if you don’t want to know why I didn’t end up really liking this title.

For starters, there is nothing about this that is even remotely realistic. If you’ve been reading along, you’ll know that I don’t find books that aren’t science-fiction or steampunkish to resonate with me if they are so bogus so as to not even be remotely true.

In this case, there were problems near the beginning. We know Jessica Morgan ends up in the hospital. On the stretcher, after being delivered by the ambulance, she is hounded for her insurance information while being tended to by the doctor. Someone who knows these things, please tell me, because I am inclined to think they treat injuries first, before asking the actual patient for insurance information and driver’s licence identification.

Next, Jessica lies about her name, because she doesn’t want anyone to know who she is. Her purse got left behind at the crash site, so she’s pretty sure no one can check it.

Of course, this is the town where she’s going to be working, so she’s hopeful she can keep her assumed identity.

Checking out of the hospital, she’s able to make it to her new job just in time- as a school teacher.

So. Without a background check run by the district {because she personally knows the principal, who, ironically, was in the same hospital at the same time due to a stroke}, Jessica begins work.

As with most books, there is an antagonist, in the form of a really witchy temporary principal who makes no bones about finding out Jessica’s secret. And, there’s a love interest- the paramedic who arrived on the accident scene before the ambulance.

In the midst of the secret-hiding, Jessica’s biggest issue is not her totalled non-insured car; no, it’s starvation. That’s right. In her haste to escape, Jessica only managed to take a few hundred dollars in cash with her, which, after paying her hospital bill, {including ER and overnight stay} left her with a whopping $12 until her first paycheck.

The paycheck, incidentally, can’t be issued, because her “file” wasn’t complete- as in, they didn’t have her last name, her social security number, etc etc.

By this point and time, I was literally rolling my eyes. There were entirely too many things that were not even remotely believable for me, and that started the turn-off. Once she got teaching, a good portion of the story revolves around her being hungry, and what she does to hide the fact that she has no money. One situation had her going to the grocery store and coming home with Ramen noodles, bread and a few other items, for $10; the bread having been something like 69 cents, if I’m remembering right.

This made me feel like the author hadn’t gone grocery shopping in a decade or more. Even day-old bread where I live is going to cost more.

Moving on, there was a mission trip to Mexico some of the students and a co-teacher and her love interest were going on, and they all wanted her to come- for free! Whee! Free mission trip for a non-church member and one who doesn’t really belive in God the way they do!

Maybe my experience is limited, but I have *never,* ever seen that kind of situation from any kind of angle. Chaperones are thoroughly vetted members of the church; not new people who no one knows anything about, high school teacher or no.

Finally, when the “secret” is revealed, it is so far-fetched and benign I actually laughed out loud. Yep. I did.

I was completely disappointed in this book. I’ve read other reviews, and many of them rave about this title. I just can’t. I’m giving it 2 stars, and that’s because I’m feeling generous.

One of the themes, relying on God to provide, could have been so much better relayed. The squash in the garden was a good start; the groceries left was another. What about the endless stream of dinner invitations from co-workers? What about the giving community she landed in doing casseroles for the first week at least? All of those would have been a lot more believable than what the author presented.

The storyline had so much potential, but in the end, left me not liking it much at all. This is the first in a series, and I can say, that unless there are absolutely no other titles to review and I completely bored out of my mind around here, I will not be reviewing any additional titles by this author. I had reviewed her Sierra Jensen Collection, and also had some of the same concerns with that young adult series.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Rank this Review!

Read Full Post »

Over the Edge by Mary Connealy

“Then the man turned.
It was Seth Kincaid.
Alive and well. He’d be better off dead.
She could arrange that.
She still had her gun.”

Callie had no choice but to leave her Texas home and go chase her wayward husband. He’d survived the Civil War, but she’s not sure his demons will allow his to remember her.

Out of options, she headed to Colorado with their baby in tow, in search of the Kincaid family ranch. Why had he discarded her? Why hadn’t he come for her already?

Hoping the parson had gotten enough time to go for help, she waited for rescue, blood pouring from her wound. She started to relax, as her rescuer came into sight.

And then he turned.

While dodging the bullets she was shooting at him, fingers of recognition wafted through Seth’s mind. “The memory conjured up a pleasant feeling in his chest. Which sure didn’t match with the threat and the gunfire.”

The stagecoach hold-up was not the first obstacle to deal with, but even after having gotten shot, it might well be the easiest, for all the good finding her husband had done.

Not knowing who she was was- but that he’d held her before, Seth scooped her up onto his horse and raced her to town; praying she wouldn’t die. Seth didn’t have time to be shocked at the revelation that she had sparked a prayer, after all those years ago when “he’d paid for survival with his soul.” That afternoon was the last time he’d prayed- until now.

Will she survive her injuries and if she does, will he let her come to the ranch? Will he ever remember her?

If you’ve read any of the other titles in The Kincaid Brides series, you’ll no doubt remember Seth’s struggles. Being burned in a cave as a child combined with the war have left him in a cycle of constantly fighting the demons in his mind.

It seemed to me I had reviewed the first book in the series, Out of Control, but I don’t see that I had. Our move has totally thrown my sense of timing off, because when I “found” this title unpacking, I immediately remembered the characters like I had just read the other book a very short time ago.

That is the sign of a good author- one that writes characters that stick with you despite the passage of significant time. Normally, I read titles in a series in sequence if I can, and if I miss one, I generally won’t go back to read the missing book. This series, however, has been so enjoyable that I probably will go back for the second book, even though I know the end result.

There are few authors that go onto my “must read” list, but Mary Connealy is one that goes onto that list without a second thought. I give this title 5 out of 5 stars.

Because this book was so much fun to read, I’m going to throw you the trailer.

You might also enjoy Mary Connealy’s website, that has all of her titles.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for this unbiased review.

Read Full Post »

House of Mercy by Erin Healy

Beth Borzoi has her heart set on becoming a veterinarian since graduating with honors from the local community college. As it was, she was forever helping out with animals on the Blazing B ranch, and on neighboring ranches.She had saved money for her continuing education, and planned to leave in the fall, a few short months away. When friends on a neighboring ranch ask for her help with the eye of one of their horses, she knows she’s going to need some way to get money to help for surgery the horse probably needs.

As she takes Jacob’s old, unused saddle, she is pretty sure he won’t miss it, and the silver can be melted down to pay the expense for surgery. She’s pretty sure he won’t mind; after all, she’s never seen him use it in the 15 years he’s lived at the ranch.

As “payment” for her help, her neighbor friends let her ride a retired racehorse stud being boarded at their ranch. The bad idea goes from rotten to catastrophic, as while out riding, the stallion is lathered into a frenzy by an unusually large grey wolf. The result is injury to Beth; death for the horse, and a lawsuit from its owner that most likely will result in the loss of the family’s fifth generation ranch.

In addition, her father has a heart attack on the way home from the court judgment and dies two days later. Already furious with her, Beth’s mother, Rose, tells her to leave the family, which is reinforced by her hateful older brother, Levi. Can Beth find a way to right the wrong and save the ranch?

That’s the basic plot. Early on, reading was a bit on the bizarre side. Throw in an estranged grandfather (Rose’s father, who kicked her out when she married Beth’s father), a wacko cracko doctor, a mysterious legend and shrine, and the wolf who can sort of speak to Beth and can go through walls, this book is riddled with strange events.

I loved it! I’m giving it 4.5 stars because it was a wee little disjointed in the introduction of the grandfather early in the book, and then also because it wasn’t finished. The story of how Jacob ended up with the mystical saddle and where it went after Beth took it- wasn’t given.

In addition, while we assume {SPOILER ALERT!} Jacob and Beth’s relationship gets resolved, we don’t see the details. If the intent is to have a sequel, I’m completely on board and will definitely go out of my way to get it.

Click Here to read the first two chapters!

Erin Healy.com

Interview with Erin Healy

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Read Full Post »

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof

Lonnie can’t wait until she turns 18 so she can escape her abusive alcoholic father. Those few remaining months seem like years.

Being forced to sing in place of her mother who “had a headache,” leaves Lonnie shaking and feeling like a sacrificial lamb. Seems Joel Sawyer had no problem sending his daughter to be pawed in place of his wife.

Bandmate mandolin player Gideon O’Riley steals the show, playing over Lonnie’s faltering voice, as she forgets the words to the third verse. Lonnie is well aware of his reputation, and up close, can see why all the girls fawn over him and seek out his attention. Lonnie, however, is not interested. She’s waiting to turn 18 so she can escape her father and go live with her aunt Sarah.

Ditched by her younger brother, Gideon offers to walk her home. When he steals an unexpected kiss, Lonnie has no doubt she’s seen the last of him.

Unbeknownst to her, Lonnie’s father caught the moonlit clinch.

Lonnie’s world is rocked the next day, when she is called home from her aunt’s to meet with Gideon and his family. Accused of being compromised, Lonnie’s wedding date to Gideon is the next day.

As Lonnie and Gideon leave their families to make their way in the world, can they develop a relationship? Could they even come to love each other?

I received an advanced reading copy to review. The release date of this title is October 16, 2012. There were no typos that jumped out at me, which was a relief.

This book was ok, but honestly, did not do a whole lot for me. The characters were not developed as well as they could have been, and the whole scenario seems implausible. The timeline of the pregnancy which ensued after Gideon came to her so he wouldn’t be ridiculed by his friends absolutely did not gel with the onset of her pregnancy symptoms on their journey to find work the following week.

I think the plot was ok; it just didn’t seem real (yes, I know it’s fiction ). Good writing allows a reader to get wrapped up in the story, no matter how off-the-wall. There has to be the element of truth in the relationship, and this seemed a little tin-y to me.

Since it’s a series, I may read the second one when it’s released if it becomes available. This one left me luke-warm at best, so I’m giving it 3 stars out of 5. It was ok; not bad, but not one I’ll add to my favorites list, and not one I’ll make a point to read again.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Rank this Review!

Read Full Post »

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

“No one steps on Archer land.” This had been drilled into everyone in Anderson County, Texas- including the school children. When bully Hiram Ellis pitches 10 year-old Meridith Hayes’ lunch bucket onto Archer land, Meri has no choice but to disobey the edict and retrieve it. She’s not going to let Hiram get the best of her, even if it means taking her life into her own hands!

While Meri isn’t shot to pieces, she does end up with a leg caught in a metal trap. Hearing the hunting hound closing in on her followed by an Archer, Meri is resolved is to be brave in her final minutes. What happens next shapes the rest of her life.

After releasing the trap and seeing her home- leaving the Archer land for the first time since swearing an oath to his dying father- Travis knows he’ll never forget those startling blue eyes. Meredith knows that the tall tales about Travis aren’t true, and she holds on to a fantasy of being in love with him as she grows up.

Years later, Meredith has been passed on to live with her aunt and uncle after her own father’s death. As business owners, they see her as a pawn to gain power; her father’s land her only dowry. After all, her leg defect leaves her undesirable.

The match leaves her cold; her dreams of true love shattered. Meri struggles to comply. Right before her engagement is announced, Meri hears of a chilling plan to burn Archer property, forcing them to sell to her unscrupulous intended.

Meri has no choice but to warn the Archers. Her participation in attempting to put out the planned fire results in a head injury which keeps her on the ranch with the four single Archer guys- including Travis. He acknowledges remembering her; understanding that the trap that broke her leg resulted in a permanent limp, one leg being slightly shorter than the other. The responsibility of it all comes crashing down on him, and weighs him down.

Eventually, Meri’s uncle comes to the ranch, looking for her. Once he realizes she’s there, he demands one of the boys marry her, now that she’s been ‘compromised.’ And so, the Archers take to drawing straws………..

I absolutely loved this book. This was another title that had me reading it all in a single setting. It also left my copy dog-eared and giggling. Some of my favorite lines include, “Not even frilly-smelling laundry could tear them apart,” (stemming from the belief that all women smell flowery, and thus, they would too, since she was doing their laundry) and “Except for the handful of weeds he’d presented her that morning, he’d given her nothing but a scarred leg and a dented head.”

See what I mean? I absolutely LOVE books that make me laugh. This one had enough tension in to make you wonder what was going to happen next. There’s also the inevitable kidnapping (but not her) and the leering goon who makes sure she knows he’s going to have his way with her.

I don’t know that I’ve read anything else by Karen Witemeyer, but she goes on my list of authors to get more titles from. I give it 5 out of 5 stars. Click below to see the trailer!

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for this unbiased review.

Read Full Post »