Book: Against the Wind

About the book:

Doctor-in-training Louisa Vaughn has no intention of remaining in Sweetwater Crossing. She's just there for a few days to help a friend. But she can't abandon the injured man she finds at the side of the road. Until his broken leg heals, she'll serve as the town's doctor and midwife. She may not be fully qualified yet, but surely she's better than nothing.

Josh Porter's plans to win his grandfather's challenge and fulfill his father's final wish to gain full control of the family business hit a roadblock when he breaks his leg. But his enforced stay in Sweetwater Crossing gives him new ideas about the expansion of the company into new territory--ideas Louisa could help turn into reality.

If only the town were more accepting of Louisa's talents! Someone is determined to convince her to abandon her dream of healing others. Can Josh help her uncover the person behind the threats before it's too late? And is there any future for them together when neither of them plans to stay?

My thoughts:
I've enjoyed quite a few books by author Amanda Cabot and had looked forward to this one's release after previously reading book #1 called After the Shadows in the Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing Series.

I enjoyed reading Louisa's story as she has returned to Sweetwater Crossing.  During her time she renews her friendship with her sister after a strained relationship.  She also practices her skills as a healer when she finds an injured man, Josh.  The community does not accept her as a healer though because she is a woman.  

I enjoyed the friendship that developed between Louisa and Josh and the ways they help each other.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.  If you enjoy historical fiction check out this book and others by this author.

This is the author's website.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Book: The Secret to Happiness

About the book:

Escape to Cape Cod--where you just might find the secret to happiness

Callie Dixon had the world by its tail . . . until it all slipped away. Fired from her dream job after making a colossal mistake, she's escaped to her aunt's home on Cape Cod for time to bounce back. Except it isn't a home, it's an ice cream shop. And time isn't going to help, because Callie's bounce has up and left. There's a reason she made that mistake at work and she's struggling to come to terms with it.

Things go from bad to worse when Callie's cousin Dawn drags her to a community class about the secret to happiness. Happiness is the last thing Callie wants to think about right now, but instructor Bruno Bianco--a curiously gloomy fellow--is relentless. He has a way of turning Callie's thoughts upside down. Her feelings, too.

Could Bruno be right when he says that hitting rock bottom is the very best place to be? If so, how is that supposed to help her find exactly what--or who--has been missing all along?

My thoughts:

I had read and enjoyed book 1 in the Cape Cod Creamery series so looked forward to book 2. I have enjoyed this book as well.  

Callie has a lot going on in her life.  I feel like those who have battled depression will be able to connect with her through the pages of her story.  After hearing a little about the relationship between Callie and her cousin Dawn in the first book, it was interesting to see their interactions as adults and how things have changed for them.

Topics in this book include depression, MS, job loss, and relationships in general.

Also I must add...don't you just love the cover?!  I do!  This book made me want to visit Cape Cod too just like the first one did!  

Go here to the author's website.

I received a copy of this book from the Revell Reads reviewer program for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

After the Shadows

Today I want to share with you the first book in a new series by Amanda Cabot.

About the book: 

A brighter future awaits--if she can escape the shadows of the past

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the new schoolteacher and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father's death--and to aid Craig Ferguson, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. Together they must work to unmask a killer and escape the shadows of their own pasts in order to forge a brighter future.

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot transports you to 1880s Texas Hill Country for a brand-new series that will have you flipping pages to solve the mystery and get to the happily-ever-after you long for.

My thoughts:

I love to read a new book from Amanda Cabot.  I was excited for this one to come out since I have enjoyed her previous books so much.  I love the setting in the Hill Country of Texas since I am a Texas girl. I'm happy to share this one with you today.  I will first say there is a trigger in this book as suicide is part of the story.  

I enjoyed the main characters form the very beginning.  I felt bad for Emily to return home and the division between her and her sister Louisa.  I liked that it was a little bit romance and a little bit mystery.  

I will look forward to the next  book in this series.  Check this out if you enjoy historical fiction.  

Visit the author's site here.  This is a trailer about the book. 

I received a copy of this book from the Revell Reads reviewer program for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Book: Second Time Around

About the book:

When empty-nester Mallory Farrell inherits a rundown tourist shop, she never expects to rediscover her love for the funky coastal Oregon town--or her now-widowed teenage crush.  With his help, she may just be able to renovate the shabby shop--and her lackluster love life.

My thoughts:

I've read several books by Melody Carlson through the years.

This story is an easy read.  I didn't feel there was very much depth to the characters, and I didn't feel much connection to any of them, probably because I am in a different stage of life.  I didn't really like one of the main characters (Grayson) in the beginning, and throughout the book he didn't do anything really to improve my view of him.  A theme of the book is second chances and you see that come up numerous times.  

I enjoyed the book for the most part.  The problems Mallory faced in opening her shop did not feel like real life and how they were handled did not seem like reality either.  

The storyline of this book was similar to another I just read (The View from Coral Cove by Amy Clipston). 

I received a copy of this book from the Revell Reads reviewer program for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Book: Anything But Plain

About the book:

It's not easy being the bishop's daughter, especially for Lydie Stoltzfus. She's not like other Amish girls, as much as she wishes she were. The only thing she does well is disappoint others. Leaving her family and church seems unbearable, but staying might be worse.

Knowing Lydie is "between" jobs, the local doctor asks her to fill in at the front desk for a few months. To Lydie, this is a boon. It gives her time to figure out how she's going to say goodbye to her neighbor, Nathan Yoder--the main reason she needs to leave Stoney Ridge. Nathan claims he's in love with her, but she knows she's not good enough for him. If in doubt, Nathan's father reminds her frequently.

As Dok spends time with Lydie, she recognizes symptoms of a disorder rare among the Amish. She offers treatment for Lydie. But will it be enough to make her stay? Or has help come too late?

Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge, a small town that feels like an old friend.

My thoughts:

I feel like I've read quite a few books by Suzanne Woods Fisher.  This one did not disappoint.  I enjoyed the topic of ADHD in this book as it was a topic I had not seen previously addressed in all of the many books I've read from the Amish genre.  I actually learned some things about ADHD as well and helpful ways to help people cope who have ADHD.

I enjoyed the character Lydie and was cheering for and wanting to see her be successful. 

This is the author's site.  She has so many wonderful books and series.

I received a copy of this book as part of the Revell Reads blogger team for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Book: A Quilt for Christmas

I saw the title and cover of this book and knew I wanted to read it!  

About the book:

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. 

My thoughts:
This was an enjoyable book to read and a quick read for me.  I appreciated the variety of characters, learning a little about each of them, and seeing how they all come together to make a little girl's wish for her Mama come true. I will admit I was annoyed with one character named Eleanor at first and how she treated the other ladies.  It was interesting to find out her story and the hurt she had experienced in life.  Themes in the book include friendship, forgiveness, and caring for those in need.

Since I am a quilter now I enjoyed that aspect of the book as well.  Check out this book to put you in the Christmas spirit.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Book: The Sweet Life

About the book:

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.

My thoughts:

When I read the description of this book and saw the cover, I knew I would enjoy it.  And I was right! I enjoyed seeing the relationship between main characters Dawn and Marnie and how both of these characters grew throughout this book.   I don't guess I'd ever realized or thought about all the steps involved in making yummy ice cream and all the factors that must be considered.    

Another fun thing was we were on vacation while I was reading this book.  And we found a fun little ice cream shop that made me wonder if it was similar to the Main Street Creamery.  We love ice cream and always make a point to stop to get ice cream when we are on a family vacation....like every night we find an ice cream shop.  It's a fun little tradition we have.  

This is another good story from Suzanne Woods Fisher, and I look forward to the next book in this series. There is a sneak peek at the back of this book for book #2.  I'm glad I'll get to visit the Creamery again as well as these characters.  

#thesweetlife

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Book: Beyond the Tides

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About the book:

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.

Bestselling author Liz Johnson invites you back to Prince Edward Island for a brand-new series about family, forgiveness, and the kind of love that heals all wounds.

"Johnson kicks off her Prince Edward Island Shores series with this heartwarming romance . . . Johnson's fans will eagerly anticipate the next installment of this promising series."--Publishers Weekly starred review

My thoughts:

What a story!  The main characters Oliver and Meg intrigued me.  Both of them are holding on to parts of their past.  Meg has a grudge because of what Oliver did years ago to her science project.  He wants them to be able to move past that.  When Meg's father is going to get rid of his fishing fleet, Meg can't just let Oliver have it. They end up working together to help her father.  It is interesting to watch their friendship develop as they both share their hurts from the past.  

An important aspect of this book is the declining health of Meg's Mom.  There are many unknowns for Meg and her parents regarding her illness as her Mom is slowly slipping away.  

This is my first book to read I believe from this author.  I look forward to more in this series (Prince Edward Island Shores). I did not know anything about the lobster business so it was interesting to learn something new about this process as I read the book.

 
I received a copy of this book for my honest review from Revell Reads review program.  Thank you. 

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Book: At Lighthouse Point

About the book:

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.

My thoughts:

I have listened to the audio version of book one of Three Sisters Island series called On a Summer Tide.  I was a little hesitant to read this since it is book 3, but missing book 2 did not effect my understanding of this story.  It would be good to read them in order though. 

It was nice to visit these characters again in this book.  It was nice to see how much the island and Camp Kicking Moose have grown and changed since book 1.

The sisters are so different. This dynamic adds to the interest of the story for me.  Peg is such a great character.  I really liked her in book 1 and again here. The wisdom she shares is helpful to Blaine (and the reader).  

This book starts with many questions.....What did Blaine learn in her time in Paris?  How long will Jean Paul stay and what is his significance in Blaine's life?  Will Blaine and Artie be friends again? 

Visit the author's website here to learn more about her other books.  

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads for my honest review.  Thank you.

#AtLighthousePoint #ThreeSistersIsland

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Book: Dreams Rekindled

I am excited to share with you a new book called Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot. This is the second book in the Mesquite Springs series.

 

About the book: 

Though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself, Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up. Specifically, she dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers -- until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.

Brandon Holloway has seen the disastrous effects of challenging others and has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he's committed to making a new -- and completely uncontroversial -- start in the Hill Country.

As Dorothy's involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon's heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who's determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon's livelihood.

With this second novel in the Mesquite Springs series, bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you to discover the healing power of truth.

My thoughts:

I read (and loved) book #1 in the Mesquite Springs series Out of the Embers and was looking forward to reading book #2.  

I really like the characters in this book.  I liked Dorothy and how she is getting to pursue her dream of writing in this book.  I also found it interesting that she is strongly opposed to ever marrying.  I liked Brandon too and how he has a secret that weighs so heavily on his heart.  I thought the dog was a nice addition to the story. 

It's always nice to have characters appear again that I met in the first book in a series.  There are several unexpected happenings in the story which keep it interesting.  

I enjoyed this book and you should check it out if you enjoy historical fiction.  I look forward to book #3's release!   

Here is the author's website.

I received a copy of this book from the Revell Reads review program for my honest review.  Thank you!

#DreamsRekindled and #MesquiteSprings!

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Book: Nothing Short of Wondrous

About the book:

It is 1886, and the government has given the US Cavalry control of Yellowstone. For widowed hotelier Kate Tremaine, the change is a welcome one. She knows every inch of her wilderness home like the back of her hand and wants to see it protected from poachers and vandals.

Refused a guide by Congress, Lieutenant William Prescott must enlist Kate's aid to help him navigate the sprawling park and track down the troublemakers. But a secret from his past makes him wary of the tender feelings the capable and comely widow raises in him. As they work together to protect the park and stand firm through injustice and tragedy, they may just find that two wounded hearts can share one powerful love when God is in control.

My thoughts:
I am a big fan of historical fiction and this is a new author for me.  I first off was drawn to the cover of the book.  The location (Yellowstone) also intrigued me.  Reading this book made me want to plan a trip to visit Yellowstone myself.  (I even made a Pinterest board to plan a trip!)

I really liked the descriptions of the nature of Yellowstone. Even though I had never been there I could imagine the beauty of it.  I also liked Scott's characters and how they interact with each other.  

This is a sweet story about Kate Tremaine who is a widow running a hotel in Yellowstone.  She wants her home and the beautiful Yellowstone to be protected.  There are several examples of poachers and vandals who try to cause harm through the book.  Kate forms a friendship with Will Prescott as she helps him learn about the park and find those causing trouble.  Kate's young son Danny looks up to Will and the two form a bond.  Kate's concern is that she will be able to keep her lease from the government to continue running the hotel.  She doesn't know where she will go if she can't have her lease.

The story is somewhat predictable and was a slow start for me, but I enjoyed reading it. 

This is the second book in the series called American Wonders Collection. I have not read the first one but that did not interfere with my enjoyment of this book.

Here is the link to the author's site.

I received a copy of this book from Revell reviewer program for my honest review.

#NothingShortofWondrous #AmericanWondersCollection

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany