Gone South

Gone South
Meg Moseley
Multnomah Publishers
May 2013
Fiction, Romance


Leaving frosty Michigan for the Deep South was never a blip in the simple plans Tish McComb imagined for her life, dreams of marriage and family that were dashed five years earlier in a tragic accident. Now an opportunity to buy her great-great-great-grandparents’ Civil War era home beckons Tish to Noble, Alabama, a Southern town in every sense of the word. She wonders if God has given her a new dream— the old house filled with friends, her vintage percolator bubbling on the sideboard.
 
When Tish discovers that McCombs aren’t welcome in town, she feels like a Yankee behind enemy lines. Only local antiques dealer George Zorbas seems willing to give her a chance. What’s a lonely outcast to do but take in Noble’s resident prodigal, Melanie Hamilton, and hope that the two can find some much needed acceptance in each other.
 
Problem is, old habits die hard, and Mel is quite set in her destructive ways. With Melanie blocked from going home, Tish must try to manage her incorrigible houseguest as she attempts to prove her own worth in a town that seems to have forgotten that every sinner needs God-given mercy, love and forgiveness.

You know, Meg Moseley is quickly elevating herself into one of my favorite authors. She writes with a wonderful mixture of heart and realism. This book invited me, like a porch swing on a warm day, and kept me coming back for more. Tish is a real character. Completely annoying and uptight at some points, and completely lovable at others. The mix of modern day with Civil War history thrown in was a delight. 

And then there is George. I loved that guy. He's got depth as a character that is rarely seen. I wanted to sit down with him and hear his story. His gentle interference into Tish's life is as cute as can be. 

I'd tell you more about the characters but honestly, you just need to read it. It's a jewel of a book. Grab some sweet tea and settle in for a "just right" kind of read. 

My thanks to Multnomah Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my real and honest review. 

Where Lilacs Still Bloom

Where Lilacs Still Bloom
Jane Kirkpatrick 
Waterbrook Press 
Publication Date: April 17, 2012 
Christian Fiction, Historical 

German immigrant and farm wife Hulda Klager possesses only an eighth-grade education—and a burning desire to create something beautiful. What begins as a hobby to create an easy-peeling apple for her pies becomes Hulda’s driving purpose: a time-consuming interest in plant hybridization that puts her at odds with family and community, as she challenges the early twentieth-century expectations for a simple housewife.

Through the years, seasonal floods continually threaten to erase her Woodland, Washington garden and a series of family tragedies cause even Hulda to question her focus. In a time of practicality, can one person’s simple gifts of beauty make a difference?

I think it's clear by now that I am a sucker for books based on actual events. Whether it's historical fact or based on an actual person's story it draws me in immediately. This book did no less. Kirkpatrick is an accomplished and vivid storyteller. She is able to weave stories in a unique way. I did get a bit bogged down with this story. There were some characters that were a little hard to keep track of. I'm also not a big fan of gardening and much of the story does revolve around planting. While this story may not keep you riveted it is an easy and interesting read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: Waterbrook
Genre: Amish, Fiction, Romance
Date: 2012

Annie Martin is old order Mennonite and Aden Zook is old order Amish. Since they were young the have spent occasional time together at the local diner where the Zook family and Annie's Daadi Moses co-own. Escaping from a volatile relationship with mom Annie finds herself with Daadi Moses. She also finds herself once again drawn towards Aden. The cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom on the local trees and love is blooming in a most forbidden spot. Can Annie and Aden overcome it all to let love prevail?

Short and sweet The Scent of Cherry Blossoms uses the Amish and Mennonite settings to reveal real truth that is applicable to each reader. It's a short story but the characters are well developed. There were a couple of places I got the impression I had missed something so perhaps characters from previous Woodsmall books were mentioned, I'm not completely sure. It's a sweet story and I'm happy to say that love does prevail.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.

The Christmas Singing

Gideon broke Maddie's heart 3 years ago but just maybe the Christmas season will bring understanding and warmth to Maddie's heart. A part of the Ada House novels by Woodsmall this one is a true little gem. It can be read as a stand alone and enjoyed just as much. After Gideon breaks Maddie's heart Maddie moves away. When circumstances force her to return Gideon is determined to reveal the truth behind his decision of three years ago. Lies, romance, secrets, and fun are all apart of this book. It's a light read that is perfect for the Christmas/winter season.

I believe I have established here on my blog that I am not an overwhelming fan of this rampant Amish theme in Christian literature. However, if I'm going to read one and enjoy it I will always turn to Cindy Woodsmall. She writes with depth and honesty that makes the Amish craze almost, not quite, worth diving into :)

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.

Mine is the Night

Liz Curtis Higgs is back! After this review after her last book I had my doubts about picking up this book. However, my love for Higgs and my desire for her to captivate me once more had me pushing through. She did not disappoint. This is the second of two and can absolutely stand alone, in fact I would recommend skipping the first and getting right to this one. It took me a whole first book and a few chapters into this one to realize this was an interpretation of the story of Ruth. Anyone else out there take as long as me to figure that out? Anyway, with that added twist I was hooked immediately. The language was still a bit challenging at times but I adjusted quickly and loved the story. The characters are full of depth and they'll feel like your closest friends before you're done. You always know a winner when you finish abook and keep thinking about the characters. Annoying, but a mark of a truly excellent story and storyteller.

Following the Jacobite rebellion Elizabeth and her mother-in-law, Marjory, flea penniless to Marjory's former hometown. Finding refuge with a distant cousin Elizabeth and Marjory begin to rebuild their lives in a way that looks nothing like their former existence. Beth takes up a needle and thread and Marjory begins cooking. Both begin to fall for two dashing men who capture their hearts and therein lies the tale.

This is one of those books that you just have to read to truly appreciate it. I promise you'll enjoy this one. Pick it up and be prepared to be transported to 1700's Scotland.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.

A Sound Among the Trees

Arizona desert girl, Marielle, meets widower Carson online and they get married. Marielle suddenly finds herself step-mother to two children and living at Holly Oak, a plantation house in Virginia with Carson's grandmother-in-law. The house itself is rumored to be full of mystery, and if you believe the blue-haired ladies, it's full of ghosts. One of the ghosts is Susannah, a former resident of the house who is rumored to have been a civil war spy for the north.

History seeps through the very pores of the house down to the Civil War cannon ball lodging in the siding. Grandmother Adelaide holds all the history and stories close to herself. She's pretty sure the house is not haunted but is instead somehow stuck in sorrow and trying to make amends. Marielle isn't sure what to believe but she isn't entirely comfortable in a house filled with so many questions and stories from the past. 

Meissner is one of my absolute favorite authors and I was beyond thrilled to be able to review this book. What's unique about this author is her ability to blend the past and the present in an incredibly effective way. I'm rather bummed to say that this book did not live up to my expectations. Almost two-thirds of it was taken up with the modern day story that I felt was a bit heavy on the haunting and a bit lacking in clarity. Once we were transported to the past through a series of letters the book was fascinating and I stayed up late to finish it. Unfortunately the first two-thirds dragged and were not, in my opinion, Meissner's best work. However, she does an excellent job with the story of Susannah in the Civil War and you will find yourself captivated.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Harvest of Grace

I must come clean at the very beginning of this review. At the risk of offending possibly the entire reading world I will openly admit that I am not a big fan of the Amish genre. Gasp! Wheeze! WHAT!?

Everyone still okay?

Look around any Christian bookstore and you will see Amish fiction is taking over the shelves. Yes, their lifestyle is fascinating and yes, learning about them is interesting, but come on! After your twelfth shunning they get a little predictable, right? Wrong. It's true, I was wrong. There is Amish fiction everywhere and many of them are predictable and down right boring but there are few standout authors that make this genre readable. Cindy Woodsmall is one such author. I will willingly pick up any book that she writes because I know I'll be surprised. Harvest of Grace did not disappoint.

Harvest of Grace  is the third installment in the Ada House Novels. Sylvia is a dairy farm girl through and through. She loves farming and wishes her Father and her boyfriend Ephriam would treat her as an equal when it comes to decisions about the farm. When Ephriam asks Sylvia to marry him she shocks him by asking for more time. In the the time she has asked for Ephriam manages to engage himself to Sylvia's sister Becky. Wounded beyond words Sylvia pours herself into her farm work. When a moment in the barn with Ephriam turns the wrong way Sylvia flees her home and finds work at a dairy barn some distance away. Hiding and ashamed she once again pours herself into work on the farm.

Aaron is a recovering alcoholic who returns to his father's farm intent on selling it for profit and moving his parents into town with him. He doesn't settle on meeting his father's hired hand Sylvia and having her undying love for the dairy farm play into the drama Aaron's return creates. Not to mention Aaron finds himself drawn to Sylvia and she to him.

With two completely opposite views on farm and family one wonders if Sylvia and Aaron can find a common ground. I would tell you, but that might ruin the story :)

Aaron and Sylvia both possess a depth that makes Woodsmall's writing so delightful. They are quite unlike any other characters you have read before. A smattering of returning characters makes you feel as if you are revisiting old friends, but if this is your first Woodsmall book you won't feel like you're missing out. This is an easy and engrossing read that is perfect for a plane ride or a cup of coffee.

It's true, Cindy Woodsmall has made the Amish genre delightful and completely worth diving into. You'll definitely enjoy this book and all of the Amish books she has authored.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Restless in Carolina

Dreadlock wearing, tree hugging, earthy Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is thirty-one and she's been a widow for four years. Unable to even say the words "happily ever after" her view of God and happy endings has been severely skewered. However, she's beginning to realize she needs to finally come to grips with her widowhood and move on with her life. In the midst of all of that she also needs to sell her family estate near her home in North Carolina, preferably to an eco-friendly developer. Bridget is determined to sell the estate to someone who will help preserve it's beauty and not turn it into a run of the mill housing developement.

Enter J.C. Dirk. He's a green developer from Atlanta who's extremely high energy and has a secret interest in the Pickwick estate. J.C. and Bridget meet face to face in Atlanta after J.C. doesn't return her calls. He's interested in Bridget's offer the minute her hears her family name. Sparks fly between these two as J.C.'s interest in the estate spreads further to interest in Bridget. Bridget finds her white knight but the secrets he's hiding just may break her heart.

This is a fun chick flick read with southern sass. Bridget is extremely likeable and well-developed. J.C. is a little bit of an irritant at first but he does grow on you. The "secret" part of the story could be seen coming a mile away but it did add intrigue to the story. Although not exceptionally well put together it's a light, enjoyable read. This is the third installment in the Southern Discomfort series but you can definitely read it as a standalone. It's such a cute easy read, why not read all of them? I think if I would have read the first two I would have completely fallen in love with the endearing Pickwick family.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books (Thomas Nelson) book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck

Charlotte Beck is young, impetuous, and she has big dreams. Alex Hambly likes looking at the stars and has no room for Miss Beck in his life. Quite unexpectedly Charlotte falls literally into his arms one evening. Sparks fly, and not the good kind. Charlotte is an American heiress on the verge of becoming a lady of society and Alex finds her both disarming and annoying all at the same time. Through a series of predictable events Charlotte and Alex are thrust into each others lives over and over again.  When Alex's father dies and he learns his family estate is almost in ruins Charlotte's father steps in to save the day. Promising Charlotte to him with a handsome dowry attached Alex and Charlotte agree to marry. Their marriage of inconvenience starts out as a sham but as you would expect it grows into something much more.

I'll be honest, Y'Barbo is not my favorite author. Her stories always sound enticing and fun and the covers always look amazing and yet I am always left wanting when I'm done reading. She's published a number of books so I can't say it's lack of experience but she almost writes that way. The characters are not well developed and in many cases she adds unnecessary characters to prove a point and it just gets messy. For instance, Alex's older brother who is troubled after war and is not able to take over the estate. He's brought in so the reader knows why Alex has to take over and then we never hear about him again. It's just a little messy and unnecessary in my eyes. However, this was an easy cute read. The Beck family is good friends with Buffalo Bill Cody and I enjoyed reading more about his Wild West Show. Alex's commitment to his marriage is admirable and ultimately the book ends just as you would want and expect.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

The Daughter's Walk

The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

Absolutely and totally fascinating!

In 1896 Helga Etsby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City. Her prize: $10,000 for doing the walk within 7 months while wearing the new shorter hemline skirts. She brought her 18 year old daughter, Clara, along and the two of them start on a journey with the hope that they could save the family farm. That is where the story begins and by no means is it where it ends.

A non-fiction story written with fiction elements I found myself completely captivated. Let's be honest, who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to walk 3500 miles especially in a time where much of the western US was still very much frontier. Crazy!  The story is told by Clara and you will find yourself loving her, hating her, angry with her, crying for her, and immersed with her.This is one of those books that while you want to turn the pages quickly to see what happens you also want to savor each word, paragraph, and moment.

When the two women return home from their walk everything has changed. Life takes an interesting twist and Clara sets out on her own. Just when I think I've read it all in the story world this woman decides to try her hand at trapping animals for fur. Kirkpatrick is a master storyteller and she weaves this tale with finesse. Rich with period history and research about the actual Etsby family and Clara herself this story will amaze you. Prepare to dive in and not come out until you put the book down. Believe me, it will be a trip worth taking!

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.

Here Burns My Candle- Liz Curtis Higgs

Scotland! Romance! The 1700's! Liz Curtis Higgs!

Nothing could be better, right? Right? Higgs is an excellent author and a master storyteller. I have thoroughly enjoyed almost everyone of her books. I was eagerly anticipating reading this one.

I have to be honest, I was a bit dissapointed. Higg's other historical fiction books have quickly grabbed my attention and kept it throughout. Here Burns My Candle did not. I found the language to be quite difficult to work through. There is no denying that the story is full of historical detail and the setting is capturing. However, I found some of the detail so thick I lost parts of the story.

Because I am a Liz Curtis Higgs fan I stuck this book out to the very end, and I'm glad I did. The story is rich with emotion and very well developed. If you can get through the detail and the language I believe you'll find a story more than worth your time.

I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. 

The Shape of Mercy

I think I may have just found a new top 10 favorite author. I have read two books of Susan Meissner now and I am hooked. Lady in Waiting was a wonderful read and I dare say The Shape of Mercy  was even better.

Lauren Durough, 20 year oldcollege student and an only child, has grown into a bit of a rebel when it comes to doing what her family expects her to do. She is a product of the privileged lifestyle to which she was born and she has lived her whole life wondering if her father would have rather had a son. Those wonderings make her even more determined to blaze her own trail, resulting in her choice of a state school over a private university and her decision to major in English rather than in Buisiness or economics. 

A desire to cover some of her own school expenses leads Lauren to a fascinating job transcribing the personal diary of Mercy Hayworth, a young woman who in 1692 living in Salem was charged with being a witch. The diary's owner, Abigail, intrigued her, and the diary captivated her. Little did she know the "job" would change her life.

The Shape of Mercy  is about three distinct women, Lauren, Abigail, and Mercy. Each woman brings their own depth to the story. At it's very heart this book is a love story, yet it is so intricately weaved and delicately written that you'll suddenly realize that and then wonder how you got there.The beauty that underlies it all is that the wonderful power of love can bring healing to any situation.

Meissner is a master storyteller and I look forward to reading her books for years to come.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

Licensed for Trouble

PJ Sugar is trouble with a capital “T”. Her whole life has seemed to be a series of mishaps and disasters. When she finds out she has inherited the Kellogg family fortune she can’t imagine why. The sole beneficiary of Kellogg’s wealthiest widow PJ is baffled why a woman she hardly knew would leave everything to her. The inheritance turns out to be the Kellogg family mansion that is in complete shambles. Charming with an idyllic setting the mansion is nonetheless in serious need of remodeling. Handyman help comes in the form of Max Smith, a man without a past. Private Investigator in training, PJ takes on Max’s case with no idea where it might lead.

Licensed for Trouble is the third installment in Susan Warren’s PJ Sugar series. This book picks up a few weeks after “the kiss” in book two between PJ and her boss, Jeremy Kane. While PJ can’t deny the chemistry she has with Jeremy she also can’t put former love, Boone, out of her mind. Jeremy remains distant and PJ remains confused. As PJ tries to figure out her love life she also stays busy, and in trouble, trying to find Max’s past, chasing a bail jumper, and discovering secrets about her own past.

PJ’s character development in this book is wonderful and completely relatable. Feeling doomed to always live up to her moniker “nothing but trouble” PJ slowly but surely begins to experience God’s grace and redemption. With the help of the dashing and romantic Jeremy PJ finds the fresh start she’s been longing for. She turns to God and allows him to name her, define her, and love her.

Susan May Warren is a favorite author of mine. Although there are plenty of page turning moments in this book I also found sections that seemed to drag. However, PJ is a delight to get to know and while I would recommend reading the first two books before this book, this one can be read as a standalone. Warren keeps the reader guessing as PJ’s heart pulls her in different directions. You’ll find yourself gasping as PJ is rescued time and time again by one or more of the handsome men in her life. The mystery will keep you guessing and the ending will….well I’m not going to tell you everything. Enjoyable and a great end to this series!

Rated PG- for violence

Thanks to Tyndale Fiction for providing a copy of this book for review!