Month: October 2020

Headstrong Johanna Berglund, a linguistics student at the University of Minnesota, has very definite plans for her future . . . plans that do not include returning to her hometown and the secrets and heartaches she left behind there. But the US Army wants her to work as a translator at a nearby camp for German POWs.

Johanna arrives to find the once-sleepy town exploding with hostility. Most patriotic citizens want nothing to do with German soldiers laboring in their fields, and they’re not afraid to criticize those who work at the camp as well. When Johanna describes the trouble to her friend Peter Ito, a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance.

As Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their letters home, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But advocating for better treatment makes her enemies in the community, especially when charismatic German spokesman Stefan Werner begins to show interest in Johanna and her work. The longer Johanna wages her home-front battle, the more the lines between compassion and treason become blurred–and it’s no longer clear whom she can trust.

My Rating: 4 Stars

This was the first book I’d ever read that was written in the epistolary style. It was very different, but also very enlightening because the reader is allowed to get inside the characters’ heads.

I confess I knew next to nothing about the German POW camps in the United States during World War II. I knew they were there and that’s about it. My own uncle was a POW for thirteen months in Stalag 17 during the same war and was treated very horribly. Our own family never received any word from or about him until after his liberation. So it was good to know that the German prisoners in the United States were treated kindly and allowed to communicate with their families. This book has spurred me to research this situation for myself. I love to learn and Amy Lynn Green’s writing has made me very much interested in learning more.

Well written and flowing nicely, this is a debut novel that you’ll want to add to your TBR pile. Recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion is my own and I received no compensation.

Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: November 3, 2020

About the Book:

Discovering buried evidence

makes her a target.

At a prehistoric site, forensic anthropologist Taya McGill uncovers a recently buried body days before Christmas—and finds herself in a killer’s sights. Now on the run with undercover ATF agent Keegan Stryker, she must rely on him to guard her as they figure out why someone would kill to keep this murder unsolved. But can they unearth the truth before someone silences them both for good?

From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

‘Lord, blame weights down a heart and blinds our eyes.’

Taya McGill, a forensic anthropologist, has uncovered a body and minutes later finds herself the target of a killer. She is now on the run with an undercover ATF agent. Keegan Stryker has to figure out how to keep Taya safe as well as himself before they are both silenced by ruthless killers.

Sharee Stover once again brings her readers a non-stop, action filled story. I was all in from the first and read it in less than a day. I love stories that include criminal justice and forensics and this one fit the bill perfectly. Now I’m sad I’ve finished it. Great suspense. Recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. I was not compensated in any way and the opinion in this review is entirely my own.

Publisher: Love Inspired
Publication Date: November 1,2020
Buy Link:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086XDM3H9/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3

It was one little lie told only to protect impoverished Naomi Stuart and her daughter. But when Benedict Ramsay — a man she met fleetingly years before who should be in England — arrives in town, all she’d carefully constructed threatens to crumble.

Benedict arrives a stranger in Noelle, hoping to confront the father who’d abandoned him. What he did not expect was to discover he was a married man … to a woman he didn’t even remember meeting. And against his will, Benedict warms to the idea of a ready-made family

My Rating 4 stars!

I am a fan of Lucette Nel’s writing. I have read her work since her first book and they just keep getting better and better.

Imagine being alone, raising a child and inventing a husband, then have that man actually show up in town? My goodness, what’s a girl to do? Everyone in town believes Naomi’s husband ran off and left her. Now here he is, and with no idea what’s going on.

I love it when I connect with a book from the very first and that’s exactly what happened here. Nel has crafted characters that are ‘real’ to the reader with a plot that is surely believable. I loved every minute. I am not very much looking forward to her next offering. Recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher and author for a digital copy of this book. I was not compensated in any way and the opinion here is my own.1 like

About The Book:

evotional Inspiration Especially for Kindred Spirits
 
The Anne of Green Gables Devotional offers lovely inspiration that explores the theme of God’s love and faithfulness through the pages of the classic L. M. Montgomery novel, cherished by generations of readers. Each reading corresponds with a chapter from the book and invites you to embrace God’s redemptive plans for your life as His very own adopted daughter in Christ.
 
This beautiful 40-day devotional includes original artwork throughout, and each reading includes examples from the novel, scripture, life application, prayers, and discussion questions perfect for groups, book clubs, or personal reflection. It’s perfect as a personal read or gift for a bosom friend!
 

My Rating: 5 Stars!

This book is soooo precious! If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, then you absolutely must get this devotional. It is priceless. Each devotion starts with a scripture, then a short passage from the beloved novel, with an application for your life today. Then a prayer and another scripture. It is just truly a wonderful devotion. I have a digital copy but I will buy the physical copy. It is so good.

*I received this book from Barbour Publishing through Net Galley and was not required to leave a review. I received no compensation and all opinions in this review are expressly my own.

About The Book:

From “Master of the genre” [Midwest Book Review] and New York Times bestselling author Courtney Walsh, a sweet romance that’s sure to capture your heart.

Hayes McGuire never believed the stories about a famous Nantucket matchmaker until she ropes him into taking over her duties in while she’s off the island for Christmas.

So he enlists the help of the one person he can trust with this crazy scheme—his best friend, Prudence. Armed with a series of rules, a book of success stories and the promise of Christmas magic, the pair of old friends sets out to make a Christmas match.

Little do they know that magic doesn’t discriminate, and the pair soon finds their years of friendship deepening into something more. Will Pru and Hayes ignore the electricity in the air between them or will there be more than one match made at Christmas?

A Match Made at Christmas is a stand-alone holiday novella.

“Original, romantic, and emotional. Walsh doesn’t just write the typical romance novel. . . She makes you feel for all the characters, sometimes laughing and sometimes crying along with them.” ~Romantic Times

‘I’ll wait for that tingly, magical feeling. I’m sure it’s like radar or something.’

So this books needs more than five stars! For real. I love it when I connect so fully with book characters. My imagination is great when reading, anyway, but when an author manages to craft characters that I feel I ‘know’, I’m all in!

Hayes McGuire never knew there was a legendary matchmaker in Nantucket until she asks him to fill in for her until she gets back from a trip. He’s shocked and quite frankly, a little confounded at this proposition. He enlists the help of his very best friend, Prudence Sutton, to help him. Little do these two know that they themselves might be in the matchmaker’s crosshairs. (smile)

This book was SO much FUN~! I absolutely devoured it and found it to be quite possibly the most romantic book I ever read. And I read a lot. Incredibly delightful, it is a book destined to be read many times. In fact, I’m still basking in the beauty of it, reluctant to pick up another book right now. I preordered the digital copy and just now ordered the paperback because this is a book that I MUST have on my shelves! It just made my heart smile. I highly recommend this one, folks.

In a land where being the fairest maiden is a curse . . .

A princess rejected and hunted by her mother, and a prince who lives as a shunned outcast.

Princess Pearl flees for her life after her mother, Queen Margery, tries to have her killed during a hunting expedition. Pearl finds refuge on the Isle of Outcasts among criminals and misfits, disguising her face with a veil so no one recognizes her. She lives for the day when she can return to Warwick and rescue her sister, Ruby, from the queen’s clutches.

Amidst his royal testing on the Isle of Outcasts, Prince Mikkel of Scania has kept his identity a secret. Captured by a warring band of outcasts and condemned to die, he finds himself making friends with an intriguing but feisty young veiled woman. Intending to win her trust and gain her help to escape, he soon finds himself coerced to wed her.

Mikkel reluctantly agrees to the union to save his life, and Pearl hopes the marriage will provide protection for her and Ruby. But the queen is more determined to kill her daughter than either Pearl or Mikkel realizes and has a sinister reason neither expects—one that could rip their new love apart forever.

The real Snow White story.

The Fairest Maidens
Book 1: Beholden
Book 2: Beguiled (Oct 2020)
Book 3: Besotted (Nov 2020)

Other YA books by Jody Hedlund:

The Lost Princesses
Prequel Novella: Always
Book 1: Evermore
Book 2: Foremost
Book 3: Hereafter

The Noble Knights
Prequel Novella: The Vow
Book 1: An Uncertain Choice
Book 2: A Daring Sacrifice
Book 3: For Love and Honor
Book 4: A Loyal Heart
Book 5: A Worthy Rebel

For a complete list of Jody’s novels, visit her Amazon page or website – jodyhedlund.com

‘Something in the air bodes of evil.’

I love the medieval time period. It’s one of my all time favorite settings. Jody Hedlund has set several series here and they are all super good. The Fairest Maidens tells the stories of three princesses, based on three well known fairy tales, only better! Three brother princes are completing their Testing to determine which should be king of one kingdom, while three princesses are trying to escape the evil clutches of the despicable Queen Margery.

I read this book in just a few hours because of it’s ability to hold my interest without wavering. Though Hedlund’s genre here is YA, I found these books completely compelling for adults. I absolutely can’t wait to find out what happens in # 3! Because a reckoning is definitely coming. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.

Publisher: Northern Lights Press
Publication Date: October 20, 2020
Length: 200 pages
Genrer: YA