Hearts Entwined

Hearts Entwined

A Historical Romance Novella Collection

Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, Melissa Jagears

The path to love isn't always easy. Sometimes it comes with hardships and unexpected surprises. Follow these four couples as they learn that sometimes love is worth the risk and potential heartache. Each story is written as a stand-alone and is only tied with the other novellas based on the theme of historical romance. Each author uses a character or two from a series, but the series is not essential to understanding the story. 

I really enjoyed this book. These four authors are on my favorites list and I've read the all of the series they pulled their characters from. So it was nice to get another little glimpse into what was happening. Each author brought her own style and flair to her novella and made it her own. I had a favorite, but loved all of them.  I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy historical romance, want to find a new favorite author, or want to meet characters from your favorite series. 

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Holding the Fort

Holding the Fort

Fort Reno #1

Regina Jennings

Louisa is a dance hall singer. When she receives a letter that her brother is in prison at the army fort, she worries about his reckless behavior. When she's fired from her job, she decides to head to the fort to save her brother from himself. Due to a huge miscommunication she's now working as a governess for two wild little girls. And their father, Daniel, is as full of secrets as she is.

This was a fun book. The plot was well thought out and while predictable in its romance, it was also full of surprises and tiny twists. The characters were well written and I enjoyed the several of the secondary characters as much as the main ones. I think the romantic parts were well written for the time period and fit well with the story. I wasn't as fond of Louisa as I would have liked to be, but I think Daniel made up for it. I really liked his character. Overall, it was a fun book to read, just don't expect depth, this isn't one of those books. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Out of the Ordinary

Out of the Ordinary

Apart from the Crowd #2

Jen Turano

Gertrude has the difficult job of being the paid companion to one of the most difficult women in town. She has been turned orange, made to wear strange ensembles, and is now currently stuck to a couch because of her employer's odd inventions. Harrison thinks of Gertrude as a dear friend, one who gets him and his oddities. But when he is put in a difficult decision he realizes he might lose his friend if he doesn't step up and take charge.

First - I loved the cover. The colors and the model fit well with the story in my imagination. The author, in the past, has placed a lot of humor into her plots. This time was no exception. I loved the characters and while this book is part of a series, I do think it could be read as a stand alone. The previous characters where there, but it didn't feel like I was missing something had I not read the first book. This is clean historical fiction that is clean and romantic. There is a tiny bit of a mystery, but it's cleared up quickly. It isn't to be read to learn more about history, but to be enjoyed as a sweet romance. The characters are full of life and fit well together with the plot. I can't wait to see what the author chooses to do with the next book.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Women of the Bible

The Most Important Women of the Bible

Arron and Elaina Sharp

The Bible is full of stories about women who changed the lives around them in profound ways. The authors has chosen 31 women that have amazing stories filled with love and faith. Each chapter begins with a quote that will tie in with the subject. The authors share the scriptures that they pulled the story from. Then they give a brief biography about the lady. The chapter ends with two sections - By the Numbers and Things We Wondered. The numbers section shares information such as how many children the leading lady had, how many miles to cities mentioned, how old she was, or other pertinent information. The last section is unanswered questions that reading about this lady brought to the author's minds.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well laid out, full of information, and well written. The writing flowed well and wasn't bogged down with the tiny details, since these were shared at the end. I loved the concept of pulling important women from the Bible and showcasing their role in history. This book would work well for a women's small group as well as for personal devotions.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Too Far Down

Too Far Down

The Cimarron Legacy #3

Mary Connealy

Cole returned to his father's ranch because of the stipulations in his will. But he's more at home running a business, so he focuses on the gold mine. But when an explosion that is obviously planned ends in murder, Cole accepts the help of Melanie, a woman from a neighboring ranch.  He'd thought the troubles at the ranch were all in the past, but clearly they haven't weeded out the true culprit or they wouldn't be fighting to save their ranch.

I really enjoy this author. She writes descriptive plots that include humor, faith, romance, and mystery. I enjoyed the conclusion to this series, but was also slightly sad to come to the end.The mystery at the mine was my favorite of the three stories. I also loved the relationship between the two main characters. And I won't spoil the plot, but there is a super sweet part with a little boy that I just love. I am kinda hoping the author writes a story about his mother next. Overall, I really enjoyed the conclusion to the series and look forward to the next book she writes.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

An Inconvenient Beauty

An Inconvenient Beauty

Hawthorne House #4

Kristi Ann Hunter

Griffith is a logical, orderly duke. He's taken care of his family and runs his estate with care and levelheadedness. So this is his approach to marriage. He has decided to logically chose a wife who will suit him and isn't too pretty. Pretty women tend to cause trouble and chase attention. Griffith is not interested in a beauty. So he's rather disturbed when the woman he has chosen has a gorgeous cousin he can't get out of his mind. Isabella is a beauty. And she's using this to her advantage. She needs to do her uncle's bidding so that he will consent to help her family. She has no intention of actually finding a man to marry. So what happens when two people who are right for each other fall in love?

I'm a fan of this author so I was excited to get my hands on this book. The author has once again written a book that captured my attention and kept me until the very last page. I'll admit that it wasn't my favorite, but it was still good. The plot was unexpected and that is a refreshing change. The author writes clean romance with a bit of drama and intrigue thrown in. There is a very small element of faith, but it isn't obvious and doesn't really play into the story much until the end. I really liked some of the characters - the cousin, the duke, his family. I wasn't crazy about the uncle or Isabella. I felt that they weren't fitting with what the author was trying to say. And Isabella was a bit dense when it came to working out her situation. Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely! Was it my favorite? No. Will I read this author again? Absolutely! I wanted more romance and faith elements. Could have done without a lot of the drama with the uncle and the duke. Overall, this was a very entertaining and sweet story that lovers of romance and historical fiction will enjoy.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Heart on the Line

Heart on the Line

Ladies of Harper Station #2

Karen Witemeyer

Grace witnessed her father's death and is now hiding from the man or men responsible. Harper Station is the perfect place to hide and try to figure out why her father was murdered. Her job as a telegraph agent allows her the anonymity that she desires while giving her the opportunity to create a friendship with another agent towns away. When her agent friend, Amos, hears of potential danger he runs to Grace's aid. Now the two must join with the residents of Harper Station to stay one step ahead of the killer before he can eliminate Grace and those dearest to her.

This was such a fun book. But then all the books by Ms. Witemeyer are fun. She is able to infuse humor into her stories while keeping them suspenseful and dramatic. The plot takes some unexpected turns and is full of trust, faith, romance, and the importance of friends. While being thoroughly entertained, I was also blessed by the message woven throughout the book. I recommend this book if you enjoy Christian fiction with a message of faith. Can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Threads of Suspicion

Threads of Suspicion

Dee Henderson

 Evie is now part of the governor's Missing Persons Task Force due to her experience as an investigator. The team takes all of the missing person cases and divides up. Evie is partnerered with David Marshall. The two have separate cases, but soon find their cases intertwining in ways they never imagined. Evie somehow manages to juggle her boyfriend, new partner, current and new jobs, but is having a hard time making a decision that will impact her for the rest of her life. She knows that only her heavenly Father will be able to help her with this one.

I love this author's writing style. Ever had a bad day and the only thing you wanted to do was come home and get comfortable? This author is that comfort "food" or favorite shirt. I love diving into her books and not coming up for a breath. While her style of writing stays the same, her characters and plots are varied. This series seems to be a lot lower key and less suspense than her previous books were. I can see where some readers might prefer her other books more, but while I have loved every book she's ever written, I'm loving this new plot style. The books flows smoothly and quietly until you realize you are completely immersed in the story. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, despite the lack of suspense and look forward to the next book coming out.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

The Glory of the Messiah

The Glory of the Messiah

An Adult Coloring Book

Susan Perlman and Shelley Skoropinski

The Old Testament scriptures pointed to a Messiah who would come and rescue the world. The author and the artist were raised in Jewish homes and came into this collaboration with a background of looking towards the Messiah. The left pages contain a Hebrew word to color, the interpretation of the word and then a thought and scripture to tie them together. The right pages are the coloring pages that fit with the Hebrew word on the preceding page.

The book could be used as a supplement to a devotional since it follows a theme and has key words and scriptures. I liked the concept of the book and thought it was unique and interesting. The drawings are more simplistic and large than I am used to coloring, but I think they fit well with the theme and were still enjoyable. The pages are thick card stock and didn't bleed or have any ghosting, even when I used markers and gel pens. Overall, this was a great book that I enjoyed working through. It would also make an excellent gift.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. All thoughts expressed are my own.

True to You

True to You

Becky Wade

Nora considers herself the smart sister. Her older sister Willow is the beauty, her younger sister Britt is the creative one. But Nora has wrapped herself up in her identity as a librarian even more since her fiance dumped her for another woman three years ago. She's sworn off dating and spends time working on her passion of genealogy. 

John, a former Navy SEAL is wanting to find his birth mother. So when he meets Nora at a training session put on by his company, he decides to enlist her services. He has a girlfriend, so Nora isn't an option and they both know it. But perhaps God has another plan for them.

I've really been looking forward to this book since I read the prequel. It was everything I was expecting and a whole lot more. The characters are brought alive with the author's talented writing. I felt like I was living the story along side them. I lived on the west coast many years ago and I think the author did a great job of portraying the scenery and locations. There is humor, strong families, faith, and beauty in this story. But there is also heartache, pain, and brokenness. They were woven together so seamlessly that I thoroughly enjoyed the story as I rushed to read the ending, but after I put the book down I couldn't stop thinking about different aspects of it. The other sisters have major roles in this book that will make it easy to tie in to the next book in the series. If you love strong stories, with amazing characters who are flawed, but endearing then you need to read this book.

I received a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Apart from the Crowd #1

Jen Turano

Permilia is a well known wallflower, easily blending into the crowd. She uses her invisibility to share details with her boss at the newspaper. The lower class enjoy hearing all about what the wealthy wear and eat at their social occasions. When she hears of a contract taken out on an acquaintance, she tries to inform him. But he thinks it's a joke. So Permilia takes it upon herself to follow Mr. Asher. 

Ms. Turano writes with humor and lots of quirky characters. This book was no exception. She blended faith, plot twits, high jinks, and romance to create an entertaining story. I enjoyed the many characters and the amusing antics. While some of the things that happened were not likely, it did add humor to the story. Overall I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys amusing stories that have a clean romance and elements of faith.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Words of Grace

Words of Grace

Jacqui Grace and Dee Arrand

Be amazed by God's grace. Thoughtful devotionals pull comforting thoughts of God's grace from scripture to create a beautiful, calming book that will be a sure favorite. The book is divided into four weeks. Each day begins with a scripture and then the thoughts from the author. The accompanying page has a coloring page that is designed to tie in with the devotional thought. 

The book is small, but is the perfect fit for a purse or small satchel. The devotionals were well thought out and were comforting and thought provoking. I loved the color pages. There was a place for notes at the end of the book and each week ended with discussion questions so this could even be used for groups. This would make an excellent gift or that something extra when you are needing the calming assurance of God's grace.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Long Time Gone

Long Time Gone

The Cimarron Legacy #2

Mary Connealy

 The plot to uncover who wants their ranch continues with the Boden family. They had thought that with a powerful enemy gone they could go back to life as normal. But he may have just been one piece to the puzzle. Because trouble is still following them everywhere.

Another excellent book by this author. I really enjoy her writing style. She's able to convey the correct emotions, bring depth to the characters, and draw the reader in to the story and the lives of the characters. I've read the first book in the series so I would definitely say that this isn't a stand-alone. You need to read the first book so that you can grasp what has happened before. The story begins right where the first one left off with the assumption that the reader knows what just happened.

This plot has adventure, strong family elements, trust, faith, suspense, and romance. And it's all woven together to create a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Can't wait for the next book.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

For the Record

For The Record

Regina Jennings

Betsy has big dreams of leaving her small town and becoming an important writer for a newspaper in a big city. Working at her uncle's newspaper should technically help, but no one seems to be taking Betsy's writing seriously. So she comes up with the idea to create a romantic, fiction serial for a newspaper. She based the main character on their new deputy. She'd be horrified if he ever read what she thought of him, but since no one ever reads the big city newspapers she knows she's fine.
Deputy Joel does not want to be in Pine Gap. But he left Texas under some rather uncomfortable circumstances and returning isn't an option at the moment. So he has to put up with the shenanigans of the locals and that nosy journalist Betsy who won't leave him alone.

This story took a while for me to get in to. It wasn't the author's writing, she writes with suspense, drama, and a touch of the romance that draws the reader in. It was the characters. I just couldn't bring myself to like them, mainly Betsy. She was selfish, whiny, and didn't fit with the time period. And her character didn't really grow through the book. I ended it feeling the same way about her. Joel was okay, but a bit too weak for me. The Christian elements, usually stronger in these types of stories felt like an ad-on. Overall, I finished the book because I was writing a review, but was so disappointed in a writer I've enjoyed in the past. Despite my negative comments, I do think readers who enjoy Christian romance, will fall in love with this author, but should perhaps start with one of her other books.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Fatal Frost

Fatal Frost

Nancy Mehl

 Although Mercy is law enforcement like her father, she wants nothing to do with him. But when she's put into a gang force unit, she comes back in contact with her dad. Right before his death he supposedly gave her something. But Mercy has no idea what he might have given her. Now the gangs are after her and she must join forces with a US Marshal to find out why the gang thinks she has this information. Small problem, this US Marshall is also her ex-boyfriend.

This was one of those books that the reader is thrust into the action from the very beginning and swept into the story. There is non-stop drama and action. The romance between the two main characters was sweet. The faith aspects were strong and woven throughout the story. Those were the positives. And if I was only judging the book on the way it drew me in and had me rushing through the book, I would give it a 5 stars. But the cons were a bit too in my face. I really had the sense that the author was pushing her own opinions and agenda with this book. There was a part in the beginning of the book that mirrored an actual event that was probably prominent in the news while the author was writing the story. It was very clear what side the author was on, based on the outcome of the episode. This felt incredibly in my face. Also the "good" guys were so "perfect" that I couldn't relate to them at all. It was as if they were the writer's ideal version of what a Christian should be. So while the story drew me in and captured my attention, these things brought the overall experience down for me. I've read this author's books before and loved them. So I think it was just this book. If you like action and adventure with clean romance that have very strong spiritual notes and a conservative view than you will fall in love with this story.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Love's Faithful Promise

Love's Faithful Promise

Courage to Dream #3

Susan Anne Mason

Deirdre is a medical student on her way to becoming a doctor when her mother's stroke takes her home. Her dad hates to ask her to leave school, but Deirdre is the best person in the family to take care of her mother. When a family friend hears about the stroke he recommends a Dr. Clayborne who has experienced great results in his work with paralyzed patients. After working for years with war veterans he hopes to expand his practice to include stroke victims. Deirdre just needs to convince him that leaving the country and his practice for a short time to help her mother is the right choice.

This book had pros and cons for me. The pros were the double story line. I thought having the small story of the main characters brother added depth and an interesting element. I actually liked the story line for that one better than the main one. I also liked the visual that the author created for the reader. She did a great job of making the story come alive, scenery wise, without bogging the reader down with too many unneeded details. All of the characters seemed well developed and had depth.

The cons for me was the flat places in the plot, the extensive drama and angst that the main characters kept going through repeatedly, and the weak spots that occasionally appeared in what I considered the "faith element" of the story. I often felt like I was reading a regular novel instead of a Christian one.

Overall, this was an interesting story and won't stop me from picking up another book by this author, but it wasn't a favorite.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Tapestry of Secrets

A Tapestry of Secrets

Appalachian Blessings #3

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Perla has hidden a secret for most of her life, the identity of her daughter's father. But before she can reveal that secret she suffers a stroke. When her granddaughter, Ella, moves back to help take care of her grandmother and get away from a bad relationship. The story switches voices and time periods as it tells the story of the two women and weaves the tapestry of their secrets.

I've enjoyed all of the books by this author. This book has been my favorite. The rich history, strong family, faith filled message, and sweet romance all blend together to create a beautiful story that I thoroughly enjoyed. The author creates such be vivid word pictures that I was drawn into the plot and felt like I was there. This is truly an inspirational story with faith playing a very strong part in each person's life. Definitely a book I would recommend if you enjoy historical fiction, clean romance, and a strong sense of faith and family.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

No Way Up

No Way Up

The Cimarron Legacy #1

Mary Connealy

Chance, the owner of Cimarron Ranch, is badly hurt in an avalanche. The quick work of Heath, a ranch hand, is the only thing that saves him. But Chance is still not out of the woods and the local doctor decides the only way to save his leg is get him immediately to Denver by train. His children learn of Chance's peculiar requirements from Heath after his departure. All three must stay on the ranch and work if they don't want the ranch going to their lazy cousin. Their father hopes to bring them all back together and rekindle their love for the land that's been in the family for years. But a killer is on the loose and Heath may be the only outsider they can trust to help them solve an old murder and keep from being murdered themselves.

This was a fast-paced suspense novel with history and romance thrown in. The characters were well developed. The plot was detailed and kept me guessing. There was a lot of information about the local area, the generations who'd been in possession of the ranch in the past, and the details explaining one of the characters who was from another series. It felt like the author was setting the reader up for the next few books in the series. This book didn't have the same feel as her other books, but it was still good. There were some errors, which surprised me since Bethany doesn't usually have them in their books. Overall, I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

No Other Will Do

No Other Will Do

Karen Witemeyer

Emma and her aunts purchased a ghost town called Harper's Station. They designed the town to be a woman's colony for women who need a fresh start away from poverty or abuse. Everyone works to support the town and share their resources. Emma, who owns the bank, provides loans to aid the women in becoming independent. Now an anonymous person is targeting their town with death threats, fire, and bullets. Emma calls the only person she knows who can help. Malachi left years ago, but told his friend Emma to call if she ever needed help. Now Emma and Harper's Station need him to come track down a dangerous man.

This book is one of those books that's just fun. The characters were all entertaining. The romance, while a bit steamy for a Christian fiction, was sweet. The setting and concept for the story was different and I enjoyed seeing how it played out. There is some suspense in the plot due to the person targeting the town. I am looking forward to the next books in the series.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Sins of the Past

 Sins of the Past

Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

 Three well known authors have written suspense novellas to make this wonderful book. Each story is tied together solely by the title. Each author brings her own authentic writing style and creates a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, infuse you with faith, and give you a small taste of their excellent writing skills. Intrigue, suspense, drama, faith, and a touch of romance are all combined to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Two of these authors were already favorites, so I was excited to read this book. But now I've added another favorite to my list. They were all outstanding. I loved how they incorporated faith into a difficult or dangerous situation. Each story had a touch of romance, but the main theme was suspense. The characters were well fleshed out, the plots were perfectly suspenseful, and the faith was not overwhelming. Overall, I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

 

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.