Brentwood's Ward

Brentwood's Ward

Michelle Griep

Nicholas desperately needs money so he can send his sister into the country to get well. When the opportunity to take a lucrative job comes up he asks very few questions. His job is to take care of the daughter of a wealthy merchant while the merchant is on a business trip to America. But the daughter, Emily, proves to be more difficult to care for than he anticipated. Add silly women intend on marriage, someone trying to kill them, and a pregnant maid and Nicholas has a serious problem.

I haven't read anything by this author before so this was a pleasant surprise. The descriptions and suspense were well done and added to the story. The plot line, while unbelievable at times, was fun to read. The characters were likable, although the female protagonist leaned towards the annoying side.  The Christian elements were subtle, but well written and gave you a sense of faith instead of being blasted with it. Overall, I liked the story and will definitely pick up another book by this author.

I received this book free of charge from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

The Preacher's Bride Collection

The Preacher's Bride Collection

Six Old-Fashioned Romances Built on Faith and Love

DiAnn Mills, Colleen Reece, Kimberley Comeaux, Kristy Dykes, Darlene Franklin, Sally Laity

Six separate authors tell historical romance stories about young women who meet preachers that might some day become their husband. Each story is tied together with the theme, but otherwise stands alone. Novellas are a great way of checking out new authors to see what their writing style is like.

I enjoyed these stories. As with every collection I enjoyed some more than others, but all of them were sweet, romantic, and faith based. Some of them even had a little bit of drama. Each story fit well with the theme. The spiritual lessons that the authors brought out in the stories added depth. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read, but doesn't have a lot of time, or to someone searching for a new author to fall in love with.

I received this book free of charge from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Betting On Hope

Betting On Hope

Four of Hearts Ranch Romance Book 1

Debra Clopton

Maggie Hope is a clumsy city girl from Houston with a past. Tru is a struggling rancher that Maggie is trying to interview. But Maggie's more of a behind the scenes kind of girl and she's nervous. What starts out as Tru trying to make her more comfortable turns into a bet that is viewed by millions. Now Maggie and Tru have to spend months together while Tru teaches Maggie how to cut cattle on a horse.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were flawed, authentic, and likable. The plot had humor, faith, romance, and some interesting sub-plot lines. It isn't a grip your seats kind of book, more of a sweet romance that deals with trust and small town values. The secondary characters alone would have made it worth the read. They were hilarious. This was my first time reading a full length novel by this author. I will definitely be checking out more of her books in the future.

I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Hope Under Mistletoe

Hope Under Mistletoe

Jessica R. Patch

Eden was a pastor's wife. She lost her husband and is now struggling to find a place for her and her son. She's helping the new pastor find his feet before she moves on with her life when devestation rips through their church once again. Their church has burned and will take some time to rebuild. So Eden asks her husband's old friend Knox if they can borrow the back room at his bar. He agrees as long as they don't try to convert his customers. It would be bad for business.

The story was short, but the author was able to pack quite a bit in. It would probably be considered edgy Christian fiction considering some of the topics the author covered. But I thought she did a good job of conveying them tastefully, while bringing in a message of faith and forgiveness. It was a fun little story to read and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

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

The Happy Christian

The Happy Christian

Ten Ways to Be a Joyful Believer in a Gloomy World

David Murray

People tend to lean towards being negative. And often Christians are viewed as the gloomiest of all. So the author has taken his knowledge of theology and pulled from psychology and modern science to write a book about how Christians can be happy despite the negativity that surrounds us.

The book is written with a heavy slant towards psychology and brings out some great points about addressing the issues that keep us from being positive and joyful. The author is honest and authentic, which is refreshing. The book is written in a more text book feel which leans away from the study guide style that is so popular right now. My favorite part was the chapter on gratitude and the part it plays in our joy.

I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.

When I Grow Up

When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Nurse!

Amber's Accidental Journey

Wigu Publishing

Amber doesn't really want to play soccer. She's afraid she'll get hurt. But her friends and mom convince her that it will be fun. When she breaks her arm during a soccer match she learns to overcome her fears and also learns all about nurses in the process. 

Colorful photographs are the backdrop for the cartoon like illustrations that help tell the story of Amber's journey. Inserts and pictures tell more about nurses and their background. The story is fun, but also has a deeper layer that will help children learn more about nurses while enjoying the book. My six year old enjoyed the story and the book opened up a conversation about all of the different aspects of the medical field. This book would be good for schools or anyone wanting to teach their child more about the nursing field. 

I received this book free of charge from Bostick Communications in exchange for my honest review.

Adventures of a Lifetime

Adventures of a Lifetime

Travel Tales from Around the World

Edited by Janna Graber

 Different authors tell about their adventures to different countries in a colorful and entertaining look at travel around the world. Each author brings a different voice of experience to their story, providing a unique look into each country. The stories range from reverent to hilarious. There is truly a story for everyone.

I really enjoyed this anthology. It was well edited and diverse. It not only entertained, but it inspired me to be more adventuresome. It made me want to travel more. This book would be a great gift for the traveler in your life or for someone longing for adventure. It isn't a huge book and because each story is different, can be read in short segments.

 

I received this book free of charge from Red Compass Communications in exchange for honest review.