Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz

I have enjoyed every Laura Frantz book I have read so far. This series is probably one of my favorites, even though I can't put my finger on why I like it so much. It could be that I like the era and she does a great job of making her books fit the historical time period.

Oh how I liked Wren with her simple desires. Not that she's a simple person, by any means. She just prefers the more simple lifestyle verses the one she's now being thrown into. Wren was someone who was easy to relate to. I know I've had situations where I didn't feel comfortable being myself in certain environments and even of not being accepted. I think that's why this book will resonate with so many people.

The other part of Wren that I could relate to is her love for music. Being a musician, I can't imagine having to set it aside and stifle my love for it some.

A relationship between James and Wren would be most difficult. They both have to guard their hearts because they are not in each other's class of society. Wren ultimately has to decide if she wants her life to reflect the wishes of others and their long list of rules or if she wants to pave her own path and follow her heart.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

So this book intrigued me for three reasons. 1) I can relate to the title because I have a quilt to finish for Christmas. 2) The book is about Christmas. 3) I have read most of the books in the series and have enjoyed them all.

I always have to comment on the covers that are so beautifully done and this is no exception. The book cover matches the whole Christmas theme perfectly and I think it catches the book buyers eye. Who can turn down a Christmas tree on the cover during the upcoming season?

The story inside is just as beautiful as the cover. Forgiveness and second chances and having the courage to share a deep secret is theme of this book. Taryn and Justin had loved each other until a choice Justin makes tears them apart. Somehow Taryn has to come to grips with unconditional love. She has to understand God's unconditional love and even Justin's unconditional love. That glimpse of unconditional love just might be realized through a quilt.

It's always so interesting to see the role a quilt plays in each book. No two books in this series are the same.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A note from the Author: Well, I’m a regular ol’ person. Who just happens to write. A lot. Probably more than I should. I firmly believe that God created me to be a writer. From the time I learned how to string letters together into words I’ve been making up stories. Believe me… I have a very rich imagination. I used to think I was weird; now I know God just put me together that way. I can’t even watch commercials without expanding them into stories in my head. I am humbled and honored all at the same time that God looked down from heaven on me and said, “Jodie, do what you love.” Wow… how awesome is that?

I have always loved to write. I have stories that I wrote when I was in first grade. I used to sit at my grandmother’s yellow electric typewriter for hours, banging out my own little stories. When I was eleven, she bought me a typewriter of my own (It was 1984, okay?) and I would write and write on it. I wrote stories out by hand, and they ran to hundreds of pages. I got my first computer when I was eighteen, and the first thing I did was write a story on it. I wrote for school. I wrote for fun. I wrote for my friends. I’d get them on the phone and make up stories for them. (I earned the nickname “Dreamweaver” for that one. Nobody calls me that anymore, but it still stands as the coolest nickname I ever had.)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Taryn McKenna believes she’s easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches. When Taryn’s grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Quilted by Christmas, go
HERE.

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 I received this book free from CFBA and Abingdon Press in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury

This is probably the first book by Karen Kingsbury that I wasn't as excited to read at first. Normally I'm so excited she has a book coming out but the title of this book left me thinking I may not like it. However, I just can't pass up one of her books, so like the fan I am, I decided to read it.

From the title, I assumed this may be a book about angels and I just figured I wouldn't be into that. Scripture talks about angels, but people like to use their own imaginations to make angels do more and be more than Scripture talks about. I figured that would be the case since this is a fiction book.

After the first chapter, I still had some reservations. But by the second chapter, I was hooked and knew this was still the same Karen Kingsbury. Of course, the angels conversation was made up, but the way things worked together was something each of us experience in our own lives. It leaves us saying, "Wow. God worked it all perfectly, without me." This was the same scenario played out in the pages of this book.

I liked how you clearly saw the problem, but just like in our lives, you couldn't see how the solution would be presented and how the relationships would be mended. It was a beautiful picture of God's grace in a man's life that had run so far from God.

And this is just the beginning.... the true story has to deal with a child yet to be born.... Now I'm definitely excited about this series and reading the next one in that will be coming out.

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I received this book free from Howard Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Joyful by Shelley Shepard Gray

I feel like with each Amish book I read, I become a part of that community. The same goes with Sugarcreek. This quaint community is one full of people who have to make hard choices, put others first, and even be put in hard situations. One thing not lacking is love and support.

I'll admit that I was a bit surprised that Elizabeth agreed to a certain plan at the beginning of the book. She had to lay down a lot of pride. I'm not certain I would have been that way! (Sometimes books reveal the ugly side of us, don't they?!) At first, I disliked Randall within the first few chapters. Once I understood his perspective, though, I came to like him.

Shelley Shepard Gray has written a wonderful 3rd book in this series. I have enjoyed each one so far. You can easily read them separately and be okay with not reading them in order. Although, if you liked this book, you'll like the first two.

I also like the cover of this book. Great job using such beautiful, contrasting colors. The red barn in the back was the perfect choice.

Read more reviews about this book by going to http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray.

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About the Book

                       Joyful || Return to Sugarcreek series
A young Amish couple gets a second chance at love in New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s final book in her Return to Sugarcreek series.
Randall Beiler is doing his best to put his family and the farm’s needs first, even forsaking love. But though he tries, Randall knows he needs help caring for his younger siblings and keeping the house together.
When his brother offers pretty Elizabeth Nolt a job taking care of the house and cooking for the family, Randall is furious—and guilty about the way he once broke Elizabeth’s heart. But when he learns that Elizabeth and her grandmother are struggling to make ends meet, he knows the offer, no matter how painful, is the right thing for everyone.
Elizabeth wants to refuse—to stay far away from the man who hurt her—but she needs the money. Though she vows to protect her heart, spending time in the Beiler household makes Elizabeth realize that, while she’s older and wiser, her love for Randall still burns strong.
Randal, too, seems to want something more. But does he want Elizabeth because he truly loves her—or because he needs a housekeeper? If Randall sincerely wants something more, he must find a way to show Elizabeth—or risk losing his chance at love forever.
Learn more and purchase a copy at Shelley’s website.

Shelley Shepard Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and Harpercollins Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A Love Undone by Cindy Woodsmall

I know this book isn't part of a series, but it does keep with some familiar people like Levi and Sadie. The book opens on a heavy note. It's heart-wrenching and the timing couldn't be worse. It's amazing how I came to like a couple so much in just one short chapter.

Cindy Woodsmall has written another beautiful story. The characters are very well-developed and the tension is caused by what they want but can't have. Not only that, there's a rumor that threatens to destroy their reputations. After all the Jolene has given up for her family, I wanted it to be her time to find love.

Jolene had to overcome fears, and understandably so. She doesn't do her job begrudgingly or have regrets, but she does need to express herself. When Andy comes along, she has no problem speaking her mind and sharing her fears. There's only one problem. He's married.... but his wife has left him and his son. Despite their desire to be together, they can't.

Andy was a sweet man, although I wanted to bop him in the head at first to get him to understand why in the world Jolene was reading a book in the middle of working with horses. Glen was one of those characters that I liked at some times and disliked at others. I was glad for him by the ending, though.

I am looking forward to seeing more books from Cindy Woodsmall.

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 I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A May Bride by Meg Moseley

If you're looking for a short beach read, grab this book. Meg Moseley writes a charming story with such a sweet wedding. Ellie and Gray had a funny first meeting that made me laugh just imagining it. Gray knew what he wanted and Ellie wasn't afraid to take chances. However, in order for Ellie to step out meant she wouldn't always be pleasing her mother.

Ellie has saved for her wedding just so her mom doesn't have a say in wedding plans. Ellie wants to prove to her mother that she's not her and that she can make smart decisions. Her relationship with her mother is one that her mother controls. Ellie walks a delicate line of trying to please her, yet become her own person.

Gray pushes Ellie out of her comfort zone with her mother and helps her find the strength to cut the apron strings. It's not easy, but is necessary. Ellie's also the one that usually helps her sister when she needs help. Conflict arises when these issues must be dealt with.

I like this short, fun books in the series. They are quick to read, but still leave me thinking about the characters after the book has been completed.

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I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Tried and True by Mary Connealy

I am definitely excited to see where this series is going to go! I really enjoyed Book One in the new series, Wild at Heart. I like Mary Connealy. She writes with humor and some unexpected twists. I wouldn't say the twists are earth-shattering and change the direction of the story, but it keeps the story interesting and the reader engaged. I thought I had it figured out a few chapters from the end, but was a little surprised that I was wrong!

 

The Wilde sisters are each interesting in their own ways. Their father has definitely not treated them like girls so they almost don't even remember how to live like one. My favorite sister would have to be Shannon, with her dear love for sheep. The things she does for them were quite funny.

 

Kylie had a desire for what most girls do..... to live in civilization and not cut wood or do what was considered "man's work" in the West. She wanted someone else to repair her roof and build her cabin. I liked her determined attitude to make the best of a situation she hated, though.

 

Bailey was the one that I had to grow to like. She had a tougher personality and wasn't one that is liked at the beginning. I'm hoping her complete story gets told. I'm sure some of it has to do with what she saw in the war.

 

Some of my favorite moments included Aaron and the 3 sisters. They roped him into things he thought he'd never agree to. It was funny to imagine his interactions with the Wilde sister and how much enjoyment he received out of simply calling them "girls."

 

I look forward to see Matt Tucker and Shannon Wilde discover what's in the future for both of them! Now and Forever is due out in June of 2015.

Read more reviews on this book at http://litfusegroup.com/author/mconnealy.

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About the Book

                       Tried and True, Book One in the Wilde at Heart series.
Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!
Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister–and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It’s a risk–they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as “boys”–but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.
Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?
Learn more and purchase a copy at Mary’s website.

Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.